Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Rating

Director

Peter Weir

Screenplay

Peter Weir, John Collee (Novel: Patrick O’Brian)

Length

138 min.

Starring

Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D’Arcy, Edward Woodall, Chris Larkin, Max Pirkis, Jack Randall, Max Benitz, Lee Ingleby, Richard Pates, Robert Pugh, Richard McCabe, Ian Mercer, Tony Dolan, David Threlfall, Billy Boyd, Bryan Dick, Joseph Morgan, George Innes, William Mannering, Patrick Gallagher, Alex Palmer, Mark Lewis Jones

MPAA Rating

PG-13 (For intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language)

Review

Napoleon is winning his way across Europe and the British are trying desperately to fend off his advances. On the high seas, one British ship is following a French ship through the south Atlantic and fighting for survival in Peter Weir’s epic Master and Commander: The Fire Side of the World.

Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey, commander of an erstwhile vessel filled with men whose devotion to country is inspirational. He is surrounded by an apt crew including his long-time friend Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany). Together, they follow orders from the empire to seek out a ship named Acheron, thought to be trolling the Atlantic off the Brazilian coast. What the sailors find is a lesson in craft and seamanship.

There is a wide array of characters to be found. Crowe does adequately as the Queeg-like captain. Bettany is a welcome treat, giving the best performance in the film. Aside from Midshipman Blakeney played surprisingly well by Max Pirkis, only a couple of other characters develop beyond their stereotypical requirements. Lord of the Rings hobbit Billy Boyd is an interesting addition to the cast, as one of the more prominent crewmen; Jonah-cursed Midshipman Hollom is aptly embodied by Lee Ingleby; and Ian Mercer does a fine job bringing down the over-adventurous natures of the ship’s captain and doctor as the able boatswain.

Director Peter Weir, whose previous forays behind the camera include the lyrical Dead Poets Society and brilliant The Truman Show , is truly the master and commander of this bit of cinematic art. The film flows from scene to scene with little effort and his screenplay with co-writer John Collee is filled with highly technical and painstakingly researched material. Bringing his knowledge and directorial talent together has made Master and Commander an amazing, spirited journey into passion, honor and self-discovery.

The sets and costumes are of the same caliber as the ones in this year’s other high seas adventure Pirates of the Caribbean. Likewise, the cinematography, sound and visual effects are spectacular. Weir has collected a wonderful cadre of artisans to create a world that leaves you feeling like you were a part of it.

The plot avoids being too cliche, clinging not to the formulae of the past but forging a new mold for the future. There is a sufficient amount of homage but it takes a back seat to the realistic and emotional breadth of the whole. We find these two men who have a devotion to one another and to country but each has a unique ambition. The doctor’s impetus for adventure is to discover strange new lands and interesting scientific phenomena while the captain tries to follow command, risking the safety of his crew and his friendship with the doctor to pursue his white whale. Their tempers flare and a rift develops between and it takes a grave injury to break their opposition.

Master and Commander paints a vivid portrait of life at sea during the Napoleonic conquest of Europe. It also shows you that the war wasn’t isolated to Europe but was present even on The Far Side of the World where the war had, up to that point, little effect.

Moviegoers will find themselves drawn into the story without effort. They will leave the theater feeling empowered by the crew’s victories and failures. Master and Commander leaves its audience excited and impressed while simultaneously providing their bombastic and humanistic entertainment.

Review Written

November 29, 2003