Captain Phillips makes a splash in box office

Yesenia Folgar

On Oct. 11, director Paul Greengrass releases Captain Philips recreating Somali pirates hijacking the MV Maerks Alabama. Philips made $8.5 millions on its opening night.

Gabriela Sanchez, Arts and Entertainment Editor
October 18, 2013

Known for The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Supremacy, Director Paul Greengrass dives straight into success with his Oct. 11 premiere of Captain Phillips, an action drama hit that has viewers and critics raving.

Loosely based on a 2009 hijacking event, the film stars Academy Award winning Tom Hanks as Captain Richard Philips, commander of the Alabama Maersk cargo ship that becomes the victim to money hungry Simali pirates Muse (Barhad Abdi), Bilal (Barkhad Abdiraham), and Najee (Faysal Ahmed). When the pirates hop aboard, Phillips must protect his crew and figure out a way of the situation without endangering any lives.

Greengrass crafted an exhilarating experience, giving audiences fits of anxiety, tugging at raw emotions, and bringing awareness to global issues. The director managed to captivate his audience by breaking the typical “good guy vs. bad guy” story line, and added layers of depth to characters, creating unexpected relationships.

All eyes were on fifty-seven-year-old Hanks, who dropped jaws with his performance. The actor’s Average Joe act topped off with the Alabaman accent and charm reeled in audiences, leaving them wanting more. Critic Peter Rainer commended the experienced actor and pronounced it “some of the most powerful acting Hanks has ever done.”

Although Hank’s portrayal of a gallant Phillips was pleasantly received by audiences, crew members from the Alabama Maersk have described the real Captain Philips as “arrogant” and far from a true hero.

Despite the exaggerated and slightly fabricated storyline, the drama thriller drew viewers in and raked in $26 million its opening weekend, marking second place in the box office behind Gravity. Interesting, thought provoking, and well done, Captain Phillips is a home run.

About the Contributors

Gabriela Sanchez, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Writer Gabby Sanchez enters The Downey Legend staff with high hopes and a career oriented state of mind. She has been chosen to take on the position as Arts & Entertainment Editor, a position not so easily conquered. Using her skills as a writer she hopes to attract more readers to the arts Downey High School has to offer. Sanchez decided to join the online publication in order to gain insight in journalism. “I wanted to see if this was something I could be able to do as a career,” Sanchez said. For this aspiring journalist, her work has only just begun.

The editor had never seen her future predicted this way; moving from Peru at the age of three limited her English, proving difficult for her to adjust to the new language. “During elementary, I was bad at English, but its something I later improved in,” Sanchez said. She not only improved in a foreign language, but she also grew to like the challenge she accustomed to. After overcoming this difficulty proved to be a great strength in Sanchez, using it to her advantage when confronted by deadlines as well as schoolwork.

But beyond the classroom is where she enjoys her teen years with friends, listening to music, and enjoying the foods and movies other countries have to offer. “I love Italian food,” the cuisine enthusiast said. “I also like to watch movies in my spare time, especially foreign films.” With having The Downey Legend set as a foundation for her future, Sanchez’ main incentive is to travel the world and live on her own. Although unsure of what college to pursue her journalism career, she knows a UC will suit her in her plan to write for Time Magazine.

Yesenia Folgar, Photographer

Yesenia Folgar, a 17-year-old senior at Downey High School, is one of the newest photographers for The Downey Legend. Her passion for photography drove her to apply as a photographer for the school’s online newspaper. She views everything with optimism and keeps an open mind when regarding her future and education, and although she can sometimes be stressed by it, she always finds a silver lining in any situation. She joined the school newspaper to learn about journalism while also building on her love for photography. She enjoys playing on drumline in the school band, something she has done since her freshman year. Some of her other hobbies include photography, reading, and riding bikes.

Folgar is also open-minded about college and her future. “I’ve realized that keeping an open mind about many things has brought me so much happiness,” Folgar said. “By keeping an open mind, I was able to find so many things that I love such as being in newspaper and being in drumline.”

Parsons College is her dream school, located in New York City, and a perfect fit for her personality. Parsons’ small size combined with its urban location and specialization in photography, perfectly suits Folgar, who prefers smaller class sizes and one-on-one time with her teachers. She is not sure what career she wants to follow, but would love for it to revolve around photography, fashion design, or music. Newspaper is a step in the right direction for her future endeavors.