adminProf Joel White At the Movies
Film: Captain Phillips
Cast: Barkhad Abdi, Tom Hanks, Max Martini, Catherine Keener, Chris Mulkay, Corey Johnson.
Director: Paul Greenglass
Cinema: Eastgate
Running time: 136 minutes
Type of film: Danger at sea
Age restriction: 16
Perhaps, in this case, it is a mistake to write about a film immediately after seeing it. Especially, again in this case, I am tempted to use sup0erlatives, going out on a limb saying something like: “It’s the greatest adventure film I’ve ever seen; the greatest action film.”
And maybe, tomorrow, I wouldn’t regret having said that. But maybe I would. Either way, if you are a fan of film adventure and action, and you wish to satisfy your taste before the year’s end, go — rush — to Eastgate and you will sit on the edge of one of their lovely seats for almost 2-1/2 hours of non-stop action and suspense.
And if you are one who believes that truth can be stranger than fiction, know that virtually everything we see on screen actually happened. And as recently as the year 2010.
And what happened is that a fully laden American cargo vessel, of the Maersk Line of the State of Alabama, while sailing off the coast of Somalia, is boarded and subdued by a row-boat containing only 4 locals.
This absolutely huge American vessel, with dozens of crew members, contains not a single weapon, and is taken over by four men in rags. Sceptical? Yes, I was but we are assured at the end of the film that this actually happened and we are even told of the prison sentences which were ultimately meted out.
A film that focuses, single mindedly, on this small patch of sea, and concentrates the audience’s mind on the tug of war and mental battle between Captain Phillips magnificently portrayed by Tom Hanks and four coastal ragamuffins.
The stalemate is only resolved by the entrance on the scene of three huge battle wagons of the US Fleet. Not only is this one of the great action films of all time and true in every major respect but it delves deeply and rewardingly into the thought processes of persons on both sides of a dilemma in which only one can emerge a winner.
Not least of the reasons this film is given the highest commendations the long absent appearance of Tom Hanks.
Online Reporter