Review - Captain Phillips

'Captain Phillips' sails on turbulent waters

Paul Greengrass's 'Captain Phillips', based on real events that took in 2009 in Indian ocean, is an edge-of-seat thriller, however, emotionally distant, even though the film showcases some flawless acting by Tom Hanks near the last 10 minutes. This docudrama keeps the viewer restless and tense throughout its first half, but it does looses the steam later on. By the end of its super tense climax which reminded me of Argo (in a good way), I felt a little exhausted, a little lost and a little disappointed.

Captain Rich Phillips is a US mariner, whose most recent task is the shipment of support material like food and medicines to Mombasa, Kenya. On voyage, the ship is hijacked by four Somali pirates (their leader is Abduwali Muse, played by Barkhad Abdi). The first attempt for hijack fails, but on the second attempt, the pirates succeed. The captain and the crew, despite their best efforts, loose the control of the ship. Things turn ugly when the captain himself is kept hostage on the life-boat for 5 days. Muse demands 10 million dollars, Captain ain't got it. Mayday. Enter US navy seals and other American maritime forces to save Captain Phillips. And no, I won't spoil it further.

But what follows are some exciting, gripping moments, which showcases some immense talents of wide range - direction, editing, sound design, visual effects and acting. Tom Hanks' performance rises like a steep mountain - he is apt in the beginning, very good in the middle and exceptional in the last minutes. His transformation as a character from an emotionally strong, rigid man to a wounded, shocked soul is a marvelous. He has lost an Oscar nomination though, but its no denying, Hanks is at top of his game in this film.

Barkhad Abdi walks like a pirate, talks like a pirate and yes, looks like one too. It is a great casting choice, and Abdi complemented Hanks very well. 'No problem "Irish", everything gonna be OK. Nobody's gonna be hurt", Abdi says it with a great competence.

Greengrass, without any second thoughts, was perhaps the best suited director for this film. He has proved that he is the master of fast paced action thrillers (see Bourne series).  In this one, however, he somehow gets lost in action and the emotions. Film's tone shifts from emotional one to an action one a lot, specially in the end. It may have worked, but for me it didn't. Also, Bill Ray (screenwriter) at the same time wants us to sympathize with the pirates but also wants us to feel proud and all happy when three of them are shot (one of them is adolescent). Its all thematic hotch potch. But yes, you can't portray your own country in a grey shade, can you?

'Captain Phillips', at the very end, is a very well made film with some great talents all around. You should give it a chance, definitely. You may love it, or maybe not so much, like in my case.

3.5/5

Review - The Game

Even with a foolish twist, The Game an engaging, edge of seat thriller which keep you guessing.

  Spoilers ahead -
 Its 1997, and its David Fincher's second consecutive attempt at Thriller genre - his first attempt - as you all know, is a mind-blowing nerve wrecking Se7en. He got the bulls eye at that time. Does his next project, The Game, with a very intriguing premise holds up the fort?

Well, then my dear friends, The Game is what Se7en was not - it is fast-paced, full of action, stylish and unfortunately absurd. We have our protagonist,  Nicholas Van Orton is a rehashed version of Gordon Gekko - snobbish, emotionally distant and  introvert. Apparently his shoes costs around a thousand dollars. Nicholas is a private banker, had a divorced from his wife (though they remain friendly) and has a estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn, wasted). Nicholas had a troubled childhood, he apparently saw his father committing suicide by falling from a top of a building, at his 48th Birthday no less. So when his own 48th birthday arrives, his brother Conrad shows up out of the blue, gives him a voucher for a "game" - developed by a company called CRS (Consumer Recreation Services). Without giving him any details how exactly the "game" works, Conrad tantalizes Nicholas by promising it will change his life.

Intrigued by the Game, he reaches CRS, spends all his day for the test they require for him to participate which includes handwriting samples, Q&As and physicals. But he is rejected, told on the phone. After that, he learns that the game has just begun - it is no recreation but an assault to his privacy (a scene involving a dummy clown and TV is a highlight of the film), his wealth and his life. Through series of events he escapes from the clutches of CRS employees, often with the help of beautiful mystery girl played by Deborah Kara Unger. In all bizzare turn of events, he finds himself somewhere in Mexico, snatched of all his money, his accounts are drained. Near the end, he sets out for revenge near the end and sets his aim to unmask the man behind this.

Until now, you have already guessed that it makes no point having a star like Sean Penn in the film for just 2 scenes. So yes, he is behind this dreadful game. And guess what, is he up for his brother's money? Tada! Wrong answer - he just played out all this as a prank, so that his brother can face the reallity and enjoy his life. What!

The climatic twist at the end is as absurd as absurdity goes. It matches 'The Village' for the most impossible plot. I wonder what Fincher was thinking when he made it. Or what the screenwriters thought when they wrote it.

But still, there are very few movies in which even the so-called twist is hard to digest, engulfs you and captivates you into its atmosphere. David Fincher is a master when it comes to creating atmosphere on silver screen. The mood, the thrills and the creeps you get, is all worth your time even with an illogical finale. Aptly shot by Harris Savides, The Game hardly has any dull moments. It is an engaging, edge of seat thriller which keep you guessing. Remove that last 5 minutes from it, you've got pure Fincher cinema.

3.5/5