[Films] Captain Philips

Yes, I've been to see another film. Yes, it's another one that was actually released ages ago. Yes, I love the Warwick Student Cinema for letting me catch up on films like this. Any further questions?

Captain Philips is based on the true story of a Somali pirate hijacking. Not just any run-of-the-mill hijacking (if there is any such thing) though, oh no. The hijacking of the Maersk Alabama was the first successful seizure of a US flagged vessel by pirates since the early 19th century (wikipedia). Although there have been accusations that the film is inaccurate in some respects, in some ways that's to be expected for any 'based on a true story' film or television series.

The movie poster depicts the moment that the pirates board the ship. (Credit: imdb.com)

Director Paul Greengrass is probably best known for the Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum films, and many of the same characteristics are on display in this film. The camera work is tight, and naturalistic, the action realistic, and the tension gradually winds up throughout. In fact this last point makes the film seem much shorter than it's two and a quarter hour running length, particularly when you stop to consider that large parts of the film essentially consists of lots of waiting around. I will happily admit that the mere fact of Greengrass' directorship was enough to make me want to see this film, even without considering the strong ratings that it received.

As if that wasn't enough, Tom Hanks is on absolutely top form here. In the early phases of the film he captures the experienced sea captain well, with just the right amount of weariness at another long voyage, coupled to the evident desire to run a tight ship. As the film progresses he moves smoothly into understated hero, trying to make the best out of a bad situation for all parties involved, and putting himself at risk to do so. The scenes on the ship's lifeboat post hijacking, which actually comprise about a third of the film I think, are particularly good. Whilst not evident from his speech or behaviour towards his kidnappers, Hanks' portrayal of Philips is so good that his mounting desperation is clear, and not just from his attempts to escape. But what really cements this as a great performance is the last 10 minutes, wherein Hanks manages to move seamlessly from the man under tension, to the man resigned to death, to scared witless, to shock and ptsd sufferer. It's a great performance.

The pirate crew are subtly nuanced characters. The portrayal as the ringleader by Barkhad Abdi is 

particularly good, and absolutely deserving of the awards he won. (Credit: filmlinc.com)

The rest of the cast are also very good indeed. We don't see much of the crew other than the engine chief, crew chief, and first mate, but all put in strong performances. The other characters of note (and I'm really selling them short here) are the four hijackers turned kidnappers. In some ways this is almost a small cast play, with the five main characters confined in a small space; chuck them in together, and watch as events unfold and their relationships to each evolve, complicated as they are by the hostage situation. The four Somalis are played beautifully, with carefully nuanced motivations and characters, and an individuality that is sometimes missing from Hollywood films when talking about non-Caucasian  roles. Barkhad Abdi in particular is superb as Muse, the ringleader of the pirates.

This is, in some ways, not an easy film to watch. Knowing that this actually happened (more or less) makes the film all the more real, an effect that Greengrass' directing only enhances. It's an emotional film, and one that I would highly recommend.