Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi helm a solid Captain Phillips

In 2006, director Paul Greengrass brought United 93 to theatres. It was the first major motion picture about the events of 9/11, and despite the nearly five years that had passed, many questioned if the nation was ready to see the tragedy play out on the big screen. But Greengrass’ measured film allayed those fears and helped turn a page for American audiences. In Captain Phillips, he takes much of the same approach, finding a way to tell the story in an accurate, subdued, not hyper-dramatized way.

Tom Hanks plays the titular Phillips quite well. The captain is an everyman, but an intelligent, measured leader of men. There is something special about the way that he plays both sides of that. On one hand, there is a great deal of Cast Away’s Chuck Noland in his performance … an ordinary guy who just found himself in an extraordinary situation, but one prepared for it. The film is peppered with moments that showed Phillips thinking faster than those around him, but Hanks and Greengrass were careful not to let the hero become a superhero. It is a subtle line, but Captain Phillips manages it quite well.

The surprise of the film is easily newcomer Barkhad Abdi’s performance as the leader of the Somali boarding party, Muse. Abdi – and most of the rest of the Somali cast – were discovered amongst 700 participants at a casting call in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Abdi too brought something special to his performance. For most of the movie, Muse was in over his head … but smart enough to realize it. Instead of playing that from a place of desperation, Abdi instead has this quiet resolve, that without a way out, his only option was to forge ahead. Again, easily a choice that can go the wrong way quickly, but Abdi handles it easily.

Besides Abdi and Hanks’ stellar performances, I’d be remiss not mention Max Martini. As a big fan of The Unit, I am always pleased when he shows up in a flick I’m watching. Audiences will most likely remember him from Pacific Rim, but I’d like to see him be known for something else. Now that Michael Biehn has aged out of the playing the SEAL team commander in every movie made, I think Martini could easily fulfill that role going forward. His role wasn’t particularly large here, but there is a certain air of authenticity that he brings to those few moments.

I have not yet read Phillips’ book that chronicles the event, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangers Days at Sea, but from the media accounts from the time period, the flick is fairly accurate. Some changes seem to be made for dramatic effect, mainly in beefing up Muse’s role, but none were distracting. Greengrass and screenwriter Billy Ray have done a wonderful job crafting the story. Hanks’ performance is enough to get into the Oscar conversation, but it is Abdi’s performance that audiences will be talking about.