Enthralling, nerve-racking and affecting all at once.

Rating: 9/10 (26 October 2013)

Carving out a one-for-me (United 93, Bloody Sunday), one-for-them (Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum) directing career over the last decade, Paul Greengrass has never failed to meet audience expectation, whether with his refreshingly inventive action fare or nail-biting dramatic pictures. Captain Phillips doesn't buck that trend. Narratively both compelling and nerve- racking, the (based on a true) story of what Richard Phillips went through when the freight ship he was captaining was boarded by Somali pirates is one you won't soon forget. Knowing the outcome prior to viewing won't affect the impact of Greengrass' movie; his heightened filming style, the unshakeable performances and the masterful score from Henry Jackman imbue Captain Phillips with edge-of-the-seat tension and emotional wallop. Tom Hanks delivers his best work since 2002's Road to Perdition - he's utterly gut-wrenching in the final scene - and he's given remarkable support by newcomer (and non-actor) Barkhad Abdi as the all-too-human leader of the pirates who, although committing despicable crimes, never turns into a monster. When Hanks and Abdi share the screen it's electric; the Hollywood heavyweight and a complete unknown craft out one of the year's most enthralling and combustible yin and yang relationships. Intense, commanding and affecting all at once... Greengrass is at it again.