Netflix movie of the day: Captain Phillips is a nail-biting sea thriller with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes

“I’m the captain now”

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Captain Phillipsis a superbnew addition to Netflix this monthand if you haven’t watched it already, you absolutely must for Tom Hanks' powerhouse performance as Captain Richard Phillips, an American merchant mariner who is taken hostage by Somali pirates. Based on a true story, the US container ship Maersk Alabama is hijacked by Somali pirates, led by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi), on the way to Kenya. The captain and crew soon find themselves at the mercy of the ruthless and violent group as Phillips must use his wits to ensure everyone survives.

Hanks strikes again as the master of biopics in this sublime Hollywood depiction of an everyday man who is thrust into a real-world tragedy. While there isn’t anyJason Bourne-style action from director Paul Greengrass, he creates incredible suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat as the terrifying hijacking and hostage scenes unfold. With its shaky handheld camerawork, riveting action and eye-catching characters,Captain Phillipswell deserves its 93% Rotten Tomatoes score and definitely sails ontoour best Netflix movieslist.

Captain Phillips is anchored by Hanks' performance

Hanks is no stranger to portraying real-life people with the likes ofGreyhound,ElvisandA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoodon his acting roster. But his impressive portrayal of Captain Phillips really packed a punch for critics, withEmpirewriting: “Both Greengrass and Hanks are on award-deserving form in a riveting, emotionally complex and hugely intelligent dramatization of a real-life ordeal.”

The Santa Barbara Independentechoed the sentiment in their review: “Hanks summons up a kind of modest mastery here, armed with believability and vulnerability in the lead role of the captain in crisis.” While Hanks might be the driving force behindCaptain Phillips,first-time actor Abdi also deserves immense praise for his Oscar-nominated role as the fierce leader of the pirates asScreen Dailydescribes: “His [Hanks] performance is nicely matched by that of Barkhad Abdi, whose quiet intensity suits Muse perfectly.”

Overall,Captain Phillipsis a memorable real-life drama brimming with hard-hitting tension and emotion.

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After graduating with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, Grace dived into the world of entertainment where she started writing all about the must-watch shows and movies at What To Watch. Now Grace is on her next writing adventure at TechRadar, where she uses her expertise to help readers keep up to date on the biggest TV shows and movies in the ever-changing world of streaming. If she’s not writing about her passion for entertainment, you’ll find her watching reality shows while feasting on chocolate.

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