If you’ve considered seeing Captain Phillips, do your research first. The whole thing will be much less stressful if you know what’s going to happen.

If, instead, you are one of those weird people who likes real life dramas and likes to be surprised them, don’t read about what happened first, and just let yourself ride the emotions in this movies. Or, if, even more weirdly, you are one of those people who reads the news and remembers what happens, well, go read the news or something. You already know what happens.

I am truly surprised that his performance in Captain Phillips didn’t earn Tom Hanks a Best Actor nomination, because (though he’s hardly ever NOT good), he’s in prime form for this movie. There’s little character development, little exposition, and little screen time before this more or less ordinary man is tossed into extraordinary circumstances, and Hanks’ ability to capture the entire emotional roller coaster is part of what makes this such a potentially stressful viewing experience (if you don’t spoil it for yourself).

Definitely a great adaptation of real life events, a respectful historical distance from the original event, and a fearless look at the depths we go to in order to survive.