Viewed in
2014
Formats
HDTV.
Premise
Based on a true story, Tom Hanks stars as an American captain of a cargo ship that is hijacked by Somali pirates.
Loved
Hanks' performance, Barkhad Abdi, cat-and-mouse plot.
Liked
Clarity in directing.
Disliked
Handheld cameras.
Thoughts
When I first saw the trailer, I thought this would be the typical "get this guy an Oscar!" movie, where the lead actor shined, and the rest of it would be average. That sound you hear is me eating crow.
Don't get me wrong, Tom Hanks was incredible. He was instantly likable and believably intelligent. But where he truly earned his paycheck was the last ten minutes, when he just hit the perfect notes of emotions, resulting in an unparalleled, powerful catharsis. It was a virtuoso performance that frankly should've been nominated for Best Actor.
As mentioned, Hanks was not the only star of the film. Newcomer Abdi was fantastic as the lead pirate, Muse. Not only did he have a unique face, but his presence put him on equal footing with Hanks' character. He was as cunning and resourceful and determined to succeed. In fact, the title of just Captain Phillips does injustice to the two opposing captains.
This compelling battle of the brains and strategy wouldn't have been fully realized without strong writing from Billy Ray and lucid directing from Paul Greengrass. The suspenseful action was easy to understand, Muse's crew were easily distinguishable, and you really felt the seesaw struggle for control of the upper hand and for command of the ship. At the same time, the story was an intricate, fascinating look into the how's of modern piracy, piracy-defense tactics, and Navy/SEAL protocols.
All this technique, thought, and detail hooked me into the harrowing tale, and the fantastic performances uppercutted me with a great emotional payoff.
If I had to nitpick, it would be the incessant handheld camera. It worked great for the action sequences, but they needed to calm down during the quiet moments of a movie. It wasn't nauseating as some other movies, and I could understand most of the scenes took place on the ocean, but still.
Also, I thought the score was a bit too bwongy for the film, and lo and behold, Hans Zimmer was given special thanks in the credits. Lastly, it was amusing to hear that Bill Simmons thought Hanks' Boston accent was so forced that it ruined his viewing experience. I, on the other hand, never thought twice about the accent.
Captain Phillips was one of the year's best, thanks to clear-cut writing and directing, powerful acting, especially Abdi and Hanks, culminating in an unforgettable finish.
