Quite good

Rating: 7/10 (12 October 2019)

Based on a true story, this film is a dramatization of the 2009 hijacking of an American ship by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. The title character is played by Tom Hanks.
The beginning has its flaws. It takes a while to get used to the busy hand-held camera work. It also gives the impression of being yet another "us vs. them" / "good guys vs. bad guys" scenario that has been done hundreds of times before, particularly those based on true stories.
Last year's "Argo" advanced this genre from its superb directing despite its great stretching of the truth. While "Captain Phillips" does not advance the genre, it also does not set it backward.
Once the adventures begin (and there are two of them), the film is very engaging due to the skills of director Paul Greengrass. He is especially adept at portraying the detailed level of teamwork in military operations.
The last half hour could have been cut a bit as it seemed there was a bit too much drama at that point. But Tom Hanks's final scene displays so much vulnerability and humanity, it's no wonder he is one of moviedom's greatest superstars.