Crowe in Command
Naval Epic Takes Audiences by Storm

Nineteenth century naval battles would not normally make my Top 10 list of favorite movie subjects. Still, I found myself strangely compelled to see Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World if only because the rollicking fun of this summer's pirate movie gave me a taste for the thrill of adventure on the high seas. Unlike the Disney version of swashbuckling, however, Master and Commander is exciting and compelling despite the lack of ghosts, gold, and Keira Knightley.

Set in 1805, amid the backdrop of England's war with Napoleon, this new film explores the life aboard a British ship charged with overtaking a French ship headed for the Pacific. Commanding the H.M.S. Surprise is "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) , a strong, resolute captain who makes clear early on he is capable of standing toe-to-toe against a strong opponent without backing down. The French ship appears out of a dense fog and attacks the Surprise without warning, only to disappear again.

As the film progresses, the story of the Surprise and her phantom French opponent becomes secondary. The true heart of Master and Commander lies in the crew and the details of their daily lives. Audiences are not treated to cardboard thin characters defined by a moment of screen time. Each of them, from the ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin (played brilliantly by Paul Bettany) to Midshipman Blakeney (played by thirteen year-old Max Pirkis), become over the course of time to be interesting and compelling characters. Bettany is excellent, portraying Maturin with a vulnerability that befits a doctor but with an inner strength that allows him to act as a counterpoint to Aubrey's actions.

Of course, Crowe's performance as Jack Aubrey is the lynchpin to the whole endeavor, and he gives audiences an Aubrey who is both driven and compassionate. He is visibly shaken by the site of a young man injured, but when he makes a decision to condemn another to die to save the ship he does so without looking back. The result is a captain we admire and almost fear, as he appears incapable of seeing that his pride could jeopardize the crew.

Certainly, there is no end to the beauty of this cinematic achievement. The ships are wonderfully recreated. Everything appears (at least to this seafaring novice) to be historically accurate. More important, to me, is the ability for so much variety in setting to be accomplished on one ship. The majority of the film takes place aboard the Surprise and yet one does not get the feeling that the camera is constantly showing the same backdrop. The filming on the Galapagos Islands is especially breathtaking if only because it offers a pristine view of the area as it would have looked 200 years ago.

I'll be perfectly honest. Crowe isn't my favorite actor. After the hype from Gladiator and the Oscar for Best Actor that I felt he stole from a much more deserving Ed Harris, I could have been content never seeing another of his films. That said, I'm glad a friend suggested we see Master and Commander. Not only is it an excellent film, but it reminded me that Crowe is not merely a one-note actor. He is capable of a wide range of dramatic characters, from the troubled genius of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind to the heroic character that he portrays in Capt. Aubrey.

While Master and Commander is a long movie, it is not slow moving or drawn out. The film is compelling, stunning, and visually engaging. This is not a film to wait and see on DVD. An epic like this deserves to be seen on the big screen where the waves can wash over you and the adventure will rightfully seem bigger than life.

MY RATING: 9 out of 10.

RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 138 min.