Captain Phillips (2013)

 

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. 

Superior hijacking drama based on a true event remains realistic and suspenseful throughout and even avoids political bias; great, intense performances by Hanks and Abdi make it work.

Maltin***: "Gripping, believable account of the true-life hijacking, which extends to some understanding of the Somalis themselves. Director Greengrass' trademark vérité style serves the action, though the film (until its final moments) never quite transcends the status of a very well-done re-creation. Hanks' performance as Phillips builds intensity as it goes along, matched by newcomer Abdi, excellent as the pirate leader."

 

 

News of the World (2020)

 

 

A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will.

Very-well made Neo Western adds modern issues (racism, child abuse) to its narrative, which is heart-felt, but also a bit sentimental, plus some great landscape and realistic cinematography; Helena Zengel is absolutely convincing, and Tom Hanks does his thing - as the Good Samaritan.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)

 

Released from prison for bringing shame to his country, Kazakh funnyman Borat risks life and limb when he returns to America with his 15-year-old daughter.

Wildly ribald, politically incorrect black comedy, like its much better predecessor, tries to expose American hypocrisy, but probably is not so successful, since today's reality has far outdone any potential satire.

The Circle (2017)

A woman lands a dream job at a powerful tech company called the Circle, only to uncover an agenda that will affect the lives of all of humanity.

Nicely made, well-intentioned, but quite sketchy satire only hastily takes aim at its topic and has hardly any punch; even the star cast is not much challenged.

A League of Their Own (1992)

Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry.

Likable and mildly entertaining comedy drama with a slight feminist message is best when more focused on humor and the sport (and sport politics), but doesn't try to avoid sentimentality either; the stars help a lot, though.

Halliwell*: "A comedy that trundles along in a predictable fashion, settling for sentimentality rather than humour."

Maltin***: "Thoroughly entertaining comedy...Davis and Madonna stand out in a first-rate cast, with Hanks giving a terrific performance as the drunken ex-baseball star...Good-natured fiction that sheds light on a neglected chapter of real-life sports history."

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

A recently widowed man's son calls a radio talk-show in an attempt to find his father a partner.

Quite likable, old-fashioned romantic comedy, with the two leads well cast for the occasion, is so easy-going and unexcited (and predictable due to all the allusions to An Affair to Remember) the happy ending hardly makes any emotional impact.

Halliwell*: "Enjoyable romantic comedy, although its overall tone is excessively sweet."

Maltin***: "Sweet romantic comedy, with perfectly cast stars, though it's repeated allusions to the old tearjerker AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER make you wonder if the only way to generate old-fashioned romance in a '90s movie is to invoke a product of Hollywood's Golden Age."

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

A young man, much to the chagrin of his father, becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline.

Slightly entertaining tale is mainly watchable for Malkovich's smooth performance.

Maltin***: "Small but entertaining...is worth seeing for Malkovich's endearing and persuasive performance as a "mentalist"..."

Sully (2016)

The story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

Nicely made drama bends the real events into a story, in which the hero is forced to vindicate himself confronted with bureaucratic antagonism.

The Post (2017)

A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.

Professionally staged, although a bit old-fashioned,  historical drama with an excellent cast succeeds in its appeal for the necessity of a free press.

The Polar Express (2004)

On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Likeable, but quite harmless Christmas entertainment for children; the animation technique is acquired taste, though.

Maltin**1/2: "...retains a feeling of wonder..."Performance Capture" difital animation renders all the characters unreal - the kids look like they're wearing dentures - but aside from enabling Tom Hanks to play five roles it doesn't seem to have been worth all the bother. Still an entertaining-enough adventure for children."

Apollo 13 (1995)

NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Top-notch production (and special effects) and cast guarantee for an entertaining, but not quite original or surprising space adventure.

Halliwell**: "A gripping documentary-style recreation of an averted tragedy, excellently done but one that is an uncritical celebration of the American way and which makes no attempt to put the mission into a wider historical context; it settles for simple patriotism."

Maltin***1/2: "Exhilarating story...A rare instance where special effects actually serve the story and help make it completely credible; perfect 1970s period detail is another asset."

Bridge of Spies (2015)

During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then to help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot.

Appropriately subdued reconstruction of true historic events has gentle suspense, fine period detail and two great lead performances.