Captain Phillips


Tom Hanks is not really a favourite actor of mine,....he bored me rigid in the bloody awful Castaway a few years back, so I have not been drawn to anything he has been in ever since..... But in Paul Greengrass' hijack drama Captain Phillips , Hanks carries the entire film with some of the best acting I have seen in a long time.
Playing the title role, Hanks  portrays the  " ordinary man caught up in extra ordinary circumstances" which seems a favourite subject of Greengrass' who made the desperately harrowing United 93, which told the story of the 9/11 aircraft passengers and their fight with the al-Qaeda  hijackers.
In this film Phillips is the strict Captain of an American cargo ship who has to play a cat and mouse game with four poor Somali fishermen turned hijackers who board his vessel off the Somali coast.
The action zigzags from cargo ship to lifeboat as Philips is taken sole hostage and for over two hours Greengrass cranks up the tension almost unbearably at times before the faceless American forces arrive to save the day.
Hanks is the real heart of the film, and in the last ten minutes, where we see his unflinching and raw portrayal of a man in deep shock, he very nearly breaks your heart.

36 comments:

  1. I saw this on Friday and I completely agree: it was WONDERFUL. I was bawling at the end. Ugly hiccuphing bawling. And the action kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

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  2. I like Tom Hanks movies, I am sure this was quite good.

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  3. I can't wait to see this. I am seeing it next Wednesday. Thanks for the review!

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  4. This film has had fantastic reviews and now yours .... a must see I think ......... the last 10 minutes has reduced grown men to tears..... up for an Oscar next year probably. XXXX

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  5. I was also going to see this today but found that if I leave it till next week I can get in for £3, so glad that you beat me to it.
    And you give quite a recommendation so am looking forward to it more than I was - particularly as the too-often seen trailer was starting to put me off it. Thanks.

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    1. Try to ignore the " yanks to the rescue" bit.....I am sure you will enjoy it

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  6. Captain Phillips? I bet you were disappointed when you discovered it wasn't going to be about Princess Anne's ex-husband. As for Tom Hanks - I am surprised that you never rated him till now. To me he is a brilliant film actor who has succeeded in a wide range of roles. I shall try to see "Captain Phillips" myself - sounds good.

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    1. Oh I just knew you were going to do a princess Anne gag! And you didn't fail me

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  7. oh good...can't wait to see it. i love tom hanks in anything! the real crew from the incident are up in arms about the film.

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  8. I came to your blog expecting a diatribe about Ruby on the Great British Bake Off and what do I get instead? Tom Hanks.
    Who is going to win next week do you think?

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    1. I wrote about Ruby yesterday pat...have a look it caused a big debate

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  9. I have liked Tom Hanks in several movies (especially Apollo 13) but not in others, so it's good to have a preview of how he did in this one. Although I'm not sure I can take an ending that leaves me weeping ...

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  10. The best movie Tom Hanks was in, in my most humble opinion, was 'Philadelphia' (1993).....he was young, fresh and full of passion. Got on my nerves in 'Gump' and haven't seen anything by him since.
    On your recommendation John I may seek this one out.

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    1. I thought he was too full of himself in "Philadelphia," although i seem to hold the minority view. Nearly everyone i know who saw it loved it. I think my favourite movie of his that i've seen is "Big."

      I may have to see this film, but i'll wait a bit. I don't need to be reduced to tears just now.

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  11. I like Hanks! I don't do movie theaters, so I will have to wait for the DVD. Can't wait to see this one.

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  12. Love Hanks , he has a wide spectrum in his acting sphere.

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  13. I want to see the movie but I will wait till it comes to the 3 dollar theater or netflix. I don't like busy noisy crowed theaters.
    It seems you were able to disconnect from the news. The crew has done several interview that he put them in the danger.

    cheers, parsnip

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  14. Anonymous7:53 pm

    Thanks, I'll see it. I like T.H.

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  15. John,

    I appreciate your review on the movie. Maybe my husband and I will go see it before he has surgery.

    There showing it at the IMAX here.

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  16. Wow! I didn't know if this would be good. I don't see movies in theaters very often, but I'll put it in my Netflix queue now so I can see it on DVD. Thanks, John.

    Love,
    Janie

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  17. No, he's never done it for me so I'll be interested when I get to see this !

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  18. ohhhh exciting

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  19. Every actor has their good movies and their flops. Glad to hear you got your money's worth with this one, John. Have a wonderful evening!

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  20. 'Sole', not 'soul' hostage. Carry on.

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  21. Not out here 'til Friday. It's on my 'to-do' list for the weekend though. Always loved Tom Hanks and he was great in 'Castaway' - he's come a long way since 'Big'!lol

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  22. I couldn't agree more about Castaway. I am curious to see this one. I know there is debate over it's accuracy, but I think it's a story that needs to be told.

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    1. Stew....if you thought UNITED 93 was good
      You will love this

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  23. Anonymous11:51 pm

    I love Tom Hanks...he seems like such a sweet, down to earth man.

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  24. Anonymous5:01 am

    Know what you mean about Tom Hanks. He lacks sex appeal. But he is always so well cast. Loved that football lark on the desert island. For crying out loud: Being reduced to befriend a "FOOTBALL". If that doesn't tell you something about humans as social creatures I don't know what does.

    In moments of when I want to amuse (torture) myself I imagine our very own Tom aka Hippo as a castaway. With a football. Same scenario, different outcome I dare say: Either slain leather or, more likely, he will have boiled it and condensed it into something to keep his spirit up.

    U

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  25. Sat in front of Tom Hanks at the Royal Albert Hall once. Just thought I'd let you know.

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  26. I quite like Tom Hanks.

    But, if you did not like him in Castaway, try this Fedex advert spoof-

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXzNByMuJZM

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  27. I saw 'Captain Phillips" last weekend, along with "Gravity." I think that my life has probably been measurably shortened by all the cortisol that was coursing through my bloodstream over the course of two days! Good review, and great movie. ("Gravity," too!)

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