Review of Captain Phillips (2013) by Brett C — 01 Nov 2014

Review In A Nutshell:

Captain Phillips was a film, I have been eager to see since its release as it was under the direction of Paul Greengrass, who has made some of the most of entertaining and thought provoking action/thriller films of the 21st century; Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum, and the underrated Green Zone. Months have gone by, almost everyone has seen the film and most have praised it; therefore seeing and reading them, allowed my expectations to build, thinking that this film might actually be Greengrass' opus. Now that I have seen it, does the film live up to the hype? Yes, but only just.

The premise of Captain Phillips is certainly not original, but originality has never been something I look for in a Greengrass film. In his films, I search for heightened emotions gained from masterfully crafted sequences; building tension and maintaining it throughout. Very filmmakers could maintain tension and suspense in their films, let alone create it. The bulk of the film is driven by dialogue and Greengrass was able to create so much out of it; demanding intensity from his cast's performances and supporting it with his trademark collaboration with Barry Ackroyd, that delivers effective shaky-cam effects in its photography; using that to create the sense of claustrophobia and its adverse effects of frustration, fear and trauma on both sides of the event. This is what makes Captain Phillips more than just the average hostage film; it actually takes the time to explore both sides of the situation. These Somali pirates are not just seen as villains, they are also viewed as humans who show reasoning behind their decisions; which in this case are ego, pride, and survival. The film primarily contrasts two characters, Phillip and Muse; both are captains of their own side, and the film wonderfully shows us the necessity of their leadership in ensuring their objectives and responsibilities are being met. Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi brought so much to their characters, making them feel believable in their roles, showing little in their exteriors but one can feel their internal emotions. Then we are treated to a final moment with Hanks, that brings a wide range of emotions to the surface and show the impact that the situation has had on him. I was also left kind of sympathetic rather than achieving a feeling of triumph towards the antagonists, during the final moments of the film; and I have Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks' final scene to thank for that.

Captain Phillips, so far under my eyes, may not be Paul Greengrass' best film, but it certainly is his intimate; with its sense of claustrophobia and exploration into the minds and emotions of its leading characters. Captain Phillips was an exhilarating and heavy ride.