Captain Phillips Reviews

Even though Paul Greengrass eventually became famous thanks to the Bourne franchise, I actually always preferred his very realistic thrillers based on some historical events ('United 93' and 'Bloody Sunday') and he was coming up this time with something similar. There was one slight difference though. Indeed, with this movie, we were not dealing with some real historical event though, even if the background was definitely realistic and compelling, but with a supposedly true story told from one specific angle and some people already argued that Richard Phillips might not have been such a great guy after all. Anyway, in this case, I didn't really care if the story was true or not, I just enjoyed the fact that it was a really believable and very well made thriller. Indeed, except for Tom Hanks and Catherine Keener, all the actors were pretty much unknown and the way they behaved and talked made me believe that they were actually really the real thing. There was only one area which sometimes was off though. Indeed, half of the time the Somali pirates were talking, the English they used was just way too complex for some guys who probably had very little contact with English speaking people. Also, it could have been interesting if they had developed a little bit more the background of the Somali pirates, it was nice that they gave us a glimpse of their life but this glimpse could have been extended. Anyway, to conclude, I would rather have such a realistic documentary-like thriller than any preposterous feature coming from Hollywood and I think this movie is definitely worth a look.

Courage under fire makes for great storytelling, if it’s done properly. Captain Phillips, more often than not, does this type of story incredibly well. Inspired by true events, it gives us an everyman straining to keep a level head and turn the quickly escalating situations towards his favor. An ominous blip on the radar is just the beginning of a series of twists and turns that feel too good to be real, which inevitability means that they are.

What’s most interesting about Captain Phillips is how it begins with contrasting, yet not entirely dissimilar, montages of the two main characters waking up and preparing to go out on the ocean. One of them is a middle-aged white man from the First World’s middle-class, the other skeletal Somali pirate from the Third World who seems to be burning with hunger. It is when Captain Phillips focuses in on this thought process, of how the First and Third World experiences are buttressing against each other in conflict and occasional bits of understanding and empathy, that the film soars.

When forced to become fierce and threatening, the skeletal Muse, leader of the Somali pirates, becomes a wraith-like figure with eyes that burn in desperation to obtain a piece of wealth for himself. Yet we can’t help but feel the tiniest bit of sympathy for this man. Much of that credit goes to the complicated performance from Barkhad Abdi, a first-timer who digs deep into his own life experience and emerges with a reading of the character that feels lived in and empathetic. That Abdi is able to hold the screen with Tom Hanks, and appear to be a more indomitable force than the beloved actor is a true testament to his skills. I hope there are some great character parts available to him in the future as I would love to see what else he can bring to a film.

It’s odd to think of Tom Hanks and snubbed in the same sentence, he did win back-to-back Oscars after all, but here we are. This year’s Best Actor category was heavily loaded with at least ten possibilities for nominees, and since there are only five slots available, Hanks’s work here became one of the great unappreciated. A major problem with Captain Phillips is that the script never truly fleshes out its main characters or develops them beyond our initial meetings with them, that they become something more falls squarely on the shoulders of Hanks and Abdi filling in the blanks. For the final scene, in which Phillips finally breaks after everything is all over, Hanks digs deep and delivers some of his finest acting in quite some time. If I had a hand in voting, and it pains me to say this since I love them both so much, I probably would have dropped Christian Bale’s fine work in American Hustle for Hanks in this. This final nervous breakdown, a cathartic moment for everyone to breathe after going through the hellfire right by his side, is what solidifies Captain Phillips as a visceral, enthralling film in the end.

The movie is inspired by the American cargo ship called Maersk Alabama's hijacking that took place in 2009 on the eastern coast of Africa. For many who think it is similar to Danish movie 'A Hijacking' it is not. Both the movies are about Somalian pirates, but a totally different stories which were based on individual true events. One was very much realistic about ransom negotiation and the other one was a clean entertainer on the opposite.

Maersk Alabama is the first American ship to be hijacked in over 200 years. Tom Hanks as captain Richard Phillip was brilliant. He continues to give his performances on the variety of roles in his movies compared to any other actors. That is why he's one of the rare actors in all fine movies of his.

As a formality the movie begins with the story where the captain Phillips' journey commence from his residence in America. After he flee to Oman to take his ship back to his country, he encounters the threat from a small group of pirates. Once the ship was held by the Somalians pirates the series of incidents occurs before the captain is taken as a hostage in a lifeboat. Then after there's no drama, everything was remarkably shown in those crucial parts with a slightly drag in ending. But the tensions were very well captured and wonderfully exhibited to us.

With an excellent direction from the director of the Bourne movie series, this movie came in his another top-notch. The movie had plenty of thrilling scenes takes you to the edge of your seat. One of those segments where I got stunned was when the ship was being held by pirates and when navy approaches to the lifeboat. In those parts I just said, wow!. Now my eyes on OSCAR, how many it will gain and lose is I must wait and watch.

8.5/10

This is what a solid Hollywood production looks like. Very good acting, very good characters, very good execution. Captain Phillips is over 2 hours long, but there's not an ounce of fat on it. The film is intense, never boring, and it constantly keeps you guessing. And yet, while there's not much to complain about, it's not until the last 10 minutes that we are ever treated to something truly spectacular.

Based off of a true story, Tom Hanks portrays Captain Rich Phillips whose cargo ship is taken over by Somali pirates. Phillips is forced to employ his keen wit in hopes of outsmarting the pirates, but everything isn't as black and white as one might think.

As I have said, roughly 2 hours of this movie represents solid film-making. You can see the craft and the skill, and it's not difficult to tell that this movie was constructed carefully and thoughtfully. And yet, nothing about this movie screams "Oscar contender" until the last 10 minutes. That is when we get a marvelous display of heart-wrought emotion, tension, and acting. In the last 10 minutes, I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, with my rear on the very end of my seat. Frankly speaking, the final 10 minutes of Captain Phillips alone is worth the price of admission.

The characters are developed lovingly. Captain Phillips, while he may be perceived as a generic hero, has some surprising depth, and certainly some personal flaws that allow him to feel human. The pirates (namely Muse) are also portrayed in a surprisingly human light (despite their savage introductions). Such blurred lines in considering true evil is most refreshing and appreciated.

But of course, Captain Phillips is indeed a thriller. And it certainly thrills. It is a rare moment when you're not fearing for the life of not only Captain Phillips, but his crew as well. This is an intense experience, made even more impressive by the general lack of violence.

It's thanks to the layered and interesting characters, as well as the accelerated feeling of intensity that a film with so simple of a story can feel so engaging and full of depth.

The cinematography might bother some, because while it does create a claustrophobic feel, the in-your-face camera angles might be distracting for some. Oh yeah, and there's shaky cam, which actually made me slight nauseous during some scenes. Oh well, you get used to it.

Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips is great, but it's his last 10 minutes on screen that really sell the part. Yes, those last 10 minutes are truly spectacular. Barkhad Abdi as the ring-leader pirate, Abduwali Muse has been picking up a lot of praise, but frankly, the performance isn't as good as you've heard. It's solid, but I sincerely believe the only reason Abdi's performance has been so well received is because of his lack of training in this area. Considering that, it's an impressive performance. But it's merely "good" on it's own terms- which is not a bad thing at all, I should add.

The score is primarily composed by Henry Jackman, but it has passed through many hands (including those of Hans Zimmer), and has been re-edited many times. It still manages to feel cohesive, but that hardly matters, because the score is weak. I can't deny that the score does amplify the events onscreen (and there's some interesting percussion in the first act of the film). But there's not a single interesting melody or theme as far as I can tell, and the score is simply too synthetic for my tastes. The worst, however, is at the very end, where we hear one of the most blatant uses of plagiarism in the history of music: Zimmer's "Time" from Inception is playing at the final scene. Same chords, same instrumentation, same everything. It almost ruins the mesmerizing finale.

Captain Phillips could be described as a journey to get to the last 10 minutes. And while the last 10 minutes are unarguably the best, that's taking too much away from the preceding 2 hours. This is a good film, worth watching. It's an intense experience, and a remarkably thoughtful one, further assisted by strong performances and tight pacing.

"Listen up, we have been boarded by armed pirates. If they find you, remember, you know this ship, they don't. Stick together and we'll be alright. Good luck."

Director Paul Greengrass' first motion picture in a number of years, 2013's Captain Phillips finds the seasoned filmmaker back in familiar territory, utilising his intense documentary-style approach to tell the true story of the first pirate takeover of an American vessel since the 19th Century. It's a riveting, incredibly intense picture, but it also feels like Greengrass is playing it too safe; it's closer to Green Zone than United 93, eschewing the sophistication and emotional impact of the latter film in favour of the more simplistic storytelling of the former. Nevertheless, it's easy to be impressed with Captain Phillips, with its superb technical presentation and strong acting right down the line. Nails will be chewed, and armrests will be clenched, which is more than what can be said for a lot of movies coming out of Hollywood these days.

Taking command of the freighter ship the Maersk Alabama, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) is tasked with transporting cargo through the Gulf of Aden in Somalia. It's dangerous waters for the crew, as piracy runs rampant, prompting Phillips to keep his men alert by staging consistent drills. Unfortunately, Phillips is soon faced with real danger when four armed Somali pirates, led by Muse (Barkhad Abdi), successfully board the vessel, seeking to hold the crew hostage in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom money. While Phillips' crew remain in lockdown in the engine room, the captain is captured at gunpoint, careful to cooperate with his kidnappers to minimise casualties. Events begin to turn against the pirates, though, forcing them into the ship's lifeboat. But they choose to take Phillips with them in a last-ditch attempt for fortune.

Adapted from Phillips' own memoirs, Billy Ray's script unfortunately omits a vital component of the real-life story. See, Phillips was specifically advised to remain at least 600 miles off the Somali coast but purposely ignored this order, navigating through dangerous pirate territory nevertheless. Phillips is thus at fault for what happened, a fact that has been emphasised by Phillips' crew, who launched lawsuits and have publically stated this his recklessness put their lives in danger. By excluding this aspect, Greengrass' film paints Phillips as an all-round hero, neglecting what had the potential to be a fascinating moral undercurrent. Sure, the film should be judged as an adaptation rather than a documentary, but it nevertheless feels overly vanilla and safe, and a layer of absorbing complexity would've been added if Phillips was forced to confront the fact that he has to shoulder some of the blame.

Fortunately, Captain Phillips ultimately gets more right than wrong. Before the pirate takeover of the vessel, Greengrass offers efficient scenes of character development, depicting Phillips as just a regular guy who kisses his wife (Catherine Keener) goodbye before leaving for what's expected to be another simple job. Greengrass also shows the other side of the coin, contrasting this against the hostile lifestyle in Somalia, where Muse carefully chooses a crew of pirates. Miraculously, there's a sense of realism to all of this, as Greengrass refuses to add any Hollywood sensationalism to the proceedings. The actual pirate takeover is one of the most enthralling sequences of the year due to its sheer intensity; it's more terrifying than most horror movies from the past few years. Hanks sheds his movie star sensibilities to play Phillips, placing forth his most believable work in years. It's possible to get lost in the illusion, which is a massive credit to Hanks. You feel his anxiety and fear, and towards the end, you genuinely believe that he's in shock. He's getting older, but Hanks is still one of the most reliable thespians in the industry.

The immediacy of Greengrass' filmmaking ensures that nothing in Captain Phillips feels staged or fake. The ship was not reconstructed in a Hollywood studio - filming took place on the Alabama's sister ship, hence everything from the bridge to the mess hall looks authentic. Greengrass keeps the picture grounded throughout, infusing it with maturity and class, justifying all of the Oscar chatter. The movie eventually leaves the Alabama's decks, taking to the seas inside a tiny lifeboat. There's an immense sense of claustrophobia during these scenes, and you feel the sweltering, aggressive atmosphere as Muse and his dispirited men keep Phillips hostage while the U.S. Navy considers its options. Barry Ackroyd's cinematography is exceptional throughout, though Greengrass struggles to maintain an agreeable pace once the action shifts to the lifeboat. The second half is too overlong, with the experience eventually becoming gruelling and repetitive. At least ten or fifteen minutes could've been cut to tighten the pacing, but Greengrass thankfully redeems himself for a marvellous climax. Captain Phillips does not deliver the gut-wrenching emotional sucker-punch of United 93, but the finale is nevertheless very powerful. In fact, the final five minutes are borderline unforgettable, with harrowing images of Phillips' kidnapping ordeal being brought to an end.

It's perhaps best to watch Captain Phillips with minimal knowledge of the real-life occurrences, as you'll feel more tension. We know that Phillips will survive, but if you don't know how the situation was resolved, you will be chewing your fingernails to the bone, wondering what's about to happen next. And even if you do know all of the specifics of the event, Greengrass' film gives you the opportunity to experience what it would be like to be stuck in such a terrifying predicament. It's a true slice-of-life movie, and it's both absorbing and intense.

7.0/10

In recent years, we have witnessed the release of multiple biography-dramas. While they are re-telling certain events in the magical world of cinema, there are not many out there which clench the emotional drama or intensity during its time setting, especially if it is from the perspective of an individual character. Paul Greengrass already blew our minds with his unbelievably realistic, stomach-turning 9/11 drama-thriller United 93, and seven years later, he has achieved that once more with Captain Phillips, which revisits Captain Richard Phillips’ experience of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009. Greengrass has been known for his auteurist style for depicting real-life dramatized events with his unique camera style and approach to Captain Phillips ultimately paid off. Here we have another masterpiece from Greengrass that will leave you off the edge of your seat and is a strong Best Picture contender.


Paul Greengrass has always been a director of documentary-like technicality. His most notable attribute as an auteur has been his effective use of shaky camera. This is sometimes a huge gamble as its continuously wobbly movement could confuse the audience as to what is happening in a scene. Greengrass is the master of this technique because it is perhaps as close as a film can get to grasp a sense of reality, in a similar style to documentary. With all of the thrills, action and suspense that Captain Phillips possesses, the implication of Greengrass’ wobbly filming style worked beautifully. If anything, it got the audience even more involved as a realistic drama but it still worked tremendously as an escapist film.


Another substantial quality in Captain Phillips is the nail-biting suspense. Admittedly, the film begins like it is an ordinary day but the appearance of the Somali pirates and the hijacking picks up the pace. From this point, the suspense gets higher, the surroundings get more claustrophobic and the audience’s uncomfortable predicament gets tighter. Greengrass progressively tightens and zooms on the suspense through his technical style and narrative flow which we, the spectators, are almost reaching out of our seats and begin to find it more difficult to endure. Nevertheless, the amount of stomach-turning tension that Captain Phillips bestowed perhaps could not have got any higher than Greengrass’ shaky-camera techniques and of course, Tom Hanks in the leading role.


Particularly in his most famous roles, Tom Hanks has delivered performances as characters either in search of a unique adventure or are forced into one. His appearance in Captain Phillips is in some ways a typecast because it is once again, a film that features Hanks practically on his own in which the plot’s central focus is on the circumstances of his on-screen character, similar to Cast Away. In Captain Phillips, especially in the film’s second act, the audience are there with Phillips every step of the way and Hanks’ portrayal of a terrified yet brave and noble man really shines. It is perhaps his greatest performance in a long time and he is undoubtedly a contender for Best Leading Actor. While Hanks’ is leading the cast like he almost always does, a stand-out performance in Captain Phillips is newcomer Barkhad Abdi as pirate leader Muse. In his first ever acting role, Abdi reaches up to the hype and formed a superb chemistry with Hanks. Muse is a complex character as he, like Phillips, wants to do what is right for his country, current situation but does it in a wrong but rather desperate way which demoralizes his objective and perhaps the poor Somalia people. Nevertheless, Abdi’s first on-screen appearance is an inspiration to amateur actors and he deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.


Captain Phillips is a gifted thriller which possesses the ability to maintain exhilarating suspense and emotional exhaustion upon the audience. The fact it was based on a true story, one that occurred only in 2009, depicts further historical involvement and Greengrass’ technical documentary-like style practically seals that. At the same time, it is rather unpredictable for a bio-pic as narrative events, characters and camera shots are thrown around everywhere examining and tightening the circumstances. Thus, Captain Phillips gives Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty a run for its money and it could become Greengrass’ greatest opportunity yet at Oscar glory as well as for Tom Hanks to claim his third Academy Award win.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Captain Phillips is an account of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009, in which Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by Somali pirates.
When I first heard about this movie, the first thing that struck me was how unbelievably lame the title was! I mean, how much more generic can you get? I thought, "That can't be the official title!" Luckily, the film itself turned out to be much more interesting. :)
Since I don't know the true story, I thought it was going to take place entirely on the ship as the pirates' attacks are fended off. But actually, that's only the first half. The second half takes place on the lifeboat, as the pirates attempt to get the captain back to shore and the Navy tries to stop them peacefully. That adds a great diversity to the movie, constantly keeping things fresh and tense.
This also applies to the character of Captain Phillips himself: he's given a good range of emotions to work with, from determinedly defending his ship to fearing for his life. I'm a huge Tom Hanks fan, and here he delivers yet another performance to be proud of. The only thing that might prevent him getting an Oscar nomination is that apparently the movie seriously twists the facts in order to portray the captain as more of a hero than he really was.
Still, in its own right, this is a very enjoyable movie, rich in suspense and momentum.

My rating: 75%

'Captain Phillips' is an incredibly enjoyable movie, Tom Hanks delivers one of his best performances in a true masterpiece

Tom Hanks is a decent choice for Captain Phillips and appears alongside Barkhad Abdi who is also very good

'Captain Phillips' is smart and detailed with very good directing and cinematography, may well turn out to be the best movie of 2013 yet

To conclude 'Captain Phillips' is clever and absolutely powerful and a must-see especially for the biggest Tom Hanks fans

Tom Hanks has the potential to be a game changer in any film he is in. During Captain Phillips, he not only elevates his own game but he helps become part of a larger picture one that is focused on everyone involved.

Captain Richard Phillips is sailing a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia when he is crew are attacked by four pirates looking for money. Captain Phillips tries to out manoeuvre the pirates, but his ultimate goal is to make sure nothing happens to his crew.

There is always a sense of looming dread that is carried right from the opening frame until the final frame, but Captain Phillips hits the panic button when the pirates begin boarding the cargo ship. From that point on it is relentless, nerve racking and intense. It never allows you a moment to relax, breath and think everything might be alright. It keeps it's grip firmly planted, tightening around you as the experiences of Captain Phillips become tense. It's impossible not to feel completely immersed in the atmosphere as this film cuts you off from the real word and takes you on a horrific ride through a scenario that lasts only a couple of days but is so hardwired with cut throat intensity your pulse will be pounding by the time it is over.

As an entire film there moments of Captain Phillips that are drawn up Hollywoodized versions of the truth, but really when is that not the case? When it all begins to head for the climax, it seems rather focused on becoming one of those films that comes down to the final moments rather then about the people involved in the ordeal. That was the only time this film lost track of this being a character piece and not another Hollywood story. This actually happened in real life, out in the middle of African waters and it surely would have been the most harrowing experience of any mans life. There are moments when Tom Hanks is the key to upping the stakes and adding to the atmosphere, and there are times when Paul Greengrass succumbs to traditional action film tactics to remind us that Hollywood tends to do these type of thing in order to create a more dynamic conclusion.

Captain Phillips relies heavily on Tom Hanks being the sole member of the cast with a recognizable amount of fame, but at times they deviate from him being the central focus and allow for the Somalian characters to take a moment of spotlight, especially the leader played by Barkhad Abdi. His bony physique and sunken face make allow for his scenes of brutality to be more menacing, but even through out the entire ordeal Muse seems to have a genuine concern for the Captain of the American cargo ship. Abdi is able to counter balance Hanks' fervent performance, creating a character who's layers make you question why it all had to end up happening this way. Hanks may be the star and the lead actor who can carry the film no other , but it Abdi is the key piece to creating a film thats focus right from the start was more a study of the characters psyche during the ordeal then it was about time-honoured action expectancies.

Overall Captain Phillips stays the course, and provides a narrative that could quite possibly be one of the most compelling films of 2013 and an easy lock for a best picture nomination. If you stay the course with this film, and take the Hollywoodized scenes with the raw and gripping scenes you will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat unable to take a moment to look away. You will absolutely be immersed in this engaging tale of survival, just remember to take a breath when it is all said and done.