Drama mine

Director Paul Greengrass is no stranger when it comes to reenacting some of the scariest moments of real life. In 2006 he brought one aspect of the tragedies of 9/11 to life with United 93. Now seven years later he goes from terror in the sky to terror in the ocean with Captain Phillips. Based on events from the 2009 incident involving Somali pirates attacking a U.S. cargo ship, Greengrass has once again created a gripping, intense thriller.

The first part of the film deals with the cargo ship's initial voyage. During this time we meet the crew, including the titular captain (played by Tom Hanks). While the scenes serve primarily as exposition to establish the characters, most of the scenes feel very fresh. Few films today deal with modern day sailing, especially in a vessel like a cargo ship. So to hear and see what's involved in the day to day operations was fascinating. So too were the early scenes involving the crew's efforts to prevent the pirates from coming on board. It is clear that some measures are known and in place to hopefully prevent any attack, but when those plans fail, it is interesting to see the creativity that these men attempt to use in order to get out of the ordeal safely.

If you're familiar with the story, then you know that the pirates eventually take Captain Phillips hostage on a lifeboat and try to flee back to Somalia. This part of the film is the most difficult to watch. They are difficult primarily because of Greengrass' efforts to give realism to the way these scenes are film. Greengrass effectively shoots these scenes within extremely cramped quarters on choppy waters. The end result is likely to give some both claustrophobia and seasickness. What works best about these scenes, however, is that we learn more about these pirates instead of seeing them simply as faceless villains. The leader of this group, is a rail-thin man who goes by Muse. He's played very well by real life Somali, Barkhad Abdi. We see the internal struggle that this man goes through as he is desperate to prove himself to others while recognizes that some of the decisions to accomplish that goes against his sense of human decency. You realize that not every pirate is doing this as an act of terror, but as a means of survival.

As the Navy gets involved in trying to get Captain Phillips back from his captors, the intensity level gets ramped up to a whole new level. Even though most likely know how this story ends I will not divulge those details here. All I will say is that I was in awe of the acting performance Hanks gives in the film's closing minutes. You completely forget you are watching an actor and truly believe you are watching someone who has actually experienced a horrific ordeal. I know the race for Best Actor will be extremely competitive this year, but I am willing to give it to Hanks already for his work in those scenes alone. He once again proves why he is truly one of our best actors around.

Like Gravity, this film does not boast a large cast. Oddly enough Catherine Keener shows up in the very first scene of the film playing Phillips' wife and then is never seen from again for the rest of the movie. Instead Greengrass keeps the film streamlined and focused on the primary conflict. This is likely for the best because we become so much more invested in this story without a lot of superfluous characters or unnecessary subplots. What is left is another excellent tale of one man's quest for survival.

Given that I saw this film on the last day it was available at my local theater, you may have to wait until it comes out on DVD before you have a chance to see if you have not done so already. If that's the case, I would highly recommend it. Unlike Gravity, which demands to be seen on the big screen and in 3D, Captain Phillips is a film that will be just as effective on the small screen. You owe it to yourself to learn more about this incredible story and to witness some excellent acting from the film's primary leads. In a crowded field this awards season, this film may get a bit lost at sea, but it is still worthy of high praise. Grade: A-