Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D’Arcy; Directed by Peter Weir
With England under threat of invasion by Napoleon and his army, the H.M.S. Surprise and its crew are charged with the task of hunting down the French frigate, Acheron, a vessel intent on carrying the war into the South Seas. Oceans are now battlefields. A few hours before dawn one morning, Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey is alerted to a possible sighting of a frigate in heavy fog. But the dark fog is so heavy that the men soon begin to doubt whether anything was seen at all. Suddenly, cannon fire rings out, and the Surprise is brought to the edge of obliteration within a few minutes in an attack by the Acheron. What follows is a treacherous game of chase between the two ships, their Captains seeking to outwit each other by any and all means necessary. Sacrifice, suicide, and suspicion soon become par for the course, and tension runs very high among the crewmembers as their strength and nerves are pushed further and further along. Failure is certain if Captain Aubrey cannot hold his crew together, and that failure would mean the worst for all.
There is little doubt in my mind that Peter Weir’s Master and Commander would have won the Best Picture Oscar in 2003, - had it not been pitted against a little film called The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Ah well. Deservedly so, Peter Jackson’s project went on to win the 13 Oscars it was nominated for, blowing all other competition out of the water. But awards are certainly not the most important thing in life, and I only lament that Master and Commander may have been passed up by many potential viewers because it was denied a brief place in the spotlight.
Fortunately, it is never too late to discover a film. This is a story that transcends the action/adventure genre, as well as the historical fiction genre. Mr. Weir’s near obsession with historical accuracy was a supreme benefit here, as well as the technical prowess of the film’s digital and special effects masters. The first five minutes of the film gently eases us onboard the Surprise. Ropes swing casually overhead, wooden planks creak and moan, and the sails billow gently in the wind. Then, we are slammed headlong into the action of battle. The planks are splintered and propelled forward like tiny missiles, smoke and ash are everywhere, and the deck is soon full of the incoherent screams and cries of the sailors.
Every scene, every atmosphere is so masterfully presented to us that we are instantly sucked in. Like Alien, we become part of the crew. Their worries and problems become our worries and problems, and we are rarely afforded the pleasure of leaving the claustrophobic confines of the ship, just as they are rarely afforded it.
Master and Commander is also blessed with a terrific cast. Russell Crowe heads the ship, playing Lucky Jack with a mischievousness and warmth that endear us to him immediately. Paul Bettany is Stephen Maturin, the ship’s physician and natural scientist. His close friendship with Aubrey is frequently compromised by Aubrey’s duty to the service, and Mr. Bettany smartly walks the line between the bitterness and acceptance that this hardship must bring. Other notable performances include Lee Ingleby, an awkward and timid officer who is labeled a ‘Jonah’ by the rest of the crew, and Max Pirkis, a twelve-year-old midshipman with the heart of a lion, who suffers an arm amputation within the first twenty minutes of the film. Christopher Gordon, Iva Davies, and Richard Tognetti are responsible for the film’s extraordinary score, combining original themes with works by Mozart and Bach, among others. Haunting violin arpeggios and earth-shaking percussion makes this unique composition walk hand-in-hand with this unique film.
This sort of story in this sort of setting does not come around very often. Because of this, many people may find it hard to adjust to. Whaling boats and Man-Of-War ships are not common things of the world anymore. I wish that a sincere appreciation of history resided in everyone, but unfortunately, I know that many people have neither the patience nor the temperament to sit through this kind of film. There’s no sex, nudity, or glorified violence here. There doesn’t have to be. The story is good enough to avoid needing those elements to draw an audience in, if only they will give it the chance.
The two-disc widescreen edition of the DVD is also a treat, giving viewers insight into the complicated making of the film, including the acquirement of the Rose (starring as the Surprise), and the historical ‘boot camp’ the actors went through, all the while maintaining the hierarchy of officers and crew. There are no mediocre elements here; it is an exceptional success on all levels, with incredible picture and sound-mixing to boot (a big plus to those of you with home theatre systems).
Do not miss this amazing film.
Grading:
Story = A
Originality = A
DVD Features = A
Acting = A
Enjoyability = A
Visuals = A
Overall = A
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