Why I Saw It: Almost entirely because this looked like a good Tom Hanks movie.
Cast: You've got Tom Hanks, then a bunch of guys whose names I can't pronounce or simply don't know. So, let's start with Hanks. I've been hearing a ton of accolades about his performance in this. I wasn't that impressed until the last half hour or so. In fact, the most impressive scene of his comes after the climax. The first-timers, Barkhad Abdi and the others playing the pirates hold their own. Everyone else is a "hey, it's that guy from that one thing" actor. Most of them don't show up until midway through or disappear then, so there's little attachment. In the end, Tom Hanks is the captain of this ship.
Plot: You could check out the Wikipedia page or recall the news from 4 years ago but who can remember that far back. The movie follows Phillips from boarding the ship, the pirates taking the ship, and the ensuing hostage situation. Despite knowing things like, you know how all of it plays out, this is still a very tense movie. I'm reminded a lot of how Argo handle the tension, building the moments even when the broad strokes are known. The attempts to overtake the ship are fascinating seeing both the offensive and defensive methods used (amazing how all you need is a gun and a ladder to take a boat that big). Frankly, I was amazed how nervous I was for every character in the climactic scene of the movie. One thing I would like to note that didn't work: the opening scene of Phillips and his wife, played by Catherine Keener. What was that? I'd been prepared for it, so maybe I was gunning for it to begin with but that is such a pointless scene and conversation. There has to be an easier way to establish that he has a family and doesn't like to leave them. Once that scene is out of the way though, it is all solid.
Elephant in the Room: Is this really an awards contender? This is one of the things that's been bothering me about this movie. Beyond Tom Hanks, where is the awards pedigree for this? And, it's not like Tom Hanks has been at the Meryl Streep level of getting a nomination every time he is in something (Last nomination: Cast Away in 2001). Paul Greengrass may be respected as a director but never an awarded one. This definitely fits the bill as a thriller. I'd put it in the Zero Dark Thirty category as far as awards go. Well reviewed. Technically impressive. Held up by a single powerhouse performance. Of what I've seen in this young season, Hanks' is certainly my favorite lead male performance in a movie. Not sure if that is likely to stay though.
To Sum Things Up:
Enough about awards though. This is a well-made movie that exceeds the expectations I had for it. You've got a veteran actor at the helm with really interesting debut performances. It is grounded yet exciting. It is as long as it needs to be and kind in its depiction of all perspectives (specifically, the pirates have an understood motivation). Being in the orbit of the Gravity behemoth, I don't think it will get the attention it deserves, but looking opening weekend box office numbers it is still doing fine.
Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend
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