Review of Captain Phillips (2013) by Mandela W — 18 Jul 2015

Back in 2009 I actually do remember hearing about the Somali pirates who hijacked a cargo ship. The story of Captain Phillips getting captured as part of a ransom was a real surprise to find out. In an intense recreation of those fateful days Paul greengrass delivers with Captain Phillips. Hanks does the same playing Phillips himself but the real star of the show ends up being Barkhad Abdi who debuts in killer fashion..literally as the leader of pirates Muse. This 2013 drama is a must see.

Captain Phillips begins by showing Phillips on his way to his ship. Everything seems to go smooth until Muse and his band of pirates begin to slowly make their presence on the radar of the ship. They continue getting closer and closer and they discovered they are armed and ready to take over the cargo ship. The pirates are successful and the danger becomes very real. Phillips has the seemingly dangerous task of trying to negotiate and keep the pirates from killing the crew members aboard.

"Phillips" has you on the edge of your seat! Just like the "Bourne" films truly is tense and suspenseful vintage greengrass if you will. Great cinematography loved the helicopter shots in the sea. Great editing always loved the editing work done in greengrass films. Good tense music to up the cinematic flavor. Barkhad abdi is reeeally superb here he plays a mysterious but dangerous criminal. you never have any idea what he's really thinking. Tom hanks was really good too but he got outshined by abdi. Not surprised he didn't get no Oscar nomination. The ending was pretty saddening in the sense that Phillips was really traumatized by that experience. Solid acting at that point there by hanks.

I am very happy this picture got the recognition it got because it truly is a thriller that lives up to expectations and is superb on all accounts.