Paul Greengrass is a gifted director who specializes in historical reenactments, a once marginal genre that in recent years hits the sweet spot, earning critical plaudits as well as bringing in bank (Greengrass' "United 93," Stephen Frears' "The Queen," Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Downfall," about Hitler's final days in his bunker). Greengrass' latest entry in this field is "Captain Phillips," a retelling of the 2009 hijacking of a container ship by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks stars in the title role.
Watching this film left me with an uneasy feeling, like I'd digested a delicious meal devoid of nutrition. It was a fun drama. But I didn't learn anything. Why not?
This is solid Hollywood filmmaking. Tight scripting, sharp editing and unpretentious cinematography deliver a story that keeps you in your seat long after you began having to pee. Hanks delivers one of his finest performances, driving a stake into his reputation as an always-playing-himself actor; Barkhad Abdi is a sensational revelation as pirate leader Abduwali Muse.