Captain Phillips
2013  PG-13  DRAMA  2h 14min
CAST— Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi
MUSIC— Henry Jackman  DIRECTOR— Paul Greengrass  BASED ON— True events

     No romanticized caricatures here. These pirates are the real deal. Tom Hanks plays the title character, a commercial seaman whose latest voyage may just be his last. Skirting the horn of Africa his ship is pursued by a skiff carrying Somali pirates, experienced cutthroats who regularly collect millions from cargo ships. As the crew huddle in the bowels of the ship the pirates demand money from Hanks, eventually holding him for ransom in the ship’s enclosed lifeboat. Now with transport the pirates head for home, with the US military intent on stopping them in International waters, thereby avoiding the risk of political red tape. Incredibly this tense drama is inspired by a true incident, which adds weight to the overall experience, transforming one’s viewing into a real nail-biter. Much lauded for the performances of Hanks and lead pirate Barkhad Abdi, the film is tight and concise, never wavering from a solid foundation. A winner not to be missed.
OUR RATING— *** ½