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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

For being somewhat of a bullying brute, Russell Crowe is deceptively intelligent. Beneath the scowl and padding muscle tissue, therein lies a man passionate about the movies he makes. Don’t let his phone throwing tantrums fool you; the man has deft control of his emotions. “Romper Stomper,” “L.A. Confidential,” “The Insider,” “Gladiator,” etc., etc. See what I mean? He really does have a superb choice in cinematic roles. It’s an interesting presentation: brutality, deftness, and sincerity.

“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” embodies all previous statements about Russell Crowe. The centerpiece of this film isn’t Crowe himself; those would be the fantastic and stirring sea battles. But this film is Crowe. “Master and Commander” has cinematic brawn and brains.

With “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” Crowe’s presentation plays off of much of his previous roles and with equally successful results. As Captain Jack Aubrey, a dogged and raucous high seas commander for the British Army during the Napoleonic wars, Crowe showcases a simultaneously heroic and understated performance. He’s not a deep character, but sure as hell is fun to watch. You can never be sure if he’s doing the right thing, but with outstanding composure and authenticity, he’s a man’s man to root for.

Complimenting Crowe is Paul Bettany as Aubrey’s chief medical doctor. The two are a dynamic duo. Unfortunately, the audience is never informed how exactly they came to be friends, which remained very intriguing indeed. But what they are and represent is fascinating: Emotion vs. Reason, War vs. Science, Street Smarts (or Sea Smarts?) vs. Book Smarts.

The plot is, unfortunately, relatively thin. Essentially, Crowe is seeking revenge against a French ship which attacked his own. There’s also something about this ship being the most dangerous French ship on the open seas, with the possibility of it turning the tide of the Napoleonic war in the French’s favor. But since 90 percent of this film takes place on the seas anyway, the only focus remains on Crowe, Bettany, and some other ship members, not the unfortunate struggles of the British monarchy. So, this plotline is disappointingly un-involving. Luckily, there is a great deal else to hold an attention span, no matter how ADD infused.

Sumptuous visuals, extraordinary effects, unparalleled realism, and the Galapagos Islands! While the film does hit some slow points, two-thirds of the way through the picture, the main characters arrive at the Galapagos Islands. Yes yes, clearly Darwin’s finches remain of little interest to most cinematic viewers. Yet, when this destination is reached, all previously un-involving plot points begin tying together in a most satisfying way, the pacing quickens, and heartbeats will rise. And man, those visuals sure are gorgeous.

Like Russell Crowe, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” has its faults, but it’s a damn fine specimen to watch in action.

Written by: Matthew doyle

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 9.80
Reader's Votes: 5

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