Paul Greengrass' most balance film

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2014)

The ever political and sometimes controversial Paul Greengrass directed Captain Phillips after making his disappointing rant of film Green Zone. Teaming up with Tom Hanks and writer Billy Ray Captain Phillips tells the true story of the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and the ransoming of Richard Phillips, a merchant sailor by Somali pirates.
Captain Phillips is one of Greengrass' more balanced films showing regular people playing a small part in international system. The American navy is treated respectfully, doing their job when trying to save one of their citizens and the pirates themselves are painted in more shades of grey, making them more human. Greengrass is strong with true life stories and Captain Phillips plays to his strengths, realism and looking at wider operations. Captain Phillips is a very well acted film and Greengrass' shaky cam is toned down, making the cinematography much more effective.
Greengrass keeps a fast pace going throughout the film, with the best part being the pirates attacking the ship and the crew having to outwit the heavily armed men. There is a slight dip when the action moves to a lifeboat, but picks up again when the Navy gets involved.
Captain Phillips is a big improvement to Green Zone and stands along side with United 93 as Greengrass tells the story of a real life event.