"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," directed by Peter Weir, represents star Russell Crowe's most mature work as one of Hollywood's new action heroes. The film, set in 1805 during the Napoleonic War, tells the tale of the H.M.S. Surprise as it duels with the superior French ship Acheron, last seen in the waters off Brazil.
The film is no "Gladiator" on the sea. Crowe shows more skill as an actor in his portrayal of Capt. 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey than the rough and tough gladiator; Lucky Jack presents a more personal character than the inhuman superhero Maximus.
Crowe reveals the many sides of the captain, who is both a fine sailor and a refined gentleman. In one scene, he plays the violin in a duet with the ship's doctor on cello, while in another he lectures the young officers on seamanship. In his finest moment, Crowe displays the agony of a ship's captain forced to make impossibly difficult decisions.
"Master" invariably draws comparison to several other films, for both Crowe's performance and the film's subject matter. "Pirates of the Caribbean," this past summer's hit, is also about sailing ships, but is a much less serious film. Johnny Depp excellently portrays Capt. Jack Sparrow, but Depp's display had more of a guilty pleasure feel and lacks the weight of Crowe's performance. In "The Patriot," Mel Gibson gives a mediocre follow-up performance to "Braveheart;" Crowe does not make the same mistake in this "Gladiator" follow up. Instead, he makes progress as both actor and action hero.
One aspect of "Master and Commander" that enhances its appeal is the level of historical realism. Based on two of the 20 novels in Jack O'Brian's "Master and Commander" series, the film goes to great lengths to reflect O'Brian's historical accuracy. The absurdly long-titled Web site, Masterandcommanderthefarsideoftheworld.com, contains all sorts of interesting background information of the world of 1805. Included are details about the Royal Navy, nautical terms and diagrams and names the ship's sails, without containing any plot spoilers.
The entire world created in both the film and novels is fascinating; it realistically depicts a by-gone era when sailors used cunning and bravery to best other ships, instead of today's high-tech, distant naval warfare.
Director Peter Weir, who previously directed "Dead Poets Society" and "The Truman Show," co-wrote the screenplay adaptation. Weir persuaded the studio to purchase a full sized replica of an 18th century sailing ship, which he used along with several "very large" miniatures, and the same water sets used for the filming of "Titanic." The result is a thoroughly believable film, which charms the audience with a feeling that it really was shot 200 years ago.
Other notable cast members include Paul Bettany and Max Pirkis. Bettany -- who also supported with Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind" as his imagined roommate at Princeton -- portrays the ship's surgeon and the captain's best friend. In one of the more gruesome scenes, Bettany's character must perform the post-combat amputations frequently practiced at the time. As the youngest of the midshipmen, 13-year-old Pirkis offers one of the best performances next to Crowe, despite having previously acted in only "school drama productions," according to the Web site. It might seem strange for such a young boy to be leading much older enlisted men into battle, but the film stays faithful to the period, when boys as young as 10 often served in the Royal Navy.
The film's impressive soundtrack is also worth noting; it includes pieces by Mozart, a Bach Suite performed by Yo-Yo Ma, original orchestral work by composer Iva Davies and traditional British folk songs.
Expect the Golden Globes and possibly the Academy to give nods to the score, director Peter Weir and Russell Crowe. In fact, the film was finished and scheduled for release this summer to compete with "2 Fast 2 Furious," but Fox pushed the production date back in order to keep it fresh in minds of awards voters.
As a whole, "Master and Commander" is a thoroughly well made film; many different aspects of film making come together to form a fine product. From the beautiful shots of the Galapagos Islands to the refined and enchanting world of the Napoleonic era, the film is a treat. The director's attention to scenery allows the viewer to experience life on a ship, just as Russell Crowe's performance radiates leadership and sense of duty.
There is no question: Crowe is the captain of this boat.
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