In Paul Greengrass’ “Captain Phillips,” I was reminded of how skilled and versatile Tom Hanks is as an actor. He really flexes his acting muscles here as Captain Rich Phillips, in this biographical action film depicting the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking by Somali pirates. This is an intense thrill ride, made better by Greengrass’s signature style that will leave you breathless.

“Captain Phillips” is based on real-life events, depicting Captain Rich Phillips, a merchant marine who is captain of a cargo ship on the Somalia coast. If you remember anything about the hijacking, you will know that this was some scary stuff, as this was the first pirate capture of an American ship since the 1800s.

Hanks stars as the title character and he really shines. This is one the best performances of his career, among the ranks of “Cast Away” and “Philadelphia.” He portrays Phillips in a calm yet meticulous manner. When the ship is first seized by the pirates, Phillips commands his crew with audacity. The genuine emotion and fear has settled in for Phillips at this point, as he worries for his life and the lives of his crew. This is one of the best performances of the year and will no doubt be on display this Oscar season. Other performances come from Michael Chernus as a fellow shipmate and Catherine Keener as Phillips’ wife, Andrea. The pirates are portrayed by Somali acting newcomers, and they are scary and commanding. They yell, scream and are out of control crazy. The leader, played by Barkhad Abdi, is especially chilling.

“Captain Phillips” is an intense ride that captures true suspense. Usually I don’t like getting hit over the head with artificial suspense, but this film handles it well. When Phillips is dragged aboard the lifeboat and taken hostage, that’s when the film really kicks into gear, as the U.S. Navy get involved, and everything hits the fan. Hanks excells in this part, too, as he strategically plans things out under pressure.

There is some backstory into Phillips, as he has a wife and children, but these moments get lost amidst the thrilling action sequences. His wife is seen at the beginning of the film once and then vanishes for the rest of the film. The mere mentioning of his kids seems only there for emotional manipulation, and I don’t see how this even mattered when he was going aboard a cargo ship. There is even some backstory for the pirates themselves, which is a strange choice. The film opens depicting Phillips and his wife driving to the airport, and then cuts to the pirates putting together a crew for some hijacking along the coast. It would have been more effective to have kept the pirates hidden until they take control of the ship. This would make it more surprising, as we already know how the film is going to end.

Greengrass’ signature handheld camera is of course present here, and perhaps this is why the film has a documentary vibe. The film is similar in fashion to “United 93,” yet more grounded in fact and more thrilling. Sometimes his filming made me a bit seasick, but other than that the film is well presented, with some solid cinematography to boot. If you don’t like shaky cam, though, this might not change your mind. It’s not as bad as “The Bourne Supremacy” or “The Hunger Games,” but sometimes the shaky cam made me a bit nauseous. Luckily it’s only used during quick action scenes, and these don’t last very long. A melodramatic soundtrack kicks up for some action scenes, as well, but it’s pretty out-of-the-way.

“Captain Phillips” is a suspenseful ride, despite some hiccups in the setup. This true tale of an American hero will leave you breathless and emotionally drained. Thanks to some expert acting by Hanks and an intense and electrifying story, “Captain Phillips” is a hit.