In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Thursday 12 December 2013

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS [2013]

Director Paul Greengrass tells the riveting and intense true story of Captain Phillips and his cargo ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates.
Greengrass knows how to put the viewer in extreme unease and here he displays it with minimal setting changes which makes it all the more impressive.  It'd be easy to turn the pirates into one dimensional baddies but fortunately they're given some character as we see the world through their eyes which was a surprise when I was expecting a "Go America!" type of film.  The lead pirate is brilliantly played by newcomer Barkhad Abdi who layers him with intensity, fear and thoughtfulness.  Hanks doesn't have a whole lot to play with here until the two minutes of the film and that reduced me to tears within seconds.
A great action film that doesn't speak down to it's audience that will probably go on to sweep up the nominations come awards season.

3½ shards of broken glass out of 5

2 comments:

Dr Faustus said...

It sounds better than Capitan Ron.

cuckoo said...

Sounds like you just assigned yourself your next PoS Nut assignment.

...unless Bud already wiped his Nuts on Captain Ron. I don't recall.