10 “True” Movies That Glossed Over Major Controversies

3. Captain Phillips

The Lie: According to his crew, the real Captain Phillips was far from being a clean cut hero. One of the most harrowing films of 2013, Captain Phillips told the story of the eponymous sailor and his attempts to defend his ship from a gang of heavily armed Somalian pirates. Tom Hanks gave one of his best performances as the beleaguered captain, including a heart-breaking final scene in which emotion and shock got the better of him. The central narrative of Captain Phillips is a simple example of the humble American hero going above and beyond the call of duty in order to protect those around him. Whilst some, including director Paul Greengrass and first mate Shaun Murphy, stand by the portrayal of Phillips on the big screen, several of the members of the real Maersk Alabama crew have taken issue with the way in which Phillips was lionised by the film. They alleged that Phillips had been told not to sail as close to Somalia as he did and describe him as "real arrogant" in his lack of fear of piracy. This one is perhaps less clear than many of the other entries on this list, given that the events are disputed. However, it's fair to say that the film shies away from exploring the flaws of Phillips as a captain, instead choosing to focus on his perceived heroism. In this case, it's easy to see how Captain Phillips could have been a considerably less entertaining film if it had hewed closer to reality.