“Captain Phillips” tells one of the most courageous true stories of recent years; it’s a movie that is shot so intensely that you’re on the edge of your seat throughout virtually all of it and it scares you far more than any fiction could ever hope to.

Tom Hanks (“Big”, “Saving Private Ryan”) stars as Captain Phillips, who is in charge of a U.S. cargo ship going across the African coast. They get hijacked by Somali pirates, the crew are unarmed and miles away from help. As the film continues its thrills and shocks heighten and it becomes a film not for the faint of heart.

Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor. He takes on such a diverse array of roles but always comes across as a really nice guy. As Captain Phillips Hanks manages to further continue his streak of niceness as he’s thrown into one of the worst scenarios anybody could find themselves in. Hanks shows he’s deserving of an Oscar during his last few minutes onscreen here as he breaks down. The Somali pirates are also really good, especially the leader Muse (Barkhad Abdi). The tension between the crew and the pirates, in particular the tension between Phillips and Muse is very well done.

“Captain Phillips” is a movie that surprised me with its age rating because this really is one of the most disturbing films I’ve ever seen. It’s a movie that perfectly shows the realism of hostage situation, this isn’t “Die Hard” although it’s just as exhilarating. The film highlights how depression and hopeless Somalia is; the film comes out not too long after Somali terrorists staged a multiple day hostage situation in a Kenyan shopping centre, making its messages more prominent than ever. “Captain Phillips” is a remarkable film but perhaps not one that should be seen by everyone.