The best stories are often true, and Paul Greengrass’ rendition of the 2009 hijacking of the MV Maersk is a great example of that. Tom Hanks is at his prime as the beleaguered captain fighting a losing battle with an unarmed ship and crew that would rather not be there. Remarkably portrayed were the Somali pirates – who really just wanted a business transaction. However, their Ghat-fed hotheadedness added an unpredictability that made for some great tense storytelling. Enter the Navy and the Seals, and you’ve got a good old fashioned action thriller on top of some quality dramatic intensity among the ship-borne cast of characters.
Tom Hanks is the real deal. This movie is just another notch in his belt. His intensity and depth of character is unrivaled by most. Just adding him to a film these days automatically causes Oscar rumors.
Barkhad Abdi was really just a chauffeur before this film? I’d like to hear that story. Anyway, I think it is safe to say that he knocked this one out of the park. Calm and tall leadership beats Ghat-feuled courage any day.