Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

I wish I’d seen Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) in the theater. Something about the TV ads just didn’t pique my interest. When I finally watched it on DVD, I knew it was a great film and, in one respect, that I had missed the boat (pun intended). There are scenes in this movie that were made to be seen on a large screen. You could almost drown in the imagery.

So, since I live in despair for not having seen it on the big screen, why do I love it so much? Because it’s not about the imagery, and it’s not about the action, even though there is plenty. It’s about people of good character. That sounds boring, I know, but it held my interest for the entire film. Working from the novels by Patrick O’Brian, director Peter Weir has created a film that hinges more on the personalities of its main characters and less on their battles at sea.

The film begins with the story already in progress, with England’s HMS Surprise in pursuit of the French war vessel Acheron. The Acheron appears in a fog bank and attacks in a scene both exciting and frightening. Weir and his team give us an unflinching view of men and ships battling each other on the open sea. It’s incredible anyone survives these encounters.

Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey, a good man and leader, and a brilliant sea captain. His sense of strategy and clever use of his ship result in several small victories throughout the film. He feels empathy for his men, but understands his position well enough to keep a certain distance from them; close enough to earn their respect without losing his authority. His best friend is the ship’s surgeon, Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany). Maturin’s interest in biology and science make him seem unsuited for life on a ship, but their travels probably take him to places he would not otherwise get to visit. More than anyone, Maturin is the voice of Aubrey’s conscience; the two friends create a nice balance. They also share an interest in music, and will spend an evening playing together, with the captain on violin and the doctor on cello. (Unusual for what was originally marketed as an “action film.”)

Crowe and Bettany’s work here is not in your face. It’s subtler than we anticipate, especially in the way their characters relate to Lord Blakeney (Max Pirkis), a teenaged officer of the crew. Roger Ebert wrote, “With Maturin he shares a passion for biology, and begins a journal filled with sketches of birds and beetles they encounter. Under Aubrey he learns to lead men, to think clearly in battle.” I enjoyed watching him learn from his mentors, taking their best qualities as a guide to adulthood.

Most of the film takes place on the Surprise, giving the audience a first-hand view of the cramped, claustrophobic life it must have been. At one point the men give in to superstition and suspect one of the officers of being a Jonah, or bad luck. This section of the movie is almost the scariest. How would you feel if your fellow crew members blamed you for their bad luck, and there was no place to get away from them? The crew regularly feels closed in, with no chance for real privacy.

Another subplot takes Aubrey and his men to the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin would eventually make his discoveries. It provides a nice interlude between the scenes of tension and battle. Without spoiling the story, Aubrey’s decision to stop at the Galapagos provides a point of interest in his personality. He knows when to be tough on his men, is focused on his mission, and shows himself to be a born sea captain. But he also knows when to lean back and regain perspective, and values the men around him.

The friendship between Aubrey and Maturin is the real heart of the film. The battle scenes are thrilling, though. We in the audience are able to stay grounded because we understand the strategy behind what is happening and don’t get lost in the noise and confusion (except when the filmmakers intend for that to happen). Once the ships have moved close enough together to stop using cannons, the crew boards the other ship and they hack at each other with swords. These scenes face the reality of fighting in close quarters.

I’m not sure that I’ve made it sound as exhilarating as it feels. I was in the grip of the story from the very beginning, and came to know the characters as they did their best to do their duty and survive. I observed what a hard life it must have been. And I gained great insight into a strong and fascinating friendship between two men. I was never, in any way, bored. In the end, as I’d hoped, it felt as though I’d been taken on a great adventure.