Perhaps the timeliness of a movie about a container ship off the coast of Somalia getting hijacked couldn’t be more appropriate with the recent Al-Shabaab attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi and the subsequent Navy SEAL raid in the early morning hours of October 5th. Captain Phillips is based on the true story of Capt. Richard Phillips, whose ship – the Maersk Alabama – was taken hostage by Somali pirates. Actor Tom Hanks plays the role of Phillips.
Tom Hanks and Captain Phillips
The film, to be released on October 11th, has gotten tremendous reviews. Fox says it’s going to ‘fuel deodorant sales’ because of the suspense:
Adapted by Billy Ray from Captain Richard Phillips’ book, “A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea,” the film recounts the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the Maersk Alabama, and Phillip’s harrowing escape and capture in an emergency life raft. Even though many people are familiar with the story’s conclusion, “Captain Phillips” impressively delivers unpredictable white-knuckle suspense.
Just how suspenseful? Circles of sweat were visible on many critics’ backs (this one included) while exiting the theater. Early on, Greengrass goes for the jugular and tightens his hold until the final moments, culminating in one of the greatest releases of tension in any recent film (“Gravity” included).
Apparently, Salon’s Andrew O’Hehir has a problem with the film (h/t Breitbart) and it’s rooted in the far-left, liberal, anti-American illogical nonsense we hear from any number of MSNBC hosts. O’Hehir doesn’t appear to like the Navy SEALs and in his twisted, liberal mind, somehow equates the pirates with victims while portraying American might as the bullies because, well, we’re so much stronger than four malnourished Somali pirates.
What O’Hehir doesn’t get is that the Alabama was an unarmed vessel and those malnourished pirates were very armed. In short, we recommend you go see the film (which we haven’t seen yet), if for no other reason than to make a statement against liberal hacks like O’Hehir.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2