Captain Phillips (2013)

We know that the world is changing and that this story will lead to an event of extreme danger. We know this because Captain Phillips tells his wife in the opening scene that the world is changing as they drive in heavy traffic to the docks to board his new ship. The drive on the motorway has echoes of the opening scene in Falling Down where Michael Douglas’s character is seen abandoning his car.

Abandonment is the last thing Captain Phillips has on his mind when Somali pirates, poor fishermen press ganged into kidnapping big ships for big money, board his ship.

The filming of the action is dramatically authentic and this is especially so in the first half of the film when the ship is chased by small speed boats and – even when the hoses are turned on full pressure all around the vessel and rapid course changes are made to out manoeuvre them – the pirates risk their lives in getting a ladder hooked onto the side and they board the ship.

The capture of the ship and the subsequent escape by the pirates with a hostage (no spoilers!) dominates the story narrative. The characterisation, particularly of the Captain and the pirate leader, Muse, is delivered in sweat and blood by Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi.

From setting the scene initially on a massive container ship, progressing to a tiny motorised life boat is a stroke of genius. The camera work is tight and this ratchets up the tension. To then make certain that we are under no illusion that the story is taking place at sea in the middle of a vast ocean – we see images of the sky leading down to the horizon and then the ocean, ending in aerial shots of whatever vessels are in the action. This is not innovative camera work – just skilful. Showing us, not telling us.

This camera technique is put to excellent use at the end when we get to realise that the US is not going to allow Captain Phillips to be kidnapped and sends out what seems to be a significant percentage of its naval fleet plus a platoon of navy SEALS.

Tom Hanks performance as a seasoned merchant shipping master is remarkable for its measured delivery. This is not one of his stereotypical, treacly big movie roles. This is an actor performing at the top of his craft and career. As Phillips, his leadership skills are put to the test when he congratulates his crew for fending off the pirates and their response is to remind him that as union members they are not contracted to defend the ship against pirates in the way he is asking them to. This is a do or die moment which he ably deals with, knowing that, by being at sea, he has the upper hand.

This is a roller coaster of a film gripping the audience from beginning to end, in true naval fashion requiring a stiff drink afterwards.