Producing a film adaptation of a true story is always a struggle. Some liberties must be taken and Captain Phillips is likely no exception. Based on the book co-written by Phillips himself, it’s hard to say exactly how accurate it all is (apparently the pending lawsuits from various crew members tell a different version of what occurred). What is certain is that it must have been a truly harrowing experience. And the film, taken simply as a fictional tale based upon a real event, is for the most part a very taut and effective hostage drama.
The opening scene introduces Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) as a working class family man, just trying doing his job and survive difficult economic times. Minutes later, the lead arrives in Africa and begins sailing the Maersk Alabama to Kenya. Almost immediately, the vessel finds itself being followed by Somali pirates and eventually comes under assault. Literally under the gun, Phillips is forced to think quickly, telling tales and lies to keep the robbers at bay until help arrives.
This movie excels at creating and maintaining tension and a physical threat to the crewmembers – that much cannot be debated. In a manner similar to other films of director Paul Greengrass (United 93, The Borne Supremacy and The Borne Ultimatum), the camera is often used in a handheld manner. It may be a fairly routine technique these days, but in this instance it still works to help convey a naturalistic and almost documentary feeling. The frequent camera moves lend an urgency to the proceedings.
Hanks acquits himself well in the role of the put-upon captain. It’s a minor beef, but one wishes he hadn’t been written in quite so noble a manner. Perhaps things really did play out this way, but there were a few brief moments that strain believability. Despite their imposing, menacing attributes, the filmmaker also tries to lend a bit of humanity to the pirates (the two most prominent dynamically played by Barkhad Abdi and Faysal Ahmed). They too, are desperate for whatever wealth they can amass. It may be lost on many, but it is also intriguing that the most violent and short tempered robber is correct to be so distrustful of his prisoners.
Truthfully, while it remains generally tense, the drama does begin to lag in the film’s second half. There’s a setting change and the action is confined to a tiny, claustrophobic lifeboat. At a certain point, the vocal threats become repetitive and the introduction of new characters, including U.S. Navy members and tactical Navy SEALs, bog down the pacing. Ultimately, there’s not much that can be done about it, but after the fast-paced chases, ship searches and confrontations early on, events can’t help but start to feel a little dragged out.
Caveats aside, Greengrass has succeeded in creating a mostly tension-filled ride. At the end of the day, Captain Phillips is a well crafted thriller that should keep most viewers reeling on the edge of their seats.