Captain Phillips

Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Catherine Keener, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Michael Chernus, David Warshofsky, Corey Johnson
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and his ship is hijacked by Somali pirates.

Review:

Tim: Tom Hanks does it again. He's my favorite actor and he also happens to be one of the greatest actors of all time. He once again delivers an incredible performance in a very, very good movie. Paul Greengrass certainly assembles a very impressive film here. It was nominated for 6 Academy Awards, although it did not win any. While this movie doesn't quite make my Top 10 of 2013, it's still a very strong movie.

The biggest controversy of this film is the fact that Tom Hanks did not receive an Academy Award for Best Actor. This is one of the craziest, most ridiculous oversights I've seen in recent years. I don't think Hanks did enough to win, but he absolutely deserved to be nominated. He gives an incredible performance, embodying the heart and soul of Captain Richard Phillips. Hanks never seems like a movie star in this film- he really comes across as a regular, average guy. I forgot I was watching Hanks and just got lost in the character. This isn't a overly flashy performance, although Hanks does have a few incredible moments, especially toward the end of the film. He makes this movie and deserved more acclaim.

The supporting cast is led by Barkhad Abdi, who is miraculously making his acting debut here. That just blows my mind, because he is incredible. He's chilling, but not in a one-dimensional villain manner. He comes across as a complex character- a man driven to villainous actions not due to a personal flaw, but due to the difficult situation in which he finds himself. He is a Somali and needs to make money to survive. He is a pirate, but we actually feel sorry for him as the film progresses. He gives this character life and allows the audience to understand him. He holds his own against acting legend Hanks. That's a major achievement. I was really glad he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He deserved it.

The other cast members were mostly good. I loved seeing Catherine Keener, although she had far too small of a role. I liked Michael Chernus quite a bit as well. The supporting cast really did add to the overall film.

Paul Greengrass is no stranger to creating suspenseful films, and this one is quite a thriller. He wastes almost no time getting to the meat of the film (the early scenes are much-needed character development). Once the pirates show up, the film becomes this intense, nail-biting experience that doesn't let up until the final credits. The direction is taut and fast, but never rushed. I hate to use the "edge of your seat" cliche, but that's exactly what this movie delivered. It was exceptionally well made.

One aspect of this film I loved is that within the confines of telling a true story (which really limits your freedom, as you have to depict events at least close to how they happened), this film managed to tell a fascinating story. It would have been incredibly easy to make the Somali pirates the villains. They are certainly the antagonists, but they are presented in a very human, complex manner. They are not monsters, they are men. The portrayal of them as actual people- flawed, unfortunate people, but people nevertheless- was one of the defining characteristics of this film. A lesser crew would have strayed into straight up villain territory or glossed over their very understandable human motivations.

Now, while I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, it didn't quite meet my raised expectations. I'd hoped it would be on my Top 10 list at the end of the year. While it just misses out, I was a little disappointed in that. I never felt any real connection with Phillips. I love Tom Hanks, so I was excited to see him on screen, but the character itself needed more development. The film was tense, but not in a manner that really got my heart beating. I was intrigued and paying attention, but there wasn't anything especially powerful that happened. The scene at the end with Hanks falling apart and in shock is incredible, save for the non-actress Navy person who seems wooden and forced. This is a movie that does so much right, so much well, but just falls short of greatness.

Even still, Captain Phillips is a remarkably well made movie and an incredible portrayal of a real life event. It's a movie that is absolutely worth seeing. Greengrass and Hanks make a great team, and I sincerely hope they work together more in the future.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: A Hijacking, Saving Private Ryan, The Bourne trilogy, Green Zone