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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
It's drama on the high seas as Russell Crowe commands the HMS Surprise, a war ship for the British navy in the early 1800's. It's Britain against Napoleonic France in this heroic adventure that pits man against man, and man against nature.
Crowe plays Captain Jack Aubrey, a loyalist who has his country in his heart. When his ship meets a French war ship, the battle is fierce. But Captain Jack is crafty and knows his ship is no match for this new modern high tech craft. Well, as high tech as something could be in the early nineteenth century! Jack marvels at the French ship, and knows he must follow it and destroy it, for King and country. But that task isn't going to be easy. It takes cunning and courage to go up against this modern marvel and win.
Along the way, there is plenty of drama as the relationships between the crew are explored. About 99% of the film takes place on the ship. It was no Love Boat, by any means. The food was slop, the weather often didn't cooperate, and the medical care was barbaric by our standards. But those times called for tough men to sail the seas and fight against Napoleon's navy, and that is exactly what they did.
The relationship between the captain and the ship's doctor (Paul Bettany) is the most compelling, as Captain Jack relies on the doctor for advice as a friend first. The film is based on the novels by Patrick O'Brian and brilliantly directed by Peter Weir.
Sinbad was a fun sea-faring adventure for kids and The Pirates of the Caribbean was a light-hearted adventure. But Master and Commander is the most riveting, adventurous and ambitious story about life on the high seas. Award nominations are soon to come for this epic film.
© 2003 Francine Brokaw
All pictures ©Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Studios and Miramax Film Corp. All Rights Reserved.
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