Actors: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener, Faysal Ahmed
Directors: Paul Greengrass
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 134 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Tom Hanks is a such tremendous actor and I have been a big fan of his work recently, especially with “Cloud Atlas”. His performance in “Captain Phillips” was no question some of his best work to date. It is very emotional and very intense. The film was based on real events and is so well done that it literally has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I originally wasn’t planning on rush out to theaters to see this but I am really glad I did since I really enjoyed this. I just wonder what happened to Hank’s Oscar nod? Either way this comes highly recommended!
Official Premise: Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is – through director Paul Greengrass’s distinctive lens – simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy award®-winner Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control.
This film works well on DVD, it is a not a film that screams Blu-ray release. The audio and video are still solid since the film relies more on the actor’s performances then flashy effects. What is good at least is that there are the same special features that is included on the DVD as there is on the Blu-ray. That has not always been the same recently either. There is a very interesting audio commentary track with director Paul Greengrass. There is also a three-part featurette “Capturing Captain Phillips” including “Embarkation”, “Full Ahead” and “Stand Fast”. Lastly there is also a UltraViolet Digital Copy, so that is a nice bonus!