Captain Phillips
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi
Director: Paul Greengrass
Category: IIB
★★★★☆
This visceral drama, expertly directed by Paul Greengrass, stars Tom Hanks as the captain of a container ship that's captured by a violent gang of Somali pirates and held to ransom.
A technical tour de force, some naturalistic acting from pirates and crew alike, and a fast-moving script make for a gripping film which never sacrifices realism for excitement.
Adapted from the autobiographical A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy Seals, and Dangerous Days at Sea by the real-life Richard Phillips, the story begins with the captain bidding farewell to his wife (Catherine Keener), who laments his departure for another long trip, this time on the container ship MV Maersk Alabama.
As soon as he arrives on board, Phillips, a solid and experienced seafarer, checks the ship's security procedures, as he's aware that they might encounter Somali pirates on their voyage.
Meanwhile, in Somalia, the bandit Muse (Barkhad Abdi) puts together a rag-tag band of pirates anxious to earn some cash by bagging a passing vessel.