As I'm sure most of you are aware, this film is based on a real-life event. Captain Richard Phillips is an American freighter captain for the Maersk shipping line, specifically the ship Alabama. He was on a routine job delivering all sorts of goods to a couple locations in Africa. During his journey through the Indian Ocean around the horn of Africa, his ship was tracked and boarded by Somali pirates. Ring a bell? He was then held hostage for 5 days until the United States Navy in conjunction with the Navy Seals came into the picture to "handle the situation", and boy did they.
We just want to talk.
It's often problematic to have a film whose story is based on reality, especially a real life event which garnered so much international attention. The problem stems from the inability to properly fill voids within the storyline. In a fictitious story, the writer has the power to make anything and everything happen, creating a more fluid story arc. When the film is based on reality, the writer's freedoms are less and often times parts of the story can't always be magical or perfectly suspenseful. In the case of Captain Phillips, it is very safe to say that this story did not waiver or falter at any point. Literally, for a film depicting the real life events on that unlucky freighter, it certainly felt as though what we were privy too was way complete, like a Tom Clancy story.
Uhh...hmm...I guess...I guess I should have done more research. I am embarrassed.
One thing which helped aide this story to the point of nail biting was the use of "shaky cam". Now, normally I don't enjoy this "cinematic" technique, I feel it detracts from the image and story telling process. However, I couldn't imagine this film without it. From the very beginning to the final scene, we had this unsettling waiver in the picture. Just a little constant motion from the camera which caused tension even before Phillips set foot on his doomed vessel. Instilling a constant state of unease from start to finish. What's more impressive by this, is that even during the scenes with heightened intensities, the camera stayed basically the same. This allows for more tension and panic. Since there's no tell-tale sign of what's to come, it also makes every circumstance just as important to the story as the next.
Now, what's a dramatic story without a stellar performance by the lead actor. In this case that name rhymes with Mom Banks. You got it reader, Tom Hanks took control of this performance and never let it go. Literally, he was so good that by the resolution of this travesty, there were more than a few tears in the house, I even heard a few people sobbing. The tension was so palpable for Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) and he is so good at his craft (acting) that unless you are a heartless robot, you're bound to feel empathy for this man and the terrible ordeal he faced. In the final 5 minutes or so, I practically had to look away from the screen because Hanks was so believable in his abilities that it actually appeared as though he was suffering from real shock. I know I've said this before, and I'm usually pretty close to being right about it, but I guarantee some form of Academy Award recognition for Hanks and this film.
We just have to make a quick stop in Africa, no problems...right?
Here's a little bit of info for you which I found incredibly surprising. Cast across from the hugely famous, successful, well known Tom Hanks, was Barkhad Abdi. What's that you say? You've never heard of such a person? Well neither has anybody else, except for this man's friends and family. Abdi was working as a chauffeur when cast for this role. He is originally from Somalia, how convenient huh?, and had moved away due to the country's conflict. Since the age of 14, however, he has resided in the United States, where he has actively not pursued acting. That's right. This man could truly walk the walk and talk the talk of a Somali native, thus was the perfect addition to this film, and let me tell you, for a man not trying to pursue acting as his career, he sure as hell was phenomenal in Captain Phillips. The way these two played off each other seemed effortless, that is for two men trying to step into the shoes of other men.
Look on the bright side, at least your first acting job was a success!
So far since beginning this endeavor into film reviewing, there have been truly only a hand full of films which have left me speechless, to an extent. Of all of them, I have to say, that Captain Phillips is right up there with the best. The upper echelon of pure awesomeness. This film quite possible is one of the hardest films I have ever seen and experienced, yet one of the most solid.
Final Words: Extra-Large Popcorn
This film was nothing short of amazing. It excelled in every facet of film-making and re-wrote the rules of how things should be. This was the film I looked forward to for months and I'm pleased to tell you I was not let down. I want to see this one again, and again, and again. Masterful film!
This film was nothing short of amazing. It excelled in every facet of film-making and re-wrote the rules of how things should be. This was the film I looked forward to for months and I'm pleased to tell you I was not let down. I want to see this one again, and again, and again. Masterful film!
Until next time, happy viewing!
Review Rating based on popcorn sizes: small, medium, large, extra-large;
films worth skipping get snore...zzzzz
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