123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Entertainment >> View Article

Captain Phillips Movie Review Starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi

Profile Picture
By Author: Mauli Sharma
Total Articles: 68
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

Captain Phillips Star Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Michael Chernus, Corey Johnson, Max Martini, Chris Mulkey, Yul Vazquez, David Warshofsky and Catherine Keener

Director: Paul Greengrass

'Captain Phillips' is a tale of conflict between men who refuse to give in. This forms the crux of this effective thrilling drama.

Based on the book "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty the film is a subtly rousing docudrama that recounts the 2009 hijacking of an American cargo liner and the harrowing experience of its captain.

The screenplay, by Billy Ray, begins very innocuously in a chronological fashion with Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) bidding adieu to his wife Andrea (Catherine Keener) in their hometown in Vermont, US.

The wary and by-the-book person Captain Phillips reaches Salalah, Oman, to take charge of the container ship Maersk Alabama carrying emergency aid for East Africa among other cargo to Kenya in Africa.

On board the ship, he carefully checks security and safety ...
... procedures after being routinely warned about the unsafe waters he would be sailing in. In fact, he insists that his men have a mock drill just to be prepared.

Simultaneously, on the shore of Ely in Somalia, in a scene so reminiscent of Vittorio de Sica's "Bicycle Thieves" a group of young impoverished khat chewing fishermen are being recruited by rifle toting goons as pirates. After the selections, two motor boats with a crew of four each set sail in search of their prey. Soon they are tailing the Maersk Alabama.

What follows is a battle of wits between Phillips and the pirates. There's an unusual reverence and understanding between Muse (Barkhad Abdi), the leader of the pirates and Phillips throughout this ordeal that fuels the tension.

Director Paul Greengrass astutely balances the narration by staying neutral till the very end. He has ensured that the account is not over dramatised. He has taken pains to see that neither the captain nor the US Navy are glorified and nor are the pirates condemned or portrayed as some heinous beings.

Humour comes in the form of the staccato one-liners like, "Shut up Irish, too much talking" or "Do you think I am a beggar" from Muse. This actually breaks the tension of this intense drama.

As a no-nonsense middle-aged captain, Tom Hanks is courageous and vulnerable, dedicated and clever. Yet, he is incredibly human and fallible. This is probably one of his career's best performances.

On the other hand, Barkhad Abdi as the bony, buck-toothed Muse is fascinating. He is fidgety and naive. As a first time actor, he strikingly delivers Muse's greed, fear and pride.

The rest of the cast too give a realistic display of their histrionics, especially those portraying the pirates from Somalia.

On the technical front, camera work by Barry Ackroyd is initially unsteady. The wobbly footage especially during close ups and mid shots is a bit bothersome. But as the story progresses, one tends to ignore this and concentrate on the subject. What adds to the suspense is the taut editing by Christopher Rouse and the excellent background score by Henry Jackman.

Buzz Rating: 4/5

To get updates on latest Bollywood movies like Ram Leela movie trailer or latest movie reviews, latest Bollywood news, new Hindi movies trailers, upcoming Hindi movie pictures images, Hindi music reviews and much more visit Buzzintown (dot) com.

Total Views: 389Word Count: 570See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Entertainment Articles

1. The Best Cappuccino Maker For Your Home
Author: Ashish

2. Miami's Hottest Parties: Dj Leo Pineda And The Dazzling Led Robots
Author: NytroMen Group

3. Temple Run 2: The Ultimate Guide
Author: Jim Henderson

4. What Exactly Is Iptv? Realizing The Ongoing Revolution In Digital Media
Author: Supreme IPTV

5. The Big Picture: 2024's Bollywood Latest Collection Report Card
Author: Arav

6. Tiktok's Biggest Trends Right Now
Author: Rushi Joshi

7. The Digital Shayar: Delhi’s Premier Open Mic Platform For Creative Souls
Author: Digital Shayar

8. The Digital Shayar: The Best Poetry Open Mic Event In Delhi
Author: Digital Shayar

9. The Digital Shayar: The Best Poetry Open Mic Event Organizer In Delhi
Author: Digital Shayar

10. How To Find The Best Dstv Installer Near Me For A Seamless Viewing Experience
Author: capesat-installers.co.za

11. Massage Spa In Bronx
Author: amelia chorlette

12. Hip-hop Artist Zanda Elwood Debuts Amongst Da Khaos: A Raw Journey Of Mental Health And Resilience
Author: Zanda Elwood

13. Ultra Bright Professional Wuxga Laser Projector
Author: Optoma India

14. Tiktok Video Downloader Websites: How They Work And What You Need To Know
Author: Agung Das

15. Elevate Your Virtual Corporate Events With Singapore’s Finest Entertainment
Author: TK Jiang

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: