Terrifying, overwhelming, and heroic are just a few words to describe the latest Paul Greengrass film, Captain Phillips. The films depicts the real life events of Captain Richard Phillips and his crew, who were taken hostage by Somolian pirates in 2009. What starts out as a normal job for Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) as he sets out for Mombassa quickly turns into a horrifying ordeal when a team of pirates, lead by Abudawli Muse (Barkhad Abdi), hijacks the ship. Hanks is at his career best as Phillips, the stoic, selfless captain held for ransom and eventually rescued by Navy Seals after five horrific days at sea. Director Paul Greengrass creates a claustrophobic intensity that builds throughout the two-hour plus running time. The handheld shakiness of the camera brings to life the panic and urgency of the film, leaving audience members gasping for air by the end.
