The Pirates of Somalia (2017)

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Though a true story was a bit disappointed with the film.Seemed a bit silly in many parts. Al Pacino was good but underused while Barkhad Abdi was probably the best character though every time you saw him I couldn't help but think he was playing his Captain Phillips role!

Couldn't follow the story line badly written turned it off after an hour was the worst movie I've watched in ages

There is a revealing moment in "The Pirates of Somalia" when the Canadian journalist Jay Bahadur has a conversation with Maryan, one of numerous wives of a Somali pirate. When asked to describe Jay's clothes, Maryan says that they are "bland." That word is the touchstone for this long and drawn-out film about journalistic integrity.While residing in the basement of his parents' home, the struggling journalist Bahadur keeps on his wall a poster of the film "All the President's Men," as Woodward and (especially) Berstein are his idols. Jay also links up with the old-style journalist Seymour Tolbin, who is played with his characteristic gusto by Al Pacino in a cameo performance. The beleaguered Bahadur travels to Somalia at his own expense to conduct a freelance study of Somali pirates in the year 2008. Most of the film is comprised of lengthy interviews conducted with manic energy by Bahadur, his body guard, and his translator, all of whom get high on "khat" for the interviews. Long cartoon "fantasy" or "dream" segments interrupt the action, as the filmmakers needlessly extend the film's action. Meeting Maryan is a breath of fresh air for both Bahadur and the audience of this film.The film opened with a reference to the firebrand speaker Mario Savio and his "Operation of the Machine" speech in the 1950s at the University of California, Berkeley, that argued for the individual striving to avoid becoming a cog in the corporate machine of America. "The Pirates of Somalia" has a pretentious manner in trying to depict the power of words of a dedicated journalist that transformed American diplomatic policy towards Somalia. The dreaded word of Bahadur was the use of "unfortunately" in the rejection letters he received from publishers. But this film failed to deliver on the feel-good message about a modern Citizen Kane . Unfortunately, there is no Rosebud to this bland story.

Based on a true story. Jay Bahadur (Evan Peters) is a wet behind the ears, wannabe journalist. He decides the way to get noticed is to go to Somalia and do a story on the pirates with the help of mom's milk money (Melanie Griffith). Yup, that's about it. We see Jay in his small room with yellow sticky notes. He goes out and talks to people and goes back to his room. I guess the climax was his debriefing. Not much in the way of action. He talks to the "pirates" and never once says, "aargh." Oh yes, he eats some khat and talks too much. Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.