Film Review – Captain Phillips

Most people hear the word “pirate” and think of peg legs, parrots and Johnny Depp, but modern piracy is still a serious problem. With cargo freighter crews continually downsized to cut costs, even a small skiff of armed men can successfully board a ship to steal cash from the onboard safe, rob the crew, or even commandeer the vessel.

Captain Phillips is based on the 2009 hijacking of the US-flagged Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates. Despite a few problems, it’s an intense thriller with direction tighter than the confines of a lifeboat.