Movies - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Home > Listing Index > Movies > Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

	Movies - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey, with Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin. The score includes an assortment of classical works, notably the Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello played by Yo-Yo Ma.

Cast

Captain Jack Aubrey .... Russell Crowe
Dr. Stephen Maturin .... Paul Bettany
First Lt. Thomas Pullings .... James D'Arcy
Second Lt. William Mowett .... Edward Woodall
Captain Howard, Royal Marines .... Chris Larkin
Midshipman William Blakeney .... Max Pirkis
Midshipman Boyle .... Jack Randall
Midshipman Peter Myles Calamy .... Max Benitz
Midshipman Hollom .... Lee Ingleby
Midshipman Williamson .... Richard Pates
Mr. Allen, Sailing Master .... Robert Pugh
Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate .... Richard McCabe
Mr. Hollar, Boatswain .... Ian Mercer
Mr. Lamb, Carpenter .... Tony Dolan
Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward .... David Threlfall
Barret Bonden, Coxswain .... Billy Boyd
Joseph Nagle, Carpenter's Mate .... Bryan Dick
William Warley, Captain of Mizzentop .... Joseph Morgan
Joe Plaice, Able Seaman .... George Innes
Michael Doudle, Able Seaman .... William Mannering
Awkward Davies, Able Seaman .... Patrick Gallagher
Nehemiah Slade, Able Seaman .... Alex Palmer
Mr. Hogg, Whaler .... Mark Lewis Jones
Padeen Colman, Loblolly Boy .... John De Santis
Black Bill, Steward's Mate .... Ousmane Thiam
Captain of the Acheron .... Thierry Segall

Awards

76th Academy Awards

Won, Best Cinematography, Russell Boyd
Won, Best Sound Effects Editing, Richard King
Nominated, Best Picture
Nominated, Best Director, Peter Weir
Nominated, Best Art Direction
Nominated, Best Sound Mixing
Nominated, Best Costume Design
Nominated, Best Film Editing
Nominated, Best Visual Effects
Nominated, Best Makeup

2003 National Board of Review

#10 Film of the Year

Historical Authenticity

The film's special edition DVD release contains behind-the-scenes material giving useful insights into the film-making process. Great efforts were made to reproduce the authentic look and feel of life aboard an early nineteenth century man of war. Some of the filming actually took place at sea on board Rose (a reproduction of the 18th century frigate HMS Rose), while other scenes were shot on a full-scale replica mounted on gimbals in a large tank. There was a third HMS Surprise which was a scale model built by Weta Workshop. A storm sequence was enhanced using digitally-composited footage of waves actually shot on board a modern replica of Cook's Endeavour rounding Cape Horn. All of the actors were given a thorough grounding in the naval life of the period in order to make their performances as authentic as possible.

Plot

The film is based on the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian and includes episodes from several novels in the series. The plot of the film, in which Aubrey in HMS Surprise chases an enemy frigate round Cape Horn into the Pacific, is based loosely on The Far Side of the World, but the American frigate USS Norfolk in the book becomes the French privateer Acheron in the film. The episode of deception of the enemy by means of a raft bearing lanterns is taken from Master and Commander, and the episode in which Maturin operates on himself to remove a bullet is taken from HMS Surprise.

A element of the plot is Maturin's desire to explore the Galapagos to examine its fauna and flora. However, the hunt of the Acheron frustrates repeatedly this desire in spite of Aubrey's intentions.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Searches on eBay