SummaryWhen rookie journalist Jay Bahadur (Evan Peters) has an inspiring chance encounter with his idol (Al Pacino), he uproots his life and moves to Somalia looking for the story of a lifetime. Hooking up with a local fixer (Barkhad Abdi), he attempts to embed himself with the local Somali pirates, only to find himself quickly in over his head.
Directed By:Bryan Buckley
Written By:Bryan Buckley, Jay Bahadur
The Pirates of Somalia
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54
36% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
55% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Dec 7, 2017
82
Even Bahadur’s stupid voiceover writing becomes funnier over time as we realize the clichés and groaners only serve to show what an ultimately lame writer Bahadur was—that it was his bravery, stubbornness, hope, inquisitiveness and stupidity that made him great.
Apr 28, 2017
70
This incendiary true story boasts a charismatic central performance from rising star Peters (X-Men, TV’s American Horror Story), whose everyman charm helps drive a narrative which has a tendency to get entangled in its own worthy intentions.
Nov 24, 2017
63
The real delight here is Barkhad Abdi, the “I am captain now” pirate of “Captain Phillips.”
Dec 9, 2017
60
This stranger-in-a-strange-land adventure has enough appeal to sustain its limited theatrical release.
Dec 7, 2017
50
Writer-director Bryan Buckley's film is ultimately more interested in the journalist than his story.
Apr 28, 2017
50
Despite an excellent secondary cast and an interesting story, Dabka fails in its aspirations due almost entirely to its own smugness.
Dec 8, 2017
38
This is part of the movie’s problem. Aside from it being another how-I-made-out-in-an-“exotic”-locale narrative. The film means for us to delight in Jay’s flouting of conventions.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
42% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
54% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jan 29, 2019
8
It was a very good movie that showed the struggle of Somalia's people intertwined with the struggle of a reporter. It shed light over the unseen and undocumented side of one of the poorest country and most controversial one. The actors did a very good job at delivering their characters especially Evan Peters with the recreation of suspense and tension of a young reporter as Jay. The director's style and cinematography was very well set up from an unseen point of view, that being an experience from Jay. The writing was average at best but the plot turns and the realistic raw feeling of it made up for some certain plot points badly executed. The music was very good an mixed with Somalia's culture and made it more of an African vibe. The out of the box message was very fresh and original even though it was done after some real life example. Given the fact that this was a biography movie it was executed very good for one. But it might not have done as well as an action movie. The tension of some scenes was recreated very well and created a very good immersion for the viewer. Which also made it more entertaining to watch. Overall the conclusion was a very raw, realistic and humanitarian which also helped the movie overall. It was a very good movie which was a little under appreciated from most of the general audience.
Mar 30, 2018
6
Although the film did not leave a real impression on me because it is underdeveloped and never seems to take 100% seriously its theme, I'm quite surprised by the ability of Barkhad Abdi to continue making an impact on screen.
Production Company:
- Hungry Man
- BCDF Pictures
- Kalahari Pictures
Release Date:Dec 8, 2017
Duration:1 h 56 m
Rating:R
Tagline:He risked everything to tell their story.
Awards
Syracuse International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
