Hollywood portrayal of real life story inaccurate but enjoyable

Based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips, the movie retells the capture of his ship the MV Maersk Alabama and his ensuing abduction by Somali pirates in great detail, with a healthy dose of Hollywood.

During a routine cargo run through the Gulf of Aden of the East coast of Africa, Phillips, played by Tom Hanks, finds his ship overtaken by Somali pirates. The Somali captain, Abduwali Muse, played by Barkhad Abdi, leads three pirates onto the deck in search of the crew. Prior to the boarding, Phillips seals himself in the bridge while the crew barricades themselves in the deepest parts of the ship. In the next suspenseful moment the Muse forces Phillips at gunpoint through the ship to find the crew. Eventually the crew finds Muse, and using him as a bargaining tool, force the pirates off the Maersk Alabama, but not before they push Captain Phillips into the lifeboat right before taking off.

As the United States Navy closes in on the pirates with a team of elite S.E.A.Ls, Phillips prepares for the worst and even bonds with one of his captors, a young fourteen year-old boy. In a harrowing finish, and a blood pumping night scene as the S.E.A.Ls struggle to find a clear shot of the pirates, when the shot is finally green, three pirates are killed simultaneously and Muse is captured. As Pillips is brought on board the U.S.S Bainbridge, he can only thank his rescuers profusely as he succumbs to shock and the trauma of what he has gone through.

This movie, was a cinematic masterpiece. The poverty of Somalia and the pirate culture is shown in a unique way to give perspective on the desperation of the pirates, and much of the film is shot in docudrama style, giving a real time feel to the viewer. Tom Hanks, bringing back a similar demeanor to the one he had in Saving Private Ryan, gives a commanding performance as Phillips as he struggles to save both his men and himself.

The use of real footage of naval operations and personnel, including live ScanEagle Drone footage, provided a sense of realism not seen in many movies, while the Navy S.E.A.Ls show why they are the world’s most deadly fighting force with their cold, calm, handling of the rapidly deteriorating situation. The morality of the American military is also portrayed as they follow the rules of engagement even though it is difficult.

My only qualm about this movie, is how much of what is portrayed actually happened. From what I have read, the actual rescue was not as complicated as portrayed but that is what Hollywood does. They spice things up. So overall, I rate this movie a 9,5 out of 10 and highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical and or action thrillers.