Fast paced, moving and suspenseful, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS features Tom Hanks in one of his best performances as the hostage of Somali pirates.
Based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips, whose huge freighter was boarded by Somali pirates in 2009 off the coast of Africa, the film deftly sets up Phillips and his crew's everyday routine. It then deposits them in a tension filled hostage incident that fills the majority of the film.
First time actor Barkhad Abdi is excellent as lead pirate Muse, a young man literally starving and forced to become a pirate by marauding criminal warlords.
The depiction of Muse and his friends lives as a counterpoint to Phillips prep for the mission and his home life provides a powerful contrast between their environments.
When those worlds collide onboard the ship, Director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, United 93) ratchets up the action and suspense with his cast.
If you think you know the whole story, as I did, you will find much more to the events here than expected.
The last 20 minutes feature Tom Hanks, certainly one of our finest actors, at the top of his game. It's a powerful role in a terrific film.
Like "United 93", it immerses you in the event and generates amazing tension as the story unfolds.
Hanks and Greengrass are at the top of their game and capture a solid A.
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