From the first moment that we see two skiffs transporting Somali
Pirates battling the open ocean and gaining on the merchant freighter
they are pursuing through the binoculars of Tom Hanks’ Captain Richard
Phillips the tension in Paul Greengrass’ (
United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum) astonishingly credible thriller remains relentless.
Based on an actual 2009 hijacking case and Phillips’ autobiography,
A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, there
is genuine heart-in-mouth suspense as both sides of this terrifying
open-ocean occupation – Phillips and the crew of Maersk Alabama, and the
four Somali raiders – are given equal attention and admirably
humanised.
First and foremost, Hanks gives an incredible performance, and this
amazing story has been given a fitting dramatisation – albeit one of
nerve-shredding authenticity, and predominantly free of Hollywood
dramatic manipulation and U.S ‘save-the-day’ bravado – by the gifted
Greengrass. He weaves a tale documenting not just that of one man’s
survival under extreme pressure, but a clash of first and third world
economic values and two very different, but equally desperate men who
have a job to do and work for other people, yet put their lives on the
line to see it done.
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