Aaahhh. An intelligent and intelligently made action film. I knew that I'd most likely be seeing above-average filmmaking going into the film, as it was directed by Peter Weir (of The Truman Show and Picnic at Hanging Rock), but with such expectations I didn't figure on being as intrigued and entertained as I was. Yes, it's an action-adventure flick with a swashbuckling sea captain (played by Russell Crowe so perfectly you wonder if his ancestors weren't English seafaring folk) whose duty is to destroy a French frigate helmed by a man who fights disturbingly like himself. However, you get to add to the mix some very funny scenes (the cook is a hoot), the tender side of the captain (as when a young lef-tenant loses his arm), and best of all the confrontation between the military duty and other duties (realized ably by Paul Bettany as the doctor and naturalist who would give his right hand to explore any land they encounter). Not to mention some stunning vistas and incredibly realistic gun- and sword-fights. So realistic that unless you know everything about naval architecture and warfare at the turn of two centuries prior, you will constantly be thinking "what did they just say?" I suggest you let it roll over you as ambience. The things you need to hear are clearly stated. If I have one gripe with the film, it's that they're trying hard to interweave several of the stories it is based on and at times you feel a just a little seasick.
year: 2003
length: 138 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311113/combined
Sunday, January 04, 2004
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