HER

Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams,

Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara

"Her" is set in a futuristic LA where technology has completely taken over our lives. We meet Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) a loner (going through a divorce) who works as a letter composer for a company.  Basically he writes love letters for other people and he is quite adept at it. 

When he installs a new operating system (OS) in his computer, it completely takes over every aspect of his life. From sorting his files to arranging dates for him, "Samantha" is the name of the female voice that assists him. Soon enough, Theodore develops a very special bond with Samantha and even calls her his 'girlfriend'. 

This Spike Jonze directed piece thoroughly explores their relationship. It is a complex love story of a lonely man and his endearingly adorable OS.  In this day and age where social media reigns and social isolation is quite rampant, "Her" is a fitting tale of a pure connection, albeit it is between a human and his self aware computer personality.   

But this romantic connection would certainly ring a bell with anyone who has been in an online relationship.  A bond that develops from spending hours on end chatting with each other through an IM (instant messenger) facility.  A budding relationship that mostly unfolds through a monitor and a keyboard. But where one's most intimate feelings and sentiments are shared without the awkwardness of a face to face encounter.  It most certainly feels 'real' between the parties involved even though some skeptic would say otherwise.

I admit I've been in several of these online relationships so I could surely commiserate with Theodore's sentiments.  But having said that, there comes a point when  the normal thing to do is to go beyond the online chats and have a face to face encounter.  There lies the 'obstacle' for Theodore and Samantha.  She is not human and as we find out towards the ending, she has been programmed and uploaded several times in different computers so let's just say her loyalty is questionable.  Plus the glaring fact that she is NOT human.

Most of the background and landscape scenes were shot in Shanghai, China. Apparently in Spike Jonze's brilliant mind that is how Los Angeles would look like in the future. Strange looking skyscrapers, minimalist apartments that rely heavily on computer gadgets, people communicating through an earpiece and a small rectangular device.  It is all very well represented on screen and it plays out well with the alternative subject matter.

But the praises must go entirely to Joaquin Phoenix. He is in almost every scene but he underplays, bringing a gentle irony to his role even at the most climactic moments. He is mostly lost in his thoughts and those of the operating system moulded to fit his psyche.  His awkwardness and boyish giggles make him seem authentically vulnerable yet at the same time a sympathetic somewhat endearing character.

Even though we can’t see what Samantha looks like, her sultry voice is warm, caring and a bit playful at times. One would imagine that someone with such a nice (for lack of a better term) voice would have quite a pleasing personality if she was a real person. But the mere thought that she is voiced by the sensual Scarlett Johansson, you can't help but personify the face behind the voice.

I'd have to say that "Her" is not for everyone. If it were a food item, it would take an acquired taste to really appreciate and savor its uniqueness.  Yet what makes the film so provocative is that the nature of love, companionship and obsession is both universal and timely.  The contours of the relationship between Theodore and "Samantha" can easily be read as one between two normal people with all senses in tact. It’s a love story for our time and for all time.

THE BOOK THIEF

Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush

Emily Watson, Nico Liersch

"Courage beyond Words"

This film starts with a creepy voice over. I say creepy because it is the Grim Reaper's voice and he is narrating the story of Liesel. A bit morbid if you ask me but I figure that is how it goes in the best selling book by Markus Zusak from which this film was adapted.  

Set during the second World War in a small German town, Liesel (Sophie Nelisse)  is adopted by Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson). Her foster parents are a childless working class German couple and as the film progressed, they hide a young Jewish man in their basement.  He is the son of a former war buddy of Hans whom he credits as saving his life.

The film also mentions briefly the Holocaust - mostly in association with Max (the one hiding in the basement) but it also shows how the Third Reich banned books which they said would undermine their superior race.  It also shows how they trained the youth to be certified Nazis members. 

The actors speak English with an on and off German accent which can be a bit distracting. Yet they are still able to personify their characters with just enough emotional flair as they can muster. 

There are certain loopholes in the development of the plot.  Certain scenes carried on at length while other side plots were largely left for the audience to decipher on their own.

Perhaps as I haven't read the book, I lacked some background information which could have explained the circumstances better.  In particular, towards the end where the scriptwriters seem to have run out of time so they squeezed it everything before the credits scrolled.

Overall, the film teaches us the importance of reading and how books play such an important role in our upbringing. It also presents a perspective on the ordinary lives of the citizenry from the other spectrum of the equation - the Germans.

THE MONUMENTS MEN

George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman,

Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban,

Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin

"It was the Greatest Art Heist in History"

All this time, I thought that "The Monuments Men" was shown in 2013. In most of his interviews, George Clooney kept talking about this project like it was an opus. Ok, granted that he was the one who directed it, I guess we should allow him to gloat a little.  

Yet half way through the film which is based on a true story, this nagging feeling crept up on me that Clooney was doing a poor job in presenting the story of this brave group of men. Towards the end of the second World War, a platoon was formed that consisted of highly esteemed art curators and art historians. They were tasked by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to salvage and redeem vast amount of masterpieces that was looted by the Nazis. Upon their retrieval, it should be returned to their rightful Jewish owners/collectors. They chose to call themselves "The Monuments Men". 

Instead, Clooney (yes I blame him since he co-wrote it as well) turned his film into a comedy. As Capt. Frank Stokes, (George Clooney) the head of the platoon, he paired his 'crew' into twos and assigned them to different parts of Europe to search for the hiding places of the valuable loot. Thus we are inundated with scenes of comedic pairings where one is basically a sidekick of the other.  Set along to really loud annoyingly irritating 'comical' music whenever they had a breakthrough in their task.  

Then Clooney throws in a love angle for Matt Damon's character, James Granger with Claire Simon (Cate Blanchett with a phony French accent), the secretary of a high ranking Nazi officer who kept records of every piece of artwork which passed through her office for documentation purposes. It is her record books which finally gave the Monuments Men valuable information on the whereabouts as well as the real owners.

The Monuments Men could have been a great movie, had it highlighted the dangers in the clandestine work of this special platoon. Instead, they were portrayed as caricatures who goofed around like they were on a picnic instead of being in the forefront of the various battlefields in Europe.  It is very unfortunate, they were not given a proper tribute for their thankless job in accomplishing such a gargantuan task.

I guess the mere fact that he cast comedians (like Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban) would have been an indication. He added humor to drum up the interest in the story. But this angle immensely diminishes the very people he wanted to honor by making this film.  The ensemble cast though are composed of very talented actors who unfortunately were not able to draw out the true personalities of the characters they were portraying. 

"The Monuments Men" truly wanted to recall an important part of history by showing the effects of war on not only the soldiers, civilians, and society. But also the devastating costs on the damage done to art masterpieces. It is imperative we preserve the arts and culture for the future generation to have a better understanding of history.  But the film missed its mark by presenting a boring film that could not hold the audience's attention let alone its interest in knowing exactly what happened and how it happened.

AMERICAN HUSTLE

Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper,

Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence

"Everyone Hustles to Survive"

The film starts with Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) painstakingly arranging his comb over in front of a mirror with an unbuttoned shirt showing his beer gut hanging out of his hairy chest. If you are sensitive, you would cringe at this very unpleasant sight. But if you not, you will chuckle and watch as he puts in a lot of effort for his hair piece to look 'perfect'.

I believe it is the same with director David O. Russell as he goes to great lengths to showcase the compelling story about a pair of con artists.  His keen eye to make everything look authentic from the characters' wardrobe, their hair style as well as the entire neighborhood is praiseworthy.

Set in the 1970's and early 1980's, it involves an elaborate scheme hatched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation aided by a convicted con-man (Irving Rosenfeld) to set up corrupt politicians who accepted bribes. All of these incidents are captured on videos. This sting led to nearly a dozen arrests including U.S. senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a handful of other politicians in the state of New Jersey. This is the reason, the disclaimer "some of this actually happened"  was flashed across the screen at the beginning of the film.

So while this whole sting incident did occur, Russell's film is also highly fictional with regards to the life of conman Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner in crime and in bed Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams). When Rosenfeld is caught, he makes a deal with an ambitious rogue FBI agent named Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to help him capture other con artists.  

But the operation takes on a whole different dynamic when politicians enter the picture.  Suddenly, the entrapment shifts from simply setting up con men to capturing as many politicians on the take as possible. 

The viewer must be warned to keep their eyes and ears wide open and see beyond all the big hair, the comb over, the cleavage and the whole 70s retro stuff.   Essentially, there is a complex storyline which sublimely unfolds with a nice plethora of 70s songs in its soundtrack.  Many multidimensional characters are thrown in the mix and side plots overlap with the main story ... so it can be quite confusing to keep up with everything that is going on.  

Yet the impressive ensemble cast composed of talented actors (who have all worked together at some point in some of Russell's previous movies) do more than their share to make "American Hustle" an engrossing film to watch.  

There are lessons to be learned and messages to be absorbed even when we are distracted by the height of Jeremy Renner's hair, Christian Bale's comb over, Bradley Cooper's hair curlers, Jennifer Lawrence's nail polish and Amy Adams' cleavage!

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson,

Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson,

Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman

"Remember who the enemy is"

I saw the first installment of this franchise and I liked its premise. More so than the one with the vampires and the werewolves. Yet when "Catching Fire" first came out in the theaters, I passed on it as I tend to be a non conformist and didn't want to see it just because the whole world was viewing it.  Heh!

I just learned that one of my favorite supporting actors, Philip Seymour Hoffman died from a heroin overdose.  It's really sad but he leaves us with a wide array of movies to view and cherish. It will always be a worthy testament to his brilliant acting skills.

So to honor his memory, I searched my folder of movies to find an appropriate one that showcased his talent. I thought that "The Master" was too heavy (will probably see it one day!) so I settled with Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, the overall coordinator of the Hunger Games. His character takes over the previous gamemaker who had to suffer the consequences of his bad decision to let two tributes win the Games.    It is a short role but highly significant and sadly he wasn't able to finish shooting his scenes for the final story in this trilogy.

"Catching Fire" takes off a year after Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) won. As part of their 'reward', they have to go on a propaganda tour to all the districts to promote the Games. But there is an undercurrent of rebellion festering in the districts as the citizens demand more freedom from the totalitarian form of government run by President Snow.

To get their minds off their grumbling rants, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) decides to stage another game, The Quarter Quell.  It is like an All Stars version of the Hunger Games as all 24 previous winners are the tributes who will battle each other for the ultimate title.

New cast members (Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Jena Malone) play some of the other tributes who are all well developed characters.  While Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks and Donald Sutherland all reprise their roles as the characters we have grown to like, love and/or hate.

The film still packs a lot of action filled sequences especially once the Quarter Quell games start rolling.  But there is a darker, more gritty edge to the plot as evidenced by the growing rebellion in the districts. It adds more intense drama in the backdrop while the the otherwise fun form of  "entertainment" is splashed across huge TV screens.  It is staged yearly as a form of escape from the doldrums yet now more than ever the populace are getting restless and use the Games as a catalyst for reforms from the oppressive regime of President Snow.

Of course, the real standout in the film is Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.  We see her grow from the naive 'hunter' in the first film to a more mature woman with a lot of anger and angst eating up inside her. She is torn between fulfilling her role as one of the winners and her personal battle to escape from all the pageantry and manipulation orchestrated by the authorities. She has more axes to grind even as she is seen parading in her full regalia to please the crowd at the Capitol.   Jennifer Lawrence was born to play this role and whatever role she is cast in, she never fails to disappoint.

"Catching Fire" ended quite abruptly perhaps to build up the excitement and anticipation for the finale.   Yet I think they should have handled it with more finesse as the sudden and quite brutal cliffhanger was too jarring to the senses. More so as you know you need to wait a whole year just to know the conclusion but by then our short term memory would have forgotten all the essential elements!   

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig,

Sean Penn, Adam Scott

"Stop Dreaming. Start Living."

Based on the classic story by James Thurber, Ben Stiller directs and casts himself in the lead role as Walter Mitty.  An introverted man who works in the photography department of LIFE Magazine. He is stuck in a monotonous job so he escapes by zoning out and daydreams about a much more vicarious life.

But his life is about to drastically change as he discovers that the negative of the photo for the magazine's final cover (it is ceasing publication and venturing into the online format) is missing. Walter, with the encouraging help of a co-worker/love interest Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), springs into action on a quest to solve the case of the missing negative from its source.

Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) is the famed yet reclusive veteran photographer who captured the missing shot, now known as negative no. 25.  This journey to hunt down O'Connell leads Walter through Greenland, Iceland, Afghanistan and the Himalayas. Along the way, he reignites former passions, like skateboarding and hiking, and his daydreams become more and more unnecessary.

Whimsical is the word that comes to mind when I think about this movie. Ben Stiller does an excellent job in presenting and acting out this unique character.  His able direction, buoyed by a vivid cinematography and a good soundtrack of suitable songs is well paced. The story has all the right mixture of comedy, action and drama.

This movie kicks quite a punch with its apparently obvious message. Many of our (day) dreams are just a few steps away from being realities. All it takes is self determination and a strong belief that it is all within our reach.  So stop whining and complaining and go out there and grasp the opportunity to turn the ordinary into extraordinary adventures!

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill,

Margot Robbie, Jean Dujardin,

Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner

Leonardo DiCaprio in no way resembles the real Jordan Belfort. He is way too 'pretty' compared to the craggy faced Belfort. So to see him jump into Belfort's persona might need a little adjustment given that the role does demand a lot from DiCaprio. But surprisingly he does a wonderful job as the crass, smooth talking, in.your.face stockbroker who made millions by conning the rich to invest in stocks of dubious companies.

The real Belfort in his interview with Piers Morgan remain steadfast in his belief that he only 'robbed' from the very rich and no one really lost all their life savings. After his incarceration he has somehow 'reformed' and now 'robs' common people by giving motivational talks about the art of selling.   Although he admits that most of his current earnings go towards paying the huge amount he still owes the investors of his now defunct company, the Stratton Oakmont.

But I'm getting way ahead, the film explores the rise of Belfort from a young idealistic stockbroker to a greedy, conniving, immoral, drugs and sex addicted capitalist.  The dialogue is sharp, witty and mostly peppered with the *F* word which I doubt was even used as rampantly as it is depicted in the early 1990s.  Raunchy scenes of the debauchery that went on in and out of their office are thrown at the audience in every other frame.

The film is also quite funny with Jonah Hill, the comedian bringing in most of the laughs. I like the repartee between him and DiCaprio, their scenes together were always spot on.  The sequence showing the 'cerebral palsy' stage of the drugs kicking in, had me laughing out so much I almost peed in my pants.

Running at almost 3 hours long, there were a few scenes which could have been edited out. But the pacing was quite fast with so much going on at the same time, it felt like you were as high as most of the characters on screen.
 

Labeled as a "satire", it was aimed to expose the over the top, excesses of the capitalist world in the early 1990s.  Yet as the film progressed, it seemed to me it glamorized this sort of behavior.  That it was alright to manipulate and con people, because after all, who doesn't want to be filthy rich, right? When you're laughing at the destruction Belfort causes to not only himself, but also those around him, you realize the movie has failed to set a justifiable tone.

Having said that, I believe "The Wolf of Wolf Street" is a well crafted movie. Martin Scorsese never disappoints and by delivering such an outlandish over the top film, he proves he is one of the best directors in the industry who dares to take risks and is fearless in his approach.

BLUE JASMINE

Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins,

Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale,

Louis C.K, Andrew Dice Clay

The very few readers of this blog surely know by now that I am an avid fan of Woody Allen's huge repertoire of films. I like how he explores and handles a wide range of complex characters. Each of them born from the vivid figment of his very creative imagination.  Despite having a very murky and turbulent personal life, he has always championed feminism as most of his leading characters are strong willed yet deeply flawed and vulnerable women.

In "Blue Jasmine", she is personified through Jasmine French (Cate Blanchett) a socialite who has fallen from grace and must swallow her pride and her humiliation by moving in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) who lives in San Francisco. Ginger is the complete opposite of Jasmine.  A divorced single mother of two rambunctious boys, she makes ends meet by working at a grocery store.  Unrefined, blue collar working class type.

The story moves back and forth. We see Jasmine's pampered life with her businessman husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) who turns out to be this Bernie Madoff type of person. While in San Fo, she is forced to work at a dental clinic while taking up computer lessons so she can eventually take an online course to be an interior designer.

Cate Blanchett as the neurotic, insecure, erratic and self obsessed Jasmine French plays the role with such brilliance. She can easily shift between the prissy socialite to the woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown attempting to rebuild her already tattered life. Although we know from the glimpses of her affluent lifestyle that she more or less knew about the dubious deals of her husband, you can't help but feel a certain amount of sympathy for Jasmine as she struggles to cope with a completely different life on the far end of the spectrum.  Quite a tragic figure, even more so towards the end when the already quite fragile and vulnerable Jasmine is handed another blow.

Although there are certain loopholes in the plot (how can Jasmine not know how to use a computer in this day and age?), the movie fits right alongside Allen's recent European adventures in terms of quality. The cast is less star-studded yet no less talented. Special mention goes to Sally Hawkins for her seamless portrayal of the beleaguered Ginger.

But truly, this riches to rags tragic story is a must watch and deserves to be seen for Cate Blanchett’s excellent performance alone.

SPRING FILM FESTIVAL 2014

Now on its eighth year, the Spring Film Festival features Chinese films in different genres.  It will be held from January 24 to February 2, 2014.  Organized by the Ateneo de Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies together with the Confucius Institute and Credit Suisse.

Aside from the free film screenings, the 2014 Spring Film Festival will also feature an exhibit of paintings by the artists from the International Studies for Chinese Arts and the students of Ateneo’s Confucius Institute. The exhibit will be held at Shangri-La Plaza’s East Atrium from January 24 to February 6. On February 1, a workshop on Chinese painting and crafts will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The following films with their synopsis will be featured:

Aftershock

Running time: 135 minutes
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Lead stars: Zhang Jingchu, Chen Daoming, Lu Yi, Xu Fan, Zhang Guoqiang, Li Chen
Synopsis: Two seven-year-old twins are buried under the rubble of the devastating earthquake. The rescue team explains to their mother, Li Yuanni, that freeing either child will almost certainly result in the death of the other. She is forced to make the most difficult decision of her life and must choose between her children.

1911 Revolution

Running time: 125 minutes
Director: Zhang Li, Jackie Chan
Lead stars: Jackie Chan, Winston Chao, Li Bingbing
Synopsis: As the country enters the new century, China is facing a crisis. Two warring factions have emerged, starvation among the citizens is rampant and political reforms have made matters worse. The seven-year-old Emperor and his mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), are out of sync with the people’s needs after 250 years of total power. As Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) arrives from his studies on modern warfare in Japan, he finds himself picking up his sword to lead a rebellion against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army.

Snowfall in Taipei

Running time: 90 minutes
Director: Huo Jianqi
Lead stars: Chen Bailin, Tong Yao
Synopsis: May, a woman singer from mainland China, suddenly loses her voice and has conflicts with Ah Lei, her producer and secret lover. Out of anger, she goes to the old town of Jingtong where she meets Xiao Mo, a warm-hearted man. Xiao Mo finds May a dwelling place and helps her get a job at a local restaurant. May finds happiness and consolation from the old streets of the small town and her voice is getting better and better, but her heart is still in another place.

Let’s Fall in Love

Running time: 90 minutes
Director: Pu Sheng
Lead Stars: Wang Quanyou, Yuan Jiabao, Xu Zifei, Guan Shaozeng , Xiahou Qiyu, Zhang Jue, Liu Weisen
Synopsis: Tan Momo enters the conservatory of music to learn how to play the guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument. His teacher places great hopes on him while his girlfriend, Xia Fei, has the greatest esteem for him. Upon their graduation, Momo, Xia Fei and other young people finally walk out of the campus and begin to experience the ups and downs of real life.

Thei-Go King and His Son

Running Time: 95 minutes
Director: Zhou Wei
Lead stars: Sun Song, Wang Chengyang
Synopsis: Liu Yishou, an amateur Go player, has been laid off. With no other skills to make a living, he teaches Go in a humble training course for children. Life has been hard, and his wife has decided to divorce him. His young son, Xiaochuan, has chosen to stay with him through his difficulties. In an unexpected occasion, Xiaochuan displayed an amazing talent for Go, and his father supported him to further develop his gift for the game.

Li Mi Conjecture

Running time: 95 minutes
Director: Cao Baoping
Lead stars: Zhou Xun, Deng Chao, Zhang Hanyu
Synopsis: Due to the intervention of her parents, taxi driver girl Li Mi breaks up with her long-term boyfriend, Fang Wen. For four years, Li Mi continues to search for his whereabouts in a constant tug-of-war between hope and despair. An eerie murder is witnessed, leading her to a man nearly identical to her missing lover. Could he be the one she has been looking for?

Where Is My Home?

Running time: 95 minutes
Director: Misheng He
Lead stars: Yuan Lu, Fengbin Wang
Synopsis: Mrs. Geng is a simple mother who raises two children on her own. Her son makes his way to the city and offers to have her come live with him and his family. Despite the improved material conditions of the city, Mrs. Geng cannot help but feel lonely. It takes some time before her children understand how she feels and strive to rebuild their family.

City Monkey

Running time: 90 minutes
Synopsis: He Zhiping is a senior high school student who lives in a big old Beijing hutong yard with his mother and grandmother. He loves parkour, an extremely dangerous sport in most people’s eyes. His mother strongly disapproves of it and hopes he could focus only on his entrance exams to university. Clashes of different concepts, rebellion of the youth, and persistence to the ideal are unavoidable problems for them.

Schedule of films (Free Admission on a first come first served basis)

January 24 (Friday)

12 p.m. – Thei-Go King and His Son
2:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution

January 25 (Saturday)

12:15 p.m. – Where is My Home
2:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution
5 p.m. – Li Mi Conjecture
7:30 p.m. – Aftershock

January 26 (Sunday)

12 p.m. – Aftershock
2:45 p.m. – Thei-Go King and His Son
5:15 p.m. – 1911 Revolution
7:45 p.m. – Let’s Fall in Love

January 27 (Monday)

12:30 p.m. – Snowfall in Taipei
2:45 p.m. – City Monkey
4:45 p.m. – Where is My Home?
7:30 p.m. – Aftershock

January 28 (Tuesday)

1 p.m. – Li Mi Conjecture
3:30 p.m. – Let’s Fall in Love
5:30 p.m. – Where is My Home?
7:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi

Catherine Keener

"Out here Survival is Everything"

Muse (Somali pirate): Last year I took a Greek ship. 6 million dollars.

Capt. Richard Phillips: 6 million dollars? So what are you doing here?

Muse: Shut up, Irish. Too much talking.

Capt. Phillips: The problem is not me talking. The problem is you not listening. 

The quote above truly defines in essence why there is a surge in piracy going on in the Horn of Africa waters.  

Paul Greengrass's masterful direction exposes this rampant situation through his film adaptation of a book written by the real Captain Richard Phillips.    Tom Hanks did an excellent job portraying the ordeal that the Maersk Alabama captain went through when he was captured and used as pawn by 4 Somali pirates.

The first part of the film presents the tension filled action sequences. From the high speed chase as the pirates relentlessly pursue the large cargo ship to the time when they actually board and hold the crew and its captain hostage.  

But the actual 'acting' comes into play once the pirates have captured Capt. Phillips and take off with him on board a steel enclosed lifeboat towards Somalia.  They plan to use him as a bait to hike up their ransom demands. The exchange between Capt. Phillips and his captors reveal a lot of insights into the real motives behind their horrific acts.  

The head of the Somali pirates, Muse nonchalantly declares that after everything has settled, he plans to go to America and buy a car.  He says it like it is some matter of fact information that he merely throws out there, totally oblivious to the bigger picture. That what he does for a 'living' is a crime which is punishable by any court in every country. Although his statement was genuinely said, it was also quite tragic to hear and made me shake my head with disbelief.

It also presents the personality of the veteran Captain who tries his best to fathom the ideals of the 'fishermen'.  Despite being brutally captured, he still exudes a lot of humane qualities towards his aggressors. He even helps to clean the wound on the foot of the youngest one from the group.  He also tries to tell them in not so many ways that their efforts are totally futile especially since the US Navy would do everything in their power to rescue him.  He tried to appeal to their moral sense by saying that the cargo he was carrying was going towards a feeding program for African kids.  But it fell on deaf ears!

It also has to be said that naturally the film is biased against the captors.  It is a given that 4 hapless yet fully armed Somali pirates cannot win against the mighty US Navy.  Muse even says "I came too far, I can't give up" - basically resigned to the fact that he is in a no win situation yet persists till the end. 

On the other hand, Captain Phillips himself also realizes that they are not merely fishermen as they claim but hardcore terrorists. They are manipulated and controlled by perhaps some syndicate who may or may not work for the Somali government.  Of course, it is difficult to make accusations without any concrete pieces of evidence yet that is the sense I got from this film.  

A well crafted movie that served as a good vehicle for Tom Hanks to once again amuse us with his brilliant acting. It also exposed a real global crisis that is sadly getting way out of hand.