Captain Phillips

Release Date: Oct 11, 2013 
Runtime: 2 hr. 13 min. 
Director: Paul Greengrass 
Cast: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener.

As the year winds down, the awards' season is merely ramping up, for the ultimate showdown of talents and films alike. At the forefront is Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips," based on the Maersk Alabama hijacking back in 2009. Recalling the attacks by Somali pirates and the courageous action of the crew, it's a tense, dramatic thriller worthy of review. Starring Hanks as the titled hero opposite a cast of unknowns, the film takes an objective approach to looking at two sides of the story. Alternating between the crew and the Somali pirates, the contrast of motives is intriguing and highly insightful. Disparately, the buildup is slow and long, adding to the runtime and delaying the onslaught of anxiety. But the last 40 minutes are a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, with the last 10 affirming why Hanks is still one of the greatest. His experienced turmoil is deeply compelling, bearing down on the soul and eliciting powerful emotions. With "Gravity" gaining momentum and a slew of high caliber films coming down the pipeline, "Captain Phillips" will be have plenty to compete for in the upcoming months. But if the past is any indication, Hanks will have his fighting chance. After all, he's been lost at sea before.

Rating: 4 stars