The Far Side of the World
Starring: Russel Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy
Rated: PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language
The best films are the one’s you can watch multiple times and, each time, walk away appreciating and enjoying different aspects of the film. Peter Weir’s classic Master and Commander certainly fits that description. The story, which follows a British Man-O-War’s attempt to capture a mightier French frigate, is fine enough, but Weir gives us more than just the plot. We’re given an entire cast of deep and interesting characters, most of all Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany.) Weir also spends plenty of time simply building the environment and lifestyle of an 1800s Man-O-War. Whether it’s a scene or a simple shot, there is time and effort in the details that capture the culture, dialogue, work, technology, and music of it’s time period. This is enhanced by Russell Boyd’s cinematography, as well as Lee Smith’s Academy Award-winning editing. There is little wonder why the film was nominated for ten Academy Awards; it’s simply that masterful of a film.
Just look at this frame: you could hang it on your wall.
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