Damn The Terrorists, Full Speed Ahead!

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2014)

I watched this movie against the advice of a few friends who work in Maritime occupations. In my own experience, I worked for a law firm who represented the shipper's liability carrier, and spent most of my legal career in Admiralty (defense). The nay-sayers wanted me to know "the truth" of the matter of the Mareask Alabama's ordeal, the "whys" and "wherefores" of a Captain who was not, in the opinion of those folks, a "hero." I listened to them, heard their stories, and came away thinking, "What has this got to do with whether or not this film is any good?" Now, it does advertise itself as a "True Story." It IS a true story. It is not, however, a documentary made for PBS.
The cast, beginning with Tom Hanks down to guys in the boiler room, to the Somali pirates and those on the beach are outstanding, credible, and were handed a screenplay that should win an Oscar. The direction was excellent, sound, cinematography, editing - all of the components that should be in place for a Ten Star film are found in "Captain Phillips." It is a compelling film from its first frame to its last credit.
As far as the nay-sayers go? I would not be surprised if the same "but-but" has happened to each film which ever claimed to be "based upon," "taken from," or advertised to be, a "true story." Perceptions, after all, lie in the reality of the beholders.