Director Peter Weir's Master and Commander, like it or not, is plain and simple and extraordinarilly well made film. The nuances of the plot are so many, that despite seeing it twice, I am still musing over the various themes presented: examples include the conflict between science and war making,(or is there one?), the natural relationships of authority vs. independence, etc. Indeed the very title of the film "Master and Commander" references Crowe's Captain Aubrey to a tee. Despite his own references to duty to England and the Crown as impetus to continue, It developes that he has early on exceeded his orders to pursue their opponents into the Pacific. He also chooses to leave the chase to save the life of his friend Maturin. The fate of the HMS Surprise, and of the "197 souls" aboard lie solely in the hands of Captain Aubrey, and his will, or hubris, propel this adventure. Aubrey delivers patriotic speeches to his crew, but at the end he notes the goal was "....for the prize!" the journeys in the Galapogos, considered an annoyance to the plot by some of my friends, I found to be an extraordinarily ironic and fascinating twist. This turn in the film, more than anything else generates the character developement of Aubrey and Maturin as they come into conflict.
While the dialogue is filled with naval jargon, confusing to lubbers, but fun no less, I found the musical score was perfectly mated to the images to form a more complete idea of the emotions at work. thundering drums recall the excitement of preparations for battle, vs. the more gentle strains accompany the excitement of scientific discovery etc. Even the irony of being bested again in the end comes through in the music, literally. I though this flick was a work of art from the first shot to the last. It would be nice to see Weir and the others involved with this film given official credit, via awards; but any failures on that score cannot diminish this fine epic of understated acting and epic filmmaking.
While the dialogue is filled with naval jargon, confusing to lubbers, but fun no less, I found the musical score was perfectly mated to the images to form a more complete idea of the emotions at work. thundering drums recall the excitement of preparations for battle, vs. the more gentle strains accompany the excitement of scientific discovery etc. Even the irony of being bested again in the end comes through in the music, literally. I though this flick was a work of art from the first shot to the last. It would be nice to see Weir and the others involved with this film given official credit, via awards; but any failures on that score cannot diminish this fine epic of understated acting and epic filmmaking.