Ten years ago, "Master and Commander" would
have opened atop the box office and been highly
successful, monetarily. However, it only raked
in about $25 million its first weekend, and with a
budget of 150+, long legs will be needed to make this
financially successful out of the gate. The
bizarre thing is -- "Master and Commander"
is one of the best films of the year, which many will
find heresy for me to say since I am an avid Russell
Crowe adversary. Actually, "Master and
Commander" is one of the most pleasing cinematic
experiences I have had in years.
Russell Crowe goes 'fightin' 'round the world' as
Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, the master and
commander of the HMS Surprise, one of Great Britain's
finest vessels. His mission is clear - find the
French vessel the Acheron and either sink it, burin
it, or take it prize. Alas, Lucky Jack's ship is
hit first, and it is soon revealed that the Acheron is
a far superior vessel to the HMS Surprise, boasting
twice their guns and twice their man power. So,
being the revered captain that he is, Lucky Jack
decides to ignore the logical and go after the ship
anyway, encountering a run of bad luck he would have
never expected. Paul Bettany co-stars as the
ship doctor, Stephen Maturin and 13-year-old Max
Pirkis is Blakeney, who loses his arm after the first
attack.
This film is more about strategy and comradory than
anything the trailers would have you believe. It
focuses more on the implementation of the attack
rather than the attack itself, and that is what
separates "Master and Commander" from all
other films in the genre. From the moment he is
taken off guard, Captain Jack knows what has to be
done and knows he will go to any lengths to make sure
that it is done. "Master and
Commander" very much glorifies the power
structure of British sea warfare and demonstrates just
how well it can work when the captain is not such a
bullheaded dictator.
Paul Bettany gives the performance of the year, in my
opinion, as the ship doctor, a man who disagrees with
many of his friend's strategically maneuvers, but
would nevertheless follow him to the death.
Bettany is also given the most material with which to
work. All of the scenes involving the Galapagos
Islands are breathtaking, and when we see the crew
carrying Bettany onto the shores of the island, we can
feel the excitement he will have. The biggest
surprise in the film, however, was Max Pirkis as
Blakeney, delivering one of the finest performances
from any young actor this year. Plus, he is
adorable.
Director Peter Weir, whose last effort was the under appreciated
"The Truman Show", might very well have
crafted the film that will make him more remembered in
the cinema world. I think, once more and more
people start to see this film, they will claim it as
the treasure it most certainly is. My hope is
that the Academy will also spot this treasure and
reward it justly. I could see nominations for
both Bettany and Crowe, along with nominations for
Weir and producer Samuel Goldwyn, Jr.
"Master and Commander" is one of the
superior films of the year, and certainly the most
engaging. You should go to the 'far side of the
world' to see this film, though I imagine the local
cineplex will suffice.
