Captain Phillips
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Written by: Billy Ray (screenplay), Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty (book)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Max Martini

When most people think of pirates, it is usually fictional characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and historical figures like Blackbeard that come to mind. But for anyone who runs cargo ships on the Indian Ocean, pirates mean something else entirely. Since 2005, there has been an epidemic of piracy off the coast of Somalia, where local fishermen and militia have been hijacking international vessels in order to make ends meet. Although the phenomenon now seems to be subsiding, there have been hundreds of ships attacked over the past seven years and it continues to be a genuine concern.

One of the most well-known encounters with Somali pirates took place in 2009 and involved the crew of the MV Maersk Alabama led by Captain Richard Phillips. Captain Phillips was taken hostage and the ordeal was widely publicized in the U.S. where he was heralded as an American hero. When the story was optioned for a Hollywood adaptation, it seemed safe to assume that it would be a fluffy exercise in flag-waving and patriotism. However, if you are familiar with director Paul Greengrass (United 93, Green Zone), you know that simply isn’t how he rolls.

Greengrass has built a career on tense action thrillers and relatively unbiased retellings of real world events, which puts Captain Phillips firmly in his wheelhouse. Right off the bat, he takes a somewhat unique approach to the material in that he attempts to provide some context and balance to the story. He makes a ballsy choice to simultaneously follow Phillips (Tom Hanks) and the lead pirate Muse (played by first-time actor Barkhad Abdi) as they go about their morning routine on different sides of the world, both hurtling towards an inevitable confrontation simply by doing their jobs.

The decision to use non-actors as the Somali pirates pays off in spades, resulting in naturalistic performances that also have traces of real humanity behind them. Greengrass avoids painting them as one-dimensional villains, and yet he never loses sight of the fact that this is a thriller. The pirates are sympathetic at times, but they are also unpredictable and terrifying when pushed to the limit.

We also get to indulge in the nuts and bolts aspects of running a ship, adding to the documentary feel. There is a commitment to realism and the actual procedures that must be followed when dealing with pirates, and although most of the crew members are professional actors, they are unknowns. When the ship’s crew start to fight back, it’s hard not to be reminded of the feeling of ordinary people responding courageously to extraordinary circumstances as depicted in United 93.

Greengrass handles the action with his usual skill and finesse. Yes, there is plenty of his trademark shaky cam cinematography, but it seems even more appropriate here considering that the panicked action sequences take place at sea. He also takes full advantage of the claustrophobic environments to increase the film’s intensity and to keep us wondering what will happen next.

Still, if you already know the story, you might be wondering what there is to be gained from watching this movie. I will admit that during the latter half of the film, there is a lull where it feels like you are simply waiting for the Navy SEALs to take the obvious course of action. However, the final standoff is extended so far beyond expectations that it generates an excruciating level of suspense. It is also at this point that Tom Hanks delivers an incredibly raw and emotional scene that is easily the highlight of the entire film.

It may seem like Tom Hanks was cast to play his usual affable, all-American self, but his work here goes much deeper than that. He really disappears into the role and it could very well be the finest dramatic performance of his career. Some may dismiss Captain Phillips as obvious Oscar-bait, but the movie rises above any sort of easy pandering to become something that stays with you long after the credits roll. — Sean

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