Piracy!  It isn’t always fancy and romantic swashbuckling and it’s not just something Johnny Depp pretends to do for Disney to raise box office scores.

It actually happens and “Captain Phillips” tells the true story of the crew of the Maersk Alabama, an American cargo ship, and the courageous captain who risked his own life to ensure the safety of his crew.

Tom Hanks (Castaway & Cloud Atlas) plays Captain Richard Phillips in this compelling bio-pic.  His performance is honest and captivating, spanning a miraid of emotions from beginning to end.

The story focuses on the abducted captain as he is held captive by Samoli pirates when their leader Muse (played by Barkhad Abdi in his debuting role) is also taken by the crew the of Maersk Alabama.

Phillips struggles to remain alive while the U.S. military scramble to sea to rescue him and the crew of the cargo ship.

Tensions run high in Captain Phillips and Tom Hanks does not fail to impress as the titular character.

As far as bio-pics go I’d say this is one worth checking out.  I was hooked from the start and even when my soda cup was empty, refused to get up for a refill until I saw how the movie was going to end, even though I knew the real-life conclusion.

Paul Greengrass, who directed the Bourne Ultimatum and Green Zone brings his prowess to this film, creating intense scenes of suspense, action and high-emotion.

Well done!