As most of you probably know, I'm a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy. I love being immersed in different worlds, and hearing tales that could never possibly occur in our own reality. However, while these stories thrill and excite us, most often the ones that stick with us and impact us are the ones that really happened. This is the case with Captain Phillips, a true-to-life story about a man whose ship was hijacked by Somali pirates and was taken hostage. This movie is an intense, nail-biting, deeply affecting look into the motivations behind terrorism and the horror it causes.
It was just another freight run for Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks); get the cargo from port to port just like every job. However, this freight run happened to venture very close to the horn of Africa, by Somalia. And in Somalia, there are pirates. We are dropped in a Somali village, where a local warlord's men bluster in and tell the men of the village to get back to work capturing ships for their boss. Right from the get go, we get the impression that these pirates are not evil, even if they are the antagonists of the film. They have choice between doing what the thugs tell them, or going broke and possibly causing more violence. So they get back in the water, and it isn't long before they and Captain Phillips' ship cross paths. They board the ship, and through a convoluted series of events, end up in the ship's lifeboat with Captain Phillips on board. However, the navy soon shows up, and, well.....most of us remember the news stories. The movie's intensity is searing, and in some scenes becomes almost uncomfortable to watch because of how much it is making you squirm. However, just when you almost begin to consider leaving the theater, the situation shifts and the tension lessens. At least for a while. The film is an emotional rollercoaster in the best way.
Once again, as we have all come to expect, Tom Hanks delivers another pitch perfect and moving performance. He taps into that "ordinaryness" that makes us able to connect with him on a deeper level than almost any actor alive today. He is resourceful and heroic, and does his best to keep his crew safe, but he isn't so much of a hero that the movie ventures into seeming cheesy. Not everything he attempts works out; he didn't plan on being taken hostage. He is genuinely concerned for the pirates as well, he sees that they don't really want to be there and tries to convince them to give up their futile attempts at fortune. The pirates themselves also give very good performances, particularly Barkhad Abdi as Muse, the leader. While he is trying to provide for himself, there is also an aspect of him trying to achieve some sort of greatness and recognition. He thinks if he pulls off this job, he could maybe rise above his station as "just a fisherman". You feel outrage at the crimes he is committing, but also pity. We've all felt discontent, and the desperation that can set in when we are dissatisfied with our situation.
Ultimately, most of this movie's impact comes from the hugely intense last 20 minutes. Shortly before the Navy Seals that have been deployed enact their plan, Muse, marvelling at the chaos, confides to Phillips, "It was supposed to be easy. I take ship.....ransom. No one get hurt." Throughout the movie, Muse had said to Phillips that "everything is gonna be ok". He didn't want or expect things to get to the extent they had gotten to. However, shortly after this, Phillips is left alone and blindfolded in the bloody aftermath of the rescue. Phillips removes the blindfold, and is left aghast at the scene before him. He lets out a heart-wrenching scream of anguish, and then settles into shock. We are left reeling just like Phillips; reeling at the horror of what happens when honest people are driven to desperation. While this is a heartbreaking scene, it is I believe necessary, or even beneficial to watch. To many people are oblivious to the horror that terrorists themselves go through. On another note, this isn't a movie that you can forget about because it was "just a movie". The events of this movie are very real, just like its impact. 9/10
CONTENT: As I mentioned earlier, this is an extremely intense movie. I normally wouldn't mention intensity in the content advisory, but the sheer level of it in this film in my opinion is worth noting. It would be very upsetting for many children or even early teens. The language is minimal, with only occasional mild language. There is violence present, and while most of it is not graphic, there are several beatings that are disturbing. There is only one scene that is becomes rather graphic, and that is the ending. There is no sexual content.
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