Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
2003  PG-13  DRAMA  2h 18min
CAST— Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, James D'Arcy, Chris Larkin, Edward Woodall
MUSIC— Ira Davies, Christopher Gordon, Richard Tognetti  DIRECTOR— Peter Weir  BASED ON— Master and Commander (novel), by Patrick O'Brian

     A commanding performance by Russell Crowe keeps this film afloat as he plays a very un-Bligh-like captain of an English sailing vessel during the Napoleonic Wars. Around 1805 Crowe and his loyal men face a skirmish by a French warship that proves to be faster, more agile, and an all around deadlier foe than previously imagined. Crowe and his crew evade the ship, for now, with Crowe continuously planning his next assault. Meanwhile, the crew members face their various dilemmas: water rations running low, tensions rising amongst the men, etc. The ship's doctor, Crowe's trusted friend and confidant, has his sights set on a visit to the Galapagos Islands, but his plans take a back burner to the Captain's pursuit of the French privateer who has a good chance of besting them in battle. But don't get the wrong idea of Crowe; despite his honor for King and Country, he surprisingly has his crew's best interests at heart, boosting their morale (and their rations of rum and grog) when he deems their work as a job well done. A sympathetic view of the hardened sea captain, really a fresh approach for this type of film, leaves Crowe, not to mention his crew, ones to root for. Somewhat light on the action (if you compare this film to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) but plenty of character drama leaves one interested. Oscar-winner for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing.
OUR RATING— ** ½