Working from Patrick O'Brian's popular series of novels, director Peter Weir and crew took great pains to present an ofttimes understated epic that’s about the art of warfare as much as it's about the battles themselves. Russell Crowe headlines as Captain Jack Aubrey, a British naval hero assigned to bring down a formidable French vessel during the Napoleonic Wars in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Aubrey has to contend not only with the trickery of his enemies but also the concerns of his crew members, who trust their leader implicitly yet frequently find themselves at the mercy of the elements, superstitious legends and their own self-doubts. Paul Bettany, Crowe's A Beautiful Mind co-star, portrays the ship's doctor (and Aubrey's best friend), and it's the relationship between their two characters that largely drives the story. Yet, it’s Weir's attention to minute detail that allows viewers to get swept away by this impressive undertaking, which earned Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing. This 2003 release will be screened as part of the Main Library series Ships Ahoy!!: 8 Classic Seafaring Films.

Matt Brunson