Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World | ||||
Peter Weir Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy, Billy Boyd, Lee Ingleby, George Innes, Mark Lewis Jones, Chris Larkin, Richard McCabe, Robert Pugh, David Threlfall, Max Pirkis, Edward Woodall, Ian Mercer, Max Benitz 2003 |
Aiming to be as manly as possible, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is a swashbuckling seafaring adventure about a British naval captain in 1805 and his quest to engage and overcome a dominant enemy warship. The movie, based on the novels of Patrick O'Brian, is armed with sure-handed director Peter Weir ("The Truman Show") at the helm, as well as the perfect star for such a project, the rough-hewn, no-nonsense Russell Crowe. Captain Jack Aubrey is a period role that Crowe, Oscar-winner for "Gladiator," takes to like Sir Francis Drake to the high seas. It's quickly established that Aubrey is a leader of men, one made by experience rather than born to the position. Although he has his crew's respect, his obsessive pursuit of his adversary around the treacherous Cape Horn, risking the lives of his men, foments on-board unrest. In terms of visual sense, historical accuracy and technical achievement, "Master and Commander" is a high-quality endeavor with well-staged action. A friendship between Aubrey and the ship's doctor (Paul Bettany) is explored, but there's little plot or emotional weight. Suspense is minimal, because, when all is said and done, the characters have only slightly more depth and personality than a Stratego game-piece. | |||
I'm Not There / Love In The Time Of Cholera / Gone Baby Gone / Delirious / 2 Days In Paris / more... |