The Pirates of Somalia (2017)

Not a damn thing wrong with this flick. Hits the ground with good production values, good acting and a quirky if small plot(I assume intentionally). The second half is interesting and unpredictable and most importantly doesn't try to do too much (common Hollywood mistake). The critics who panned this, did so for the stupidest of reasons in my opinion. I can see why Pacino jumped on board. This is one you have to decide for yourself to take the chance or not. I think most will find it a good watch.

Highly recommend this, it has great story telling and acting, there are also some really funny scenes. Hard to believe there wasn't more hype for this movie, but it kind of goes with the theme in the movie about the world not really caring about what goes on in Somalia, I guess it's true.

I wish I could write a better review of The Pirates Of Somalia. That is certainly one troubled land for the past 30 or so years. When the action of this film takes place in 2008 it was hardly even a country, a geographical expression at best.Years ago when Lebanon was in a similar state and to some extent still is I read that President Gemayel controlled maybe 10 blocks square around the presidential palace in Beirut. That about sums up the situation in Somalia with different warlords controlling a piece of turf over a country a lot bigger than Lebanon.Doing a paper on Somalia at the University of Toronto, young Jay Bahadur played here by Evan Peters wants a journalistic career and seeks the advice of a legendary reporter. Playing said reporter Al Pacino basically says seek out a subject and write. Make sure it's something no one else has already covered to death.Being a country with a nice long sea coast, any number of these Somalian warlords have gone into piracy for profit. At the same time that Bahadur was gathering material for his Somalia story, the world watched as some of these pirates took Captain Phillips hostage.Sad to say that the nature of that story a spine tingling adventure sort of wrote itself for the screen with Tom Hanks giving an acclaimed performance. I wish that this one had been juiced up a bit or at least 20 to 30 minutes had been cut out. The pace of The Pirates Of Somalia is agonizingly slow at times.Al Pacino really stands out. No doubt put it the film for a little box office juice, he also picks up the pace with a quirky performance. He's in at the beginning and toward the end. I wish we could have worked him in more.The Pirates Of Somalia is a story that needed telling. But fortify yourself with a bit of caffeine before watching.

This film tells the story of a young man who goes to Somalia, hoping to kick start his journalism career.I thought this would be an action thriller, but it turns out to be a comedy drama, which is a pleasant surprise. I like the fact that this film portrays the other side of the story, and preaches people to be tolerant and accepting of others. If we open up our hearts, we can make friends anywhere!