Movie Review: "Captain Phillips" (2013)

Movie: "Captain Phillips"
Director: Paul Greengrass
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes

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Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) is the captain of an unarmed cargo freighter, the Maersk Alabama, which ships goods around the horn of Africa. Muse (Barkhad Abdi) is a fisherman forced into piracy by a local warlord. While Phillips and his crew are traveling through international waters off the coast of Somalia, they are attacked by Muse and his group of 3 fellow pirates who overtake the ship and eventually kidnap Phillips to hold for ransom.

WOW.

The only word we can think of to describe this film is gripping. To be honest, we didn't really remember how the situation with Captain Phillips and the Somalian pirates played out in real life. This was only a few short years ago, but how quickly we forget.

Regardless, we were on the edge of our seats watching it being played out on the big screen. Tom Hanks was marvelous, as always, but the true show-stealer was Barkhad Abdi. You truly feel for his character, who at one point proudly exclaims that he has hijacked a $6 million Greek ship in the past; it's obvious that he still lives in a rundown dirt-floored home in Somalia with no bed and no riches. This movie really makes viewers sympathize with not only the kidnapped Captain Phillips, but with the pirates as well. We understand their role as villains and though we don't ever root for them, we know that they are also victims in some way.

You know, it's actors like Tom Hanks that keep us interested and excited to watch movies each and every week. You really believe him as the characters he plays, and you feel like he has the best intentions at heart for every role. He is so, so good. He is captivating to watch in this, well, in each and every movie, really.

This will be one of the best movies of the year and we won't be surprised if it garner multiple Oscar nominations.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!