On its own, the plot of The Finest Hours reads like the perfect tale of action, heroism and inspiration. But when you find out it’s actually telling the true events of a seemingly impossible U.S. Coast Guard rescue some 70 years ago, it becomes all the more remarkable. 

You may never have heard the tale, but it goes like this: In February of 1952 a massive storm rocked the Eastern seaboard and literally ripped apart two oil tankers, the SS Pendleton and SS Fort Mercer. On orders by the local Coast Guard station chief, four crewmen took their lives in their hands by boarding a wooden lifeboat and braving the freezing cold, wind and 60-foot surf to rescue the nearly 40 survivors. How did they do it? Did they do it? The history is out there, but we’d rather wait for the movie to find out when it comes to theaters January 29. Read on for more about the cast and their courageous real-life characters.

Chris Pine As Captain Bernie Webber

Easygoing, humble and honest, coxswain Webber heads the four-man effort, becoming an unlikely hero in the process. 

You Know Him Because: Few modern leading men are as charismatic as the roguish Chris Pine, who proved carved his leading man chops family fare like The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement before proving himself the only modern successor to one of science fiction’s greatest characters in Star Trek. Since then, he has capably portrayed the whip-smart action hero Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and perfectly lampooned his natural charm in the musical Into the Woods.

Pine certainly isn’t alone in this cast – he’s backed up by a strong ensemble of actors and actresses you know and love… and some you will soon know and love. Let’s see who else joins him.

Casey Affleck As Ray Sybert

Chief engineer and the senior officer aboard the Pendleton’s stern, Sybert selflessly takes charge of the frightened crew and directs them in ways to stay alive while keeping the ship afloat as long as it possibly can. (Affleck, you may remember, is a native Bostonian.)

You Know Him Because: He provided hilarious comedy relief in Ocean’s 11 and its sequels before establishing himself as a tour de force dramatic actor in Gone Baby Gone and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the latter of which won him an Oscar nomination. Recently, he lent his considerable talents to the ensemble cast of the sci-fi epic Interstellar.

Eric Bana As Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff

As the newly appointed station chief, Cluff had already ordered a rescue mission for the Mercer before finding out the second ship was also in trouble. He orders Webber to put a crew together and take out the 12-seat lifeboat on a rescue mission, seemingly against all odds. 

You Know Him Because: The native Australian has played soldiers (Black Hawk Down), warriors (Troy), spies (Munich), superheroes (Hulk) and even well-intentioned husbands (Funny People). And, of course, he occasionally finds time to voice sea creatures in animated movies like Finding Nemo.

Ben Foster As Richard Livesey

As a veteran Coast Guard seaman, Livesey has some doubts about the younger coxswain’s ability to lead such an enormous and daunting mission. Regardless, he volunteers to help him on the lifeboat.

You Know Him Because: He brought his trademark intensity to fun popcorn movies like X-Men: The Last Stand and 30 Days of Night, but he’s showcased serious chops in dramas like Lone Survivor and The Program, both of which tasked him with portraying real-world figures.

Holliday Grainger As Miriam

Miriam is a telephone operator who also happens to be engaged to Bernie — and is obviously frightened for his safety on the mission.

You Know Her Because: With credits that include Cinderella, Great Expectations, Anna Karenina and Jane Eyre, here’s a fine actress who showcases all kinds of good taste in the projects she selects.

Kyle Gallner As Andy Fitzgerald

One of the other three men aboard the lifeboat, Fitzgerald was the youngest, in charge of manning the searchlight at the front of the boat. The real-life Fitzgerald, now 84, helped filmmakers with the veracity of the facts and details of the mission early on in development.

You Know Him Because: Gallner has shown his stuff in horror movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Red State, massive hits like American Sniper, and even low-budget, well-regarded independent films like Dear White People.

John Magaro As Ervin Maske 

Maske was also one of the three volunteers who joined Webber on the mission. 

You Will Know Him Because: When your credits from the past few years include the smash hit Unbroken, the beloved romance Carol, and the 2016 Best Picture nominee The Big Short, you know you’re doing something right. If you don’t know John Magaro’s name right now, you may know it soon.