Another excellent true life action tale from Paul Greengrass despite a miscast Tom Hanks in the lead. Oh I know he's conscientious and gives a good performance and all that stuff but he still looks like Tom Hanks with a beard and glasses and never really convinces as a sea captain.
Everything around him feels authentic though - I'm sure it was hyped for Hollywood (eg Phillips demanding the hostages take him instead of his men, his final attack of his kidnappers) but so much of it looks and seems authentic: the Somali actors, the views of Oman and the Indian ocean, the big tanker, the logistics of how modern day pirates work and the techniques against them, the American Navy Seals and their methods, the naval ships. It's visually different and fascinating.
I also liked how you wind up having sympathy for the Somalians, particularly that young kid. Barkhad Abdi is very good as the head pirate though the others impress as well. Max Martini felt very believable as the head negotiator.
I did feel this went on a bit - it's over two hours, with perhaps too much time spent in the life boat - but the finale is very intense and moving. (The scenes were the pirates attack are great too), And it was great how they devoted some time to Phillips' immediate PTSD. And yes he is depicted as heroically but the film doesn't shy away from the fact that after the first pirate attack Phillips might have taken more precautions - and the crew come out of it well.
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