Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany

Rated PG-13

            As far as real Oscar contenders go, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” is at the head of it’s class, dominating any other film screening right now and creating hope for independent filmmakers to show that you can make a big-budget art movie. Russell Crowe gives a dominating performance that demands audiences to see, and director Peter Weir shows the entire film with authenticity and courage.

            Crowe is Captain Jack Aubrey, the master/commander of the H.M.S. Surprise, a huge ship in the 1800’s traveling boldly across the oceans. A large French ship crosses its path and attacks brutally. But once everything is repaired and most injured people have recovered, Crowe decides to go after the ship and show them what England is made of. The film co-stars Crowe’s “A Beautiful Mind” pal Paul Bettany as the ship’s doctor and Crowe’s best friend. This friendship leads the entire movie to great lengths, and we see more of the way the crew lives than extreme battle sequences, which is a great way to do a movie.

            With a cast this amazing, and such a dignified and in-command Crowe, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” is one of the year’s best films.

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