After hearing an interview with Tom Hanks on NPR, Mrs. Bee told me she needed to see his new movie called Captain Phillips. After reading a little about it on the Internet, I warned her that it didn't seem like the kind of movie she'd enjoy, but she insisted and we spent this afternoon at the picture show.
To me, a great movie must have all five of the following characteristics:
The film deals with an actual incident that occurred in April 2009, when a small gang of Somali pirates hijacked an American cargo ship. Tom Hanks, who almost never makes bad movies and has made a few great ones, plays the ship's captain; the movie is mainly about his interaction with and abduction by the pirates, and his eventual rescue by the U.S. Navy. It's a grueling movie to watch, with some violence and plenty of suspense, and seeing the recreation of events made me glad that I'm an American. The infirmary scene at the end may be one of the best sequences ever in a Tom Hanks movie.
To me, a great movie must have all five of the following characteristics:
- It shows me people, places and things I would never see otherwise.
- It affirms the value of human decency.
- It causes some combination of emotional reactions.
- It combines realistic performances with excellent music and photography.
- I leave the theater believing I know more about its subject than I did when it started.
The film deals with an actual incident that occurred in April 2009, when a small gang of Somali pirates hijacked an American cargo ship. Tom Hanks, who almost never makes bad movies and has made a few great ones, plays the ship's captain; the movie is mainly about his interaction with and abduction by the pirates, and his eventual rescue by the U.S. Navy. It's a grueling movie to watch, with some violence and plenty of suspense, and seeing the recreation of events made me glad that I'm an American. The infirmary scene at the end may be one of the best sequences ever in a Tom Hanks movie.
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