Captain Phillips -- director Paul Greengrass
In 2009 four Somali pirates led by Muse (Barkhad Abdi) hijack the unarmed container ship Maersk Alabama, commanded by Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks). The two men lock wills 145 miles off the Somali coast, until the US marines sail in for the rescue. The greater suspense kicks in during the navy’s rescue of Phillips, when they pit three large ships, a drone and the famous air-dropped Seals against the lifeboat where the pirates still have Phillips hostage.
Questions to consider:
1. Do the Americans keep their promises? Does it matter?
2. Why was this film made now? That is, how is it about Now instead of Then, or in Aristotle’s terms, fiction not history.
3. The real Richard Phillips’ crew members have rejected this film for its inaccurate glorification of their captain, who did not offer himself up and rather blundered them into that mess. The film is based on the captain’s book. Does that matter?
4. How is the film different/fresh/suggestive in its characterization of the villain, Muse? Why is he named Muse? Alas, it’s pronounced Musey.
5. On the thematic level, why does Muse call Phillips “Irish”?
6. What’s the point in the references to the professions (e.g., fisherman, captain, businessman), especially the fisherman? Is identity perhaps a larger issue here?
7. How does the film play on our shifting sympathies? How does the Underdog status change?
8. Compare the two captains’ body types and images. No points for “One of them’s black.”
9. What metaphors lurk here:
-- we first see Muse asleep
-- Muse and Phillips first lock eyes through their dueling binoculars
--the implausibly resourceful Phillips survives drenched in the pirates’ blood
10.How are Muse and Phillips parallel in their strategies? Different?
11. What’s the purpose of the opening family scenes?
12. How does the film fit into director Paul Greengrass’s canon? He directed Bloody Sunday (about the Irish civil rights protest) and United 93 (about the 9/11 hijacked plane) between The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum.
13. What -- other than our nausea -- is the point of the handheld camera?
14. The $30,000 taken from the safe seems to have disappeared. The pirates had it, one was captured, the others killed. So where did the cash go? Does it matter? Why is this question omitted from the film?
14. The $30,000 taken from the safe seems to have disappeared. The pirates had it, one was captured, the others killed. So where did the cash go? Does it matter? Why is this question omitted from the film?
Consider the significance of the following quotes:
1.Captain Phillips: Listen up, we have been boarded by armed pirates. If they find you, remember, you know this ship, they don't. Stick together and we'll be alright. Good luck.
2.Captain P: There's got to be something other than being a fisherman or kidnapping people.
Muse: Maybe in America, Irish, maybe in America.
3.Captain P: You're not just a fisherman! You're not just a fisherman!.... You said you were a business man! Is this how you do business?
4.Muse: Look at me.
Phillips: Sure.
Muse: Look at me.
Phillips: Sure.
Muse: I'm the captain now.
5. “The world is changing.”
6. “I’ll have two beer and a bucket full of sin, please.”
7. “I may be skinny but I’m not a coward. The coward is the first one in the grave.”
8. “What am I? Do I look like a beggar?”
9. “America! Yes!”
10. “This game isn‘t for the weak.”
11. “Rich countries like to help Somalia. They come and take all our fish so we have nothing.”
12. “It was supposed to be easy.”
13. “You think you have the power here?”
14.“We all have bosses.”
15.“You’re going to America.”
15.“You’re going to America.”
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