Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips gives a look at the hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks plays the titular captain, a real person who went through this ordeal in 2009. What makes the film memorable is the fact that the pirates are not the faceless villains that we think of when Somali pirates are mentioned. Instead their motivations and situations are examined alongside the civilians who are forced to take action in order to save their lives. The most prominent of them, Phillips is a heroic every man played by America’s favorite “every man,” Hanks.

As with most films based on true stories there are some questions about the authenticity of some of the scenes. But since the screenplay is based on the book account of the incident co-written by the real Richard Phillips, it has to be recognized as his version of the situation. But the actual story is so strong that there is no need to embellish it. Then the Navy SEALS show up to resolve the situation and the intensity ramps up even more. Visually, the film has a realist perspective that emphasizes the unappealing aspect of life on the sea.

At this point in his career, Hanks could play most roles and be hailed for them, but his take on Phillips presents a complex character that is tough to nail down. He does well balancing the reserved elements that define the character until he is finally able to pile on the emotion in the film’s final third. Those last scenes with the SEALS closing in on a resolution will earn Hanks a seat at a number of award shows, which frankly is a place he should be more often. This may not be the most glamorous credit on his résumé, but is intense and worthy of recognition. Also worthy of recognition is Barkhad Abdi, whose supporting performance compliments Hanks’ very well.

Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.