*This is a New York Film Festival 2013 Review*
Captain Phillips tells the incredible true story of Richard Phillips, who was captain as the cargo ship Maersk Alabama was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2009. Director Paul Greengrass helmed the role behind the lens, keeping the same tense atmosphere that be brought to the Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum and United 93. Tom Hanks stars as the Captain, in a role that people will be talking to all the way to Oscar season.
Our journey begins with a short into with Phillips’ wife Andrea (Catherine Keener) dropping him off at the airport to set him off on his journey to his ship. It’s the only time we see or hear from her, but the scene shows us that Phillips is a family man, and a hard worker. When he takes over the ship, we see the same attitude held towards his workers. He’s tough on them, breaks in on their coffee breaks, but you can tell that this is a man who takes pride in his work. This includes running drills in preparation of being hijacked. Only he has no idea that during this drill, a pair of boats containing Somali pirates is headed right his way.
We meet the pirates beforehand, and we see the disparity of their lifestyle to Western culture. Greengrass shows us the globalization of these people, and how they rely on the hijacking of ships such as the one helmed by Phillips in order to please their mob-lord like bosses. Such is the life for Muse (Barkhad Abdi), once a fisherman, but now forced to take over ships passing by in order to stay above the poverty line. His fate becomes intertwined with Phillips on this fateful day, and there is no going back.
Greengrass keeps us on our heels as the pirates board the ship, and from there it’s a game of cat and mouse between the 4 pirates that end up on the ship and Captain Phillips. The director is able to keep the tense atmosphere for the entire first half as we see Phillips try to both keep his crew safe while trying to outsmart them. Hanks plays it cool not showing and fear or letting one emotion overtake another, he does his best as a mediator between the pirates and does his best to keep a level hand.
But out of desperation the pirates kidnap Phillips in a small lifeboat escaping the boat, using him as their last bargaining chip as they run out of options. This is where the film takes on a slow burning pace, yet finds ways to slowly lead toward increased intensity.
As the head hijaker Muse says, “We have bosses to.” His motivation isn’t of religion, or to make a point to America. Sure they don’t like America, but everything they do is strictly out of desperation to get by. Muse and Phillips have an odd connection that is almost seen as respect, as if they would be friends in another lifetime. But the rest of the pirates are all (thankfully) different and dynamic characters, one a temperamental hothead named Bilal (Barkhad Abdirahman) who causes many problems for Phillps and is a ticking time bomb.
The film keeps you on your toes at all times, even though not much is technically happening, there are always revolving pieces working at all times. At times it’s a thriller with violence and gunshots, but most of the thrills Greengrass provides are psychological rapid-fire pacing in your head.
Tom Hanks gives one of the best performances of his career, possibly the best he’s been in a decade. An Oscar nomination is a sure thing for him, and it’s well deserved. He plays the part to the tee, providing both the hard working mentality of Phillips, but also shows human vulnerability as the kidnapping looks more dire, leaving his life in the hands of these pirates, as well as the trigger happy Navy Seals who are forced to put an end to the situation. Even though you know how it all turns out, it still doesn’t take away from the intensity of the events at all, as your holding your breath with every subsequent scene and piece of action.
Barkhad Abdi is a revelation, holding his own against Tom Hanks playing a dynamic character that you find yourself feeling bad for at times, because he has no other options in life. Abdi does a great job as a first time actor, as do the rest of the pirates: Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, and Mahat M. Ali. All are first time actors, and do an exceptional job.
The movie works so well with the wonderful direction of Greengrass, who captures the essence of everything going on in a thrilling way that leaves plenty of room for graceful human exploration. There’s a scene at the end of the film where we see Richard Phillips in a brutal humanization that is tough to watch, and even tougher not to shed a tear while watching. These final 10 minutes left many in the audience in tears and sniffles, myself included. In my head I just kept going, wow. Hanks was that good. I didn’t expect to be emotionally touched while watching the film, but it’s the power of a powerful story, told right, with one of the best actors doing the role justice.
Captain Phillips is a triumph on many levels, and will be a film that stays with you. It will do well come awards season and rightfully so. It’s an unforgettable piece of film-making that left me unable to move or think at times due to the sheer intensity. Then it grabs you right in the gut leaving your emotions for the taking. It’s one hell of a ride, and it’s one of the best things I’ve seen this year.
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