There is a prologue that shows Richard Phillips—whose memoir served as the basis of the script—preparing for his journey and being driven to the airport by his wife (a cameo by Catherine Keener, who seems to be everyone’s past or current wife in movies these days). Many critics have derided this segment as clunky and forced, but I believe Greengrass wanted to introduce the captain as an average family man, not some gung-ho wannabe hero, so his cool-headed reactions later on would seem all the more remarkable; besides, other than a medical worker who shows up late in the story, Keener is the only woman with any impact onscreen. 

The focus, of course, is on the hijacking. The pirates board the ship with surprising ease, although their efforts put their own boat out of service. As Phillips sends the crew to hide out in the engine room, he assumes the role of a host of sorts, trying to distract his unwanted guests with offers of water and food while showing them around. But the foursome—headed by skeletal Muse (Barkhad Abdi), the brains of the operation—grows impatient. Rash behavior leads to serious injuries and Phillips is eventually taken captive aboard a claustrophobic covered lifeboat, with the pirates demanding a ransom of millions in exchange for his return.

Unfortunately, save for a segment showing how a greedy warlord recruits his army of willing raiders, the pirates are as much vessels of storytelling as the ship itself, though the movie at least gives them some intriguing character touches. The behavior of Muse and other fellow pirates sometimes suggests they are emulating characters in a gangster yarn -- as if they have seen "Goodfellas" or James Cagney films a few too many times. The sadistic hothead who provides the brawn would do Joe Pesci proud. Abdi and Hanks engage in some interesting psychological give and take.  Muse, exposing his youth, confesses that his dream is to go to America and buy a car. 

But during the final moments in tight quarters in Captain Phillips, we at least have Hanks as our beacon of humanity. Once the lifeboat is surrounded, it becomes clear to all inside that no one – not even Phillips – is guaranteed to get out of this alive. It's one of the most emotionally draining climaxes of the year.

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