Reviewed by: Nabila Hatimy
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The movie opens with Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), a regular family man, being dropped off by his wife at the airport. The captain is immediately portrayed as a stern and by the book guy as he walks through the ship checking everything. He orders everything, all doors and access points, to be locked.
The captain is nervous because he is supposed to steer the Maersk Alabama from Salalah Port in Oman, to Djibouti and finally to Mombasa Port in Kenya. A dangerous route as they would have to pass through the Somali basin- which in 2009 was notorious for piracy.
Elsewhere on the shores of Somalia, young boys are rounded up by armed militia ordering them to go to 'work' as the boss wants money. Two groups leave on different speed boats, one of which carries Muse's team.
The role of Aduwali Muse is played by the great talent Somali born-American citizen Barkhad Abdi and his comrades Najee (Faysal Ahmed) Elmi (Mahat M Ali) and Bilal (Barkhad Abdirahman).
When the captain got more email alerts of Somali pirates being increasingly active, he orders impromptu drills, and it was in the middle of this drill that the pirates show up.
They quickly alert the Maritime Centre for help and are told to proceed with their emergency drill as those could just be fishermen. To which Captain Phillips retorts, "They are not here to fish!" When the pirates get near, the captain fakes a radio call to the navy. When the pirates hear this one boat turns back except Muse's.
The pirates are successful after one failed attempt at which the captain has prepared his panicked crew. They were to hide in the bowels of the ship and not come out till he gave them the safe word.
The chief engineer shut down all engines so that the pirate don't take the ship. The captain assures the pirates that the ship was broken. Muse however tells Phillips he is not here to play games.
The plot thickens as the pirates take off in the life boat with Phillips. The brilliant work of Director Paul Greengrass (Bourne Ultimatum) is evident when the Navy arrives. The action and suspense is so intense that nothing is predictable.
The Somalis show they have nothing to loose and everything to gain even when the SEALs are deployed they are very delicate in handling the situation. Their goal is clear; to get the captain out alive, nothing else mattered.
The Navy Seal Commander (Max Martini- Revenge) informs the pirates that the clan elders are aboard the Navy ship and would like to negotiate for the captain's safe release. Desperate for the elder's approval, Muse is taken to the Navy ship where he's held by armed SEALs.
The other three pirates are even more agitated. Najee tries to execute Phillips when he finds him writing a farewell note to his wife. The pirates fight amongst themselves and finally tie up and blindfold Phillips.
Three SEAL marksmen get a clear shot on the three pirates and are ordered to excecute them. Blindfolded, Phillips sees nothing but screams during the gun fire. He is towed and taken aboard the navy ship where he is attended to as he goes into shock. Muse is taken into custody and arrested for piracy.
The movie is powerful with unexpected twists such as feeling sympathy for the enemy. Hank's performance is as prolific as is his legendary career with an Oscar buzz for Abdi's powerful performance. This is a must watch film. Captain Phillips is in theatres now.
Star rating: 5 stars