Review: ‘Captain Phillips’ is all thrills

It’s nice to be reminded that you don’t need massive explosions, chase scenes, excessive slow motion or an egregious budget that could feed a nation in order to create an engaging thriller. This is intense, this is powerful, this is tragic– this is “Captain Phillips”: no frills, all thrills.

Captain Phillips takes a multi-layered approach to the real-life events of an American cargo ship off the coast of Somalia raided by pirates in late 2009, and later turns into a tense hostage situation.

What pushes this film beyond the average thriller is its evenhanded approach towards the situation. Rather than demonize the pirates as generic foreigners preying on the helpless white man, we see the other side of the argument and why these hijackers are left with no choice but to engage in criminal activities. Later in the film, when things really go south, you realize these pirates are in just as much trouble as Phillips.

The humanization of these pirates make for an increasingly tense situation, because you’re conflicted in wanting Philips to make it out safe, but you aren’t totally on board to see these pirates harmed or go home empty-handed. I’m not saying they are justified, but you can see where they are coming from.

All of this turns the film into a more intellectually intriguing affair. I left the theater a little more informed about some very troubling globalization issues.

And the pirates wouldn’t be as terrifying or as sympathetic if it weren’t for a batch of terrific performances, with the cream of this unsavory crop being Barkhad Abdi’s portrayal as the pirate captain, Muse. He is a man desperate for what he needs, but does not wish to harm others in the pursuit of his goals. Abdi’s performance is both enigmatic and terrifying.

And let’s not forget Tom Hanks. His wise and calm portrayal of Phillips is very nuanced, letting in little cracks of fear and nervousness that seem genuine. It all comes to a head in the third act with one of the most incredibly emotional performances I’ve ever seen on film. This is some of the Hank’s greatest work, and will surely earn him an Oscar nod.

At first, the film is a little boring because we don’t see much happening, but you will soon realize how important that downtime is later on. Once things get going, they never let up. I found myself literally on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. The relentlessly thrilling and unnerving nature of the movie is the result of some terrific direction.

It’s a solid return to form for Paul Greengrass, who is best known for directing the “Bourne” series. His vision is beautiful in its minimalism, letting the events speak for themselves. The use of shaky-cam and drowned-out colors are implemented just enough to deliver a raw, unfiltered experience. And Greengrass does a terrific job of making every change in circumstance feel like an event. The subtle zoom of the lens and musical cue elevate the tension in each scene.

All of his little touches help us appreciate the severity of what’s going on, without feeling manipulative. I truly felt like I was a part of the crew, and when the pirates first latched on to the boat, my heart plummeted like an anchor.

If I have one complaint, it’s the early reactions of the ship’s crew, who are never truly developed. They are inexperienced and say very cliché things like “I didn’t sign up for this”, or yell out terrible ideas that are ultimately refuted by Phillips to show his wisdom. But I’m really grasping for straws here. The few complaints I have are mere dents on a very sturdy exterior.

I found myself moved and rattled by this unforgettable experience. Captain Phillips is an incredibly paced, acted and directed film that is thoroughly enjoyable and satisfyingly provocative.