Captain Phillips Is No Longer the Captain. What Now?
Fear can be provoked through tons of different manners, and losing control of an entire ship that you used to be 100% in charge of, to a group of rogue Somali pirates, can definitely provoke it. When Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) stared into the eyes of a pirate (Barkhad Abdi) and was told by him, “I am the captain now”, a life or death situation came about; and fear was not allowed to take over. Captain Phillips, released in 2013, tells the true story of how the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates, and how the captain and his crew had to maneuver the terrifying rarity. Nominated for 6 Oscars, this film is pieced together using sharp camera angles, with heavy focus on each of the actors and actresses words. Saying that you will be on the edge of your seat while watching this movie is an understatement; you’ll be pacing the room in anticipation of the every single scene.
When placed in a prolonged life-or-death situation, many people would quickly give in and make mistakes in their attempt to escape. But for Captain Richard Phillips, this was not the case. The whole film encompasses the notion that you cannot give in to alarming and chilling foes, no matter how difficult that may be. The film follows every small idea, action, and moment of terror that the captain goes through in an attempt to free his crew from the situation at hand. But how do we know this? How exactly does this film show us that strategic thinking and subtle gestures can help you escape a precarious situation like this one? The answer is simple, really. With so much of the film showing every move that the captain makes, the audience is able to track that and figure out along with the characters what needs to be done. The pirates seem to wreak havoc and have complete control; but we as an audience know that the captain is doing a great job of trying to stay one step ahead. It’s motivating. It’s inspiring. It’s proof that we can gain control of any situation if we just do our best to keep ourselves intact, physically and mentally. There are multiple moments throughout the film that leave both characters and audience alike believing that it’s the end. That there is no escape. But then, surprisingly, a loophole is discovered to sneak around and survive to the next minute.
Captain Phillips would not be it’s exquisite self without the phenomenal acting skills of its two main characters, portrayed by Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. Tom Hanks is already an extremely well-known and established actor, and in my opinion, this movie is the best piece of work he has done thus far. You may know him from movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Castaway, and The Post, but his deeply rooted acting skills are not showcased any better than they are in this film. To me, it was completely forgotten that Hanks is just acting, and throughout the movie I found myself hurting for him, until I had to mentally back up and remind myself that this was just a character he is playing. His face is constantly changing with his emotions, contorting with focus and frustration when talking to the pirates, and falling still when thinking through his current moves and how to help his crew escape. Hanks may have been complacent and awkwardly funny in the extremely well-known film Forrest Gump, but in Captain Phillips he is an entirely different person, proving he can be a raw, emotional, and as intense as any other comparable action star. Added onto Hanks’ superb acting, the new face of Barkhad Abdi captivated the screen, actually earning him an Oscar nomination. Born in Somalia, Abdi made his big screen debut in this film, and it was nothing short of sensational. Portraying the Somali pirate in charge of the whole group, much of the film focuses on him in particular, and while watching, I found that I could read everything he was feeling solely through watching his eyes. For the Somali pirates, hijacking ships was how they made money and survived, and each of the pirates had different ways of dealing with the situation. There was the reserved and obedient one, the harsh and menacing ones, and the extremely motivated captain. They all stood for a different feeling that could be felt in a situation like this, and I knew that I was gaining the full extent of what the people who were actually in that position must have felt. When there were scenes that included both Hanks and Abdi, the intensity literally lit up the screen. They bounced off of each other better than I could’ve ever imagined, and personally, I was completely entranced by these specific scenes. It’s a wake-up call to the fact that this is a true story, and it’s astounding that someone actually went through all of this and survived. It’s just difficult to fathom the harshness of the entire situation.
These two actors played their parts, alongside others, but the final showcase of the story would not have been the same without the expert camerawork. At first it may seem uncontrolled and just a little too jittery, but the film is actually captured in a sort-of organized chaos. The shaky coverage and constantly switching viewpoints represents the disorder and anarchy of the situation, and it helps the audience to feel the same anxiety the captain and crew must’ve also been feeling. In addition, every time the camera angle does a switch, it shows the face of at least one actor, most often the one speaking at the time, and this helps the audience to focus amidst the pandemonium. This type of cinematography does not fit every movie, and it’s definitely tricky to do; but this film does it right. Sometimes while watching films, camera cuts are moments of opportunity for the audience to catch their breath and gain mental control of the situation. But with this type of camerawork, this is not possible. It’s prime for keeping the audience in constant anticipation, and in my opinion, that is one of the strong points of this film. Without this type of cinematography, the audience would lose interest; and with a constant cliffhanger throughout the plot, this film sure does make sure to keep the flame of curiosity burning.
Non-diegetic sound also had a main role, adding to the seemingly endless tension of the film. As each moment of anticipation built up, such as when the pirates were approaching the cargo ship and trying to board, the intense and energetic background sound does nothing but make an already terrifying situation that much more grim. And the very second the pirate’s ladder hits and connects to the deck of the ship, the non-diegetic sound abruptly cuts off, dropping the audience directly into an eerie silence as they watch the antagonists board the ship that had been so trying to hard to keep them off. It makes the loss seem even worse for the ship’s crew, and it hits the soul of every audience member hard. It’s a battle that the ‘evil’ side wins, so to say, and this lays the foundation for the protagonists to start to fight to try to win the war. Another scene where this type of sound is important is the moment when the pirates take control of the control room, holding hostage the captain and a couple members of his crew. The first part of the scene features almost every character yellling and trying to take control of the situation, and the background non-diegetic sound builds up alongside that. Then, at the very moment they all stop yelling and the main pirate, Muse, takes control, the sound cuts out, giving everyone an oppourtunity to figure out what just happened. The sound acts similar to that of horror movies, creating fear that would not be there otherwise. It’s intensifies the situation. It’s frightening. But it’s amazing filmwork.
Captain Phillips carries 6 Oscar nominations, 4 Golden Globe Nominations, and a captivating story that provokes fear and boldness simultaneously. It’s a true story of survival that not many people can directly relate to, but everyone can choose a side and people to fight for. I know that personally, I had never witnessed such a powerful intensity as what is in this film, and I am glad that I was able to watch it. It’s reminded me that there are people out there in the world who have gone through and survived situations like this, which in turn makes it easier for me to find the motivation to get through seemingly intense positions in my own life. Richard Phillips is a man that proved quick-thinking and perseverance can get you out of any situation, even if you suffer a few nicks and bruises along the way. This film is life changing. So if your life has not yet been changed by its story, go take the couple hours to watch Captain Phillips. Embrace it. Absorb it. Try to learn from it. I guarantee you will not regret it.
