Imagine being stranded on a ship in the middle of the
ocean and forced to give away all of your money to complete strangers in order
to save your own life. Based on the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009, Captain Phillips, directed by Paul Greengrass, tells the story of a
courageous crew that was attacked by Somali pirates. More importantly, it tells
the story of the kidnapping and survival of Richard Phillips. The Maersk Alabama cargo ship was sailing on
the Indian Ocean and was bound for Kenya. At the same time, Somali pirates were
planning their attack on the ship to capture millions of dollars.
Tom Hanks plays the character of Richard Phillips. He
portrays Phillips as a man who means business, but as soon as he finds out
there is a possibility that the ship might be attacked, he slowly begins to
unravel and show his vulnerability. As the captain, he is responsible for the
lives of every man on the ship, but Phillips was not quite prepared for the
danger they would be faced with when they were attacked by armed pirates.
Barkhad Abdi takes on the role of Muse, the leader of the
Somali pirates. Muse is looked down upon by most of the Somalis because of his
appearance: small and skinny. His nickname among them is “skinny rat”. He takes
this to heart, for he is the leader of the attackers and he refuses to be
looked at as someone who is a coward. This creates tension between him and the
other three attackers which becomes apparent from the moment they step onto the
ship. When Muse and Phillips come face-to-face for the first time, it is very
clear that Muse strives for the leadership role. Once the Somalis gain control
over the Americans, Muse proclaims, “Look at me, I am the captain now.”
The relationship built between Phillips and Muse
throughout the movie is powerful to say the least. Phillips loses all control
to Muse and is forced to take all orders from him, which includes giving away
their $30,000 that is locked away in the safe. The crew hopes it is enough to
keep them away but that is not all they want: the pirates demand to take
Phillips. Willingly risking his life to save other people on the ship, Phillips
agrees to leave with the pirates. The last hour of the movie will take most viewers
on an emotional journey. Hanks and Abdi build a strong sense of empathy towards
the other character. This movie is recommended for audience members who enjoy
plenty of suspenseful moments, as many will be left holding their breath and on
the edge of their seats.
By:
Natessa Storm
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