Captain Phillips: An Explosion of Privilege in Action

Critics were mixed about the film, praising its overall quality but critiquing its hero and some details based on the real events.

Fans’ enthusiasm for biopics and inspiring true stories is on full display in Captain Phillips’s box office triumph.
Popularity of biopics has skyrocketed in the twenty-first century. Fans of the genre may find it easier to get into stories that at least attempt to be a little bit “genuine” than the glut of superhero pictures that hit theatres each year.

You can attract readers by highlighting important historical personalities like Napoleon or Malcolm X, but you can also see how interested people are by looking at things that were in the news not long ago. Such was the situation with the 2009 Somali pirate hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama, which served as the basis for Paul Greengrass’ 2013 picture Captain Phillips.

An accomplished director with a background in strange stories, Greengrass was the ideal choice to direct this one. Between The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and United 93, Greengrass redefined the action movie genre and shown his ability to bring horrific true stories to life.

Captain Phillips is a frightening and demanding analysis of one of the most horrifying true incidents to garner worldwide attention, which should not be surprising to anyone who has read his previous work. A number of the subjects of Captain Phillips have voiced their disapproval of the film, claiming that it presents the main hero in an excessively good light.

Phillips, Captain Genre: Biography Scene: Crime Rated PG-13

Capt. Richard Phillips’s genuine account of the 2009 Somali pirate kidnapping of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama—the first hijacking of an American cargo ship in 200 years—and its tragic aftermath.

October 11, 2013 Paul Greengrass’s Directing
Cast

This film stars Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Michael Chernus, and David Warshofsky.

Length of Time Required 134 Minutes
Can You Tell Me About “Captain Phillips”?
Stephen Talty’s nonfiction book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea and the life of real-life Captain Richard Phillips, played by Tom Hanks, served as the inspiration for the film Captain Phillips.

Phillips, an experienced merchant mariner with a career spanning decades, was given the task of transporting unarmed cargo containers from the Guardafui Channel to Mombasa, Kenya. Because he and First Officer Shane Murphy (Michael Chernus) are suspicious of possible pirate activity, Phillips—despite his extensive experience in these treacherous waters—decides to participate in a practice rehearsal. Tragically, their worst nightmare comes true when the ship is commandeered by four armed pirates, headed by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi).

The titular hero, Captain Phillips, tries to defuse tension by negotiating with the pirates, as described in Captain Phillips. Despite the limited number of pirates, Muse shows no fear in launching a slaughter if he feels he is not completely in charge. When the crew first tries to make peace with their captors, they offer the $30,000 in the ship’s safe. But Muse scolds them, saying he was told to hold them captive so he could trade for his tribe.

The crew then decides to fight back in an effort to reclaim the ship and force Muse into submission. The pirates kidnap Phillips and hold him hostage on the open seas just as they are about to be thrown off in a lifeboat.

Just narrowly, Phillips’ life is spared as the United States Navy rescues him in an operation. The Navy has been given the explicit directive to prevent the pirates from reaching Somalia, as there is where they may be able to get more forces or supplies. After a series of unsuccessful attempts at negotiation, Muse insists that the mission must press on.

In the shocking conclusion of the film, the Navy forces storm in and kill the remaining four pirates, even though Phillips is bound and almost killed. Phillips just escapes by swimming to safety, and Muse is taken into custody for piracy-related offences.

What Did ‘Captain Phillips?’ Actually Show?
Captain Phillips garnered multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, after its first release and was generally well-reviewed by critics. Despite the fact that the film’s subject, played by Hanks and Greengrass, attended the Oscars, the real Phillips faced criticism for skipping over critical safety protocols and risking an unneeded expedition into enemy waters. Multiple crew members had planned to sue Phillips, the shipping firm, and the operator for their roles in the disaster, but the matter was resolved out of court.

Pirate encounters were common in the 1,000 nautical miles surrounding Somalia, according to Phillips’ 2010 testimony, who stated that “it would be a matter of when, not if” the crew did so. The real Murphy had many good things to say about the film, but he thought it was rude that Greengrass didn’t depict the rest of the crew getting back together with their families after the hijacking—especially since several of them had PTSD. Citing his “confidence that Captain Phillips did not pursue an irresponsible path near the coast of Somalia,” Greengrass slammed the scandals. In response to the specific complaints, he said, “the tape shows clearly Captain Phillips receiving warnings about pirate assaults, putting into place security measures onboard ship.”

Does a Picture Like “Captain Phillips” Have Any Use?

With a good box office total and praise at the end-of-the-year award ceremonies, Captain Phillips clearly connected with audiences by telling an inspirational true story. Still, Grengrass’s goal with the picture remains a mystery. He succeeded in making a compelling thriller, even if it was merely to show how courageous the actual Phillips was. If the film’s intended message was to caution against pirate attacks, it would have to pass muster by now, given that the whole thing seems to be rather unusual.

Continuing his string of biopics on actual American heroes, Hanks most recently starred in Captain Phillips. Following the huge success of the film, Hanks went on to star as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, James Donovan in Bridge of Spies, Captain Sully Sullenberger in Sully, Ben Bradlee in The Post, and Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood. On the other hand, Greengrass and Hanks’s collaboration produced a masterpiece.

American Netflix subscribers can watch Captain Phillips online.

Enjoy it on Netflix with special features
The Captain Phillips Story in 2013
The Captain Phillips Story in 2013
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