Generally Well Paced High Ranked Movie - Minus a Few Stars

Rating: 7/10 (12 October 2013)

From the beginning the movie kept my interest. You quickly determine Tom Hanks is a Merchant Marine Captain and his wife sadly drops him at the airport for yet another assignment in some far off land. They hug and kiss and perhaps a tear is shed. So far, a decent drama turn thriller unfolding.
Even if you don't know the true story, you sense their will be trouble, fueled by the subtle foreboding provided, starting when the Captain boards ship and notes several security concerns, which then is confirmed when you see the Somali pirates haggling to get the job of hunting down one if the many freighters in the nearby trade lanes.
From that point anticipation and dread set in keeping the viewer biting a nail or a slight squirm in the seat. The crew doesn't know yet but you know what's likely coming. When they finally realize they are being followed, the dread and tension increase until finally they realize these guys are in fact pirates and an orderly panic sets in.
There is great disappointment when it becomes apparent that not one single weapon is on board. A few rifles or hand guns would have made the difference in this case. This is not a movie fault if this follows the true story. Also not sure why they separated from the mainstream freighter traffic as pointed out, making for an ideal target.
So the anticipation and pace of the movie keeps the viewers heart rate elevated. The pursuit, capture and occupation keep the pace. The reticent reaction by the Maritime Traffic Monitoring upon the report is disturbing and you hope this is not a repeat of Benghazi. But, alas, the Navy does show up, eventually. Three or perhaps two and a half cheers here for timing. Loud applause for Naval professionalism! Some great scenes and action here.
Without giving away much more of the movie plot, the remaining action and resolution of the conflict is protracted to the point of a yawn or a few winks and a nod, despite the loud, riveting score. The final moment of resolution was exciting if brief in relation to this long extended sequence. Lose at least one star here, maybe two (total out if 10)
A quick point here. They should have had the wife on the phone with the Captain at least once to amplify the tension, dread and potential loss of loved one. She disappeared after the airport drop. A hint in an email but no real contact. Subtract a half star here.
And to sour things a bit at the end lets just say here that the Captain (Hanks) who had been steadfastly level headed, brave, even guardedly cool while naturally scared, goes through what I consider to be a melodramatic meltdown of character that I didn't find consistent, even given the situation. I felt it was gratuitous opportunity to demonstrate Mr. Hanks acting latitude, with all due respect for this great actor. My kids didn't agree here. They thought he was in character. You decide. I take another half star here.
Often Mr Hanks films have a political statement. If it were here it was subtle. He had some pity for the pirates lot and plight, in dialog with the young boy and within the "captain to captain" relationship with the better of the two lead bad guys. "Isnt there something else you could be doing" asks Hanks. "Maybe for you, Maybe in America, but not here," the pirate laments. Hank's character does point out to his nemeses that they could have gotten away scott-free earlier with some modest booty, but Hanks and his antithesis agreed that we all have "bosses" with expectations and are not free to make the call.
Bottom line. Pretty good true dramatic thriller, devoid of gratuitous sex, violence, and computer animations (sorry Grand Theft Auto fans), with good pace and tension. Subtle political undertone but minimal. Lose a a few stars for protracted resolution, melodramatic meltdown and no family communication. 7 out of 10.