All Jacked Up – enjoy your coffee, boys.

Rating: 9/10 (30 April 2014)

Director Paul Greengrass creates two worlds that we know are bound to collide. That they do so slowly and predictably says more about our "one world" than it does each of theirs. There is nothing unforeseen or surprising to each of them. In America, a husband goes to work abroad on the sea last talking to his wife about their kids' future and in Somali a pirate is cajoled by machine clad rebel leaders who are summoning up the mental strength to take on the big giant of their universe, a cargo ship (backed by the U.S.A no less). There are no families or any sense of infrastructure. Tom Hanks' understated approach as Captain Phillips actually matches his Somali pirate Captains' demeanor, played by Barkhad Abdi. So it is circumstances that make them different, not intentions. Both want to keep things calm but have trouble containing their own crew at times and at others themselves. The sound is incredible and drives the heart pounding action and suspense, but the impressive depth of character for those on the pressure-cooker of a lifeboat are truly behind the real terror. The decisions really feel "on the spot" and we have an easier time comparing into these pirates due to the careful direction, avoiding the action fill fallout from the thinkers among us.