From the bow of the British Navy’s HMS Surprise, the watchman catches a glimpse of something up ahead in the fogbank. He’s not sure what it is, but he’s sure he saw something. Just as quickly as it was there, it’s gone again. He hesitates, but the call to quarters is sounded. Capt. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) climbs from his cabin to the deck and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World begins its high-seas adventure with one of the most gripping opening scenes in recent memory.
Aubrey has been given the task of preventing the French warship, Acheron, from making it to the Pacific Ocean. Aubrey’s ship, the Surprise, is outsized and outgunned by the French ship. The only way the Surprise can possibly defeat the Acheron will be the deft seamanship of Capt. Aubrey and the toils and sacrifice of his crew. By his side is Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), his close friend, with whom he frequently butts heads with over matters of honor and duty. Maturin is a naturalist and Aubrey is a realist of sorts. The rapport between the two men is tense and, at the same time, respectful of one another’s feelings and desires in the face of their particular situation. Both men get a chance to prove their mettle on numerous occasions in the film.
The film maintains a beautiful balance of character development, plot advancement, action, cinematography, special effects and fine acting. Despite a nearly two and a half hour running time, the movie never drags or becomes weighed down with its own self-importance. Thankfully, the movie is not all about swashbuckling or gunplay. It’s got a soul and a brain and in many of today’s big-budget films, those two items are usually the first to be chucked out the window for the sake of making the budget back during the opening weekend.
Russell Crowe is the headlining actor and his performance is reliably solid. Paul Bettany, as Stephen Maturin, is equally outstanding. It must be said that the ship is a big part of the cast because 95% of the film takes place either on the deck or in the cabins of the HMS Surprise. The claustrophobic confines of the ship manages to pull the audience into the film as well as pulling some great acting out of the entire cast.
Master and Commander is based on the best-selling series of books by Patrick O’Brian. I’ve never read any of them but if they’re half as interesting and intelligent as this film, I really want to start doing so immediately.
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
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