The word on Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips is exceedingly positive.
While most films being reviewed are coming out of the Toronto International Film Festival, early reviews of Captain Phillips have popped up ahead of its Sept. 27 appearance at the New York Film Festival, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Captain Phillips, directed by Paul Greengrass, stars Tom Hanks as the captain of a ship caught up in a hostage situation after being hijacked by Somali pirates. The movie is based upon a true story.
Hitfix's Kristopher Tapley says the film "is plainly one of the best films of the year."
Tapley enjoyed the Oscar winner's performance, but says that Barkhad Abdi nearly steals the show. He plays, Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, the Somali pirates' leader, and "stands toe-to-toe with Hanks and delivers a compelling portrait."
While Tapely felt there was nothing racist about the film, TheWrap's Alonso Duralde feels otherwise.
Hanks' Phillips is shown as "resourceful, brave and dedicated." The Somali pirates "resemble zombies." They are often shot in a way "that makes their eyes invisible, rendering them soulless."
Durlalde feels that while the movie was overall good, the Somalis were too often not "as multi-dimensional as their hero."
Tapely notes the reviews popping up suddenly are a result of Sony and producer Scott Rudin's decision to screen the movie at the same time as TIFF.
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