Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is a movie inspired from the memoirs of Captain Richard Phillip (merchant mariner) – “A Captain’s Duty” which is based on Captain Phillip’s personal experience and ordeal as a hostage during the Maersk Alabama hijacking of 2009. It is an impressively directed movie and superbly enacted. This movie belongs as much to the villain as to the hero. Barkhad Abdi who plays a Somalian pirate deserves as much praise as Tom Hanks. It is not easy to make a real life story come alive, but this one has hit the bull’s eye… Sit tight as this ship is about to set sail......

Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) takes command of MV Maersk Alabama, a cargo ship, at a port in Oman, and orders to sail through the Gulf of Aden to Mombasa. Right at the onset of the journey, he senses a pirate intrusion off the Somalian coast and orders all security precautions on the vessel. Soon they realise that the ship is being chased by two Somalian boats. Phillips quick thinking and courage manages to foil the first attempt made by the pirates. However, the very next day they are chased again by one of the boats, led by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi), a Somali fisherman. Muse is frail and lean but comes across as a ferocious leader who can not be misread for a naïve fisherman. He looks mean and vicious, but has his reasons which are shown over the course of the movie. He is acting under the direct orders from a warlord. This only compels us to think about the desperate situation of the Somalian life. He must take control of the ship as ordered! Despite the crew’s efforts, the pirates are able to board the ship and take control. Muse hopes to use the ship and its crew for ransom but Phillips sound thinking manages to foil their plans. This sudden turn of events and resistance from the captain and the crew, foils the pirates plan. They take off with the Captain in a life boat and this time ask for millions of dollars for his safety. As the lifeboat heads for the shore, situation gets worse for the pirates as they lose communication with their warlord and startfighting amongst themselves. They are soon followed by the US Navy. What will be the fate of Phillips? Will they actually negotiate? Well surely not to be given away like this…you know how to find out....

The movie is little slow in the second half but the story keeps you engaged. It is always spell binding to see Tom Hanks perform. Tom Hanks is hands down the best choice for this role and this time he takes his performance a notch higher. He is brilliant as Captain Phillips and his portrayal of the character is as real as it can get. I loved watching him in each frame and especially in the last sequence where he is being taken for a check- up. The fear and the shock he portrays in the same minute is palpable. When he cried, I cried with him too… Barkhad Abdi also deserves a special mention for his performance. He is brilliant as the pirate. He is focused and knows what he wants. I like the scene when Phillips tries to convince Muse but he refuses stating that “he has come too far and will not surrender”. It makes one think that the meaning of survival is not same for everyone….There are different definitions for different people. This is a MUST watch for all the movie buffs who like some good entertainment and an equally good story. Definitely worth a watch!!!
In terms of story, performances, direction, entertainment and characterisation, I rate this movie as 5/5.

Nidhi