Tense, Thrilling, Thoughtful and Tragic

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2014)

I saw this film very recently, and was simply stunned by just about every every aspect of it.
From the quiet, ordinary life we are introduced to, it is difficult to see how things ended up so badly. A pleasant lack of music at this point brings realism and involvement, and the conversation Captain Phillips has with his wife shortly before leaving sets up the more 'thoughtful' layer of the film; our world is changing, fast. The story of Captain Phillips shows us how there can catastrophic consequences when extreme poverty clashes with extreme wealth.
Once our ship leaves port, and the characters have been introduced, the tension really starts to build; it certainly won't stop until the credits roll. Visuals, music, (and most importantly) acting are all top notch, with a special mention going to Barkhad Abdi, who plays the pirate Captain, seamlessly going from determined, to frustrated, to desperate. As a viewer, you become immersed in the situation, especially from this point onwards. Somehow I found myself rooting simultaneously for both Captain Phillips and Muse (the pirates' leader). You sympathise with their struggles, and are angry for their flaws. Everything in this film feels really alive.
Towards the end, events spiral rapidly out of control, and one can't help but feel sorry for our characters;the film does a great job of telling us who the real enemy is, without feeling preachy or obvious; I'll give you a clue here: it's not the pirates. As for the end, it proves to be both shocking and tragic, despite being predictable for a while. I am relieved yet sad;
This film proves two things to me: It IS possible to create a thriller with interesting characters, minimal CGI whilst also providing food for thought. Things aren't as 'black and white' as they are made out to be, more many different shades of grey.
Experience this film as soon as possible- but be warned, the description of 'unbearably tense' is NOT an exaggeration.