CAPTAIN Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) takes charge of his cargo vessel, the Maersk Alabama, bound for Mombasa, Kenya, where he is aided by a hard-working international crew including chief mate Shane Murphy (Michael Chernus).
Somali pirates led by Muse (Barkhad Abdi) board the vessel and Phillips puts himself in harm’s way to ensure the safety of every man on board. Based on the book by Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty, this is a nerve-racking thriller that fully deserves its six Oscar nominations. Hanks is flawless and Abdi delivers a striking supporting performance, adding depth and complexity to a role that could easily have been a caricature. Working from a lean script by Billy Ray, Paul Greengrass demonstrates once again why he is one of the finest directors of nail-biting action.
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