Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a 2003 American epic period war-drama film co-written, produced and directed by Peter Weir, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The film's plot and characters are adapted from three novels in author Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series, which includes 20 completed novels of Jack Aubrey's naval career. The film stars Russell Crowe as Aubrey, captain in the Royal Navy, and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship's surgeon. This is the second onscreen collaboration for Crowe and Bettany, both of whom previously co-starred in 2001’s A Beautiful Mind.
Plot
During the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Jack Aubrey of HMS ''Surprise'' is ordered to intercept the heavy frigate Acheron, a French privateer. Acheron ambushes Surprise off the coast of Brazil, causing heavy damage while remaining undamaged by the British guns. The ship's boats tow Surprise into a fog bank to evade pursuit. Aubrey's officers tell him that Surprise is no match for Acheron, and that they should abandon the chase. Aubrey responds that Acheron must not be allowed to plunder the British whaling fleet and orders Surprise refitted at sea, rather than a lengthy return to port for repairs. Midshipman Blakeney has his arm amputated due to injuries sustained in battle. Shortly afterward, Acheron again ambushes Surprise, but Aubrey slips away in the night by using a decoy raft and ship's lamps.
Awards
Cast
- Alex Palmer
- Billy Boyd
- Bryan Dick
- Chris Larkin
- David Threlfall
- Edward Woodall
- George Innes
- Ian Mercer
- Jack Randall
- James D'Arcy
- John DeSantis
- Joseph Morgan
- Lee Ingleby
- Mark Lewis Jones
- Max Benitz
- Max Pirkis
- Patrick Gallagher
- Paul Bettany
- Richard McCabe
- Robert Lepage
- Robert Pugh
- Russell Crowe
- Thierry Segall
- Tony Dolan