Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Men must be governed!
THE SUMMARY: A British naval officer is assigned to intercept a French privateer off the South American coast, and takes the scenic route to accomplish it, at a high cost to the men under his command. In many ways, it’s the worst kind of movie to watch - the kind I want to like, but can’t. There are pieces to appreciate, but what’s good is buried in a slow plot that’s just too boring.
FROM MOVIE-PICKER ‘THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS’: A fascinating look into 19th century naval life and combat, where combat was both grim and more distinguished.
JAMIE AND JEANNE’S SHOW AI ART FOR THE WEEK:
Well, at least the AI tried on Blonde.
THE BEST:
A movie about masculine virtue: Fundamentally, Master and Commander is a movie about classic masculine virtues: chasing adventure despite danger, completing the mission despite setbacks, and strategizing to win despite the odds. All of these are themes I appreciate. They are traits every man should strive to demonstrate, and bygone truths sorely missed not just in Hollywood, but in manhood across society. Instead of adventure, we seek safety. Instead of perseverance, we quit. Instead of strategizing, we look for someone else, often government, to do it for us.
I love the themes, and men today need them. I just don’t love the presentation.
No shoehorned romance: Likewise, I always appreciate a movie that doesn’t shove a romance story into the plot for no reason. In fact, aside from a few nameless Brazilian women in one scene, Master and Commander features no female characters whatsoever (make whatever gay Navy jokes you will). It’s not an anti-woman thing. It’s not an anti-romance thing. It’s recognition that dynamics among men aren’t just important stories, they are often stories of the greatest consequence: wars won, discoveries made, cities built, and the rest of the construction of prosperity.
An interesting exchange about government, leadership, and the nature of men: There’s a great exchange between Aubrey and Maturin when Maturin challenges Aubrey about his decision to discipline a man who failed to salute his superior officer. Maturin views it as insignificant insubordination, Aubrey responds that ‘men must be governed,’ and the argument gets lukewarm heated from there. Certainly the argument is different in the military and civilian contexts, but the substance of the dispute is this: is freedom good for its own sake, or should there be control from a moral authority?
While I personally am more on Maturin’s side of the argument, that Aubrey’s logic will be used as often to justify tyranny as it is to provide men with needed leadership, that last part is the key. I’d amend Aubrey’s argument to say men must be led, not men must be governed - the distinction being that men must consent to the leadership. No man has automatic authority over another - it must be earned from men who willingly accept it. And that leadership is necessary to ensure that freedom doesn’t become aimless. To Aubrey’s point, freedom has no value if it lacks direction.
To simplify, it’s God who has moral authority, and men can only lead men toward it. Aubrey is right about direction, and Maturin is right about sovereignty. And you might read that and say I’m fence-sitting, but that’s why this dispute is great. It’s a thinker with merit and fault on both sides.
‘Expertise’ isn’t always a solution: It’s significant that the solution to the problem is found in an unexpected place - Aubrey observes the walking stick, and applies the principle of disguise to form his strategy for defeating a superior ship. And this after delaying and dismissing Maturin’s requests for biological and zoological research. There’s a key lesson here: ‘expertise’ in one particular area is not always superior to solve a problem, even in that particular area. In other words, you’d rather know a little about a lot, than a lot about little. Creativity and problem-solving come from applying principles from one area to another, so don’t view exploration outside your wheelhouse as a distraction. It’s opportunity that may advance your usual focus.
Men must be governed!
Learning lessons in unexpected places
THE WORST:
Tortoise v. snail is a more thrilling pace: I get it - 19th century sailboats are not race cars or fighter jets. A certain slowness is inherent to authentic presentation of the era, the tactics, and the technological limitations. Indeed, this movie is credited as one of the most historically accurate to the time.
But that doesn’t mean I’m entertained by it. It doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable to watch boring, soft-spoken dialogue at sea, or scurvy-in-progress among an undernourished crew, or amputation prescribed for every other injury. Historically accurate and boring are not mutually exclusive. Most of history is exactly that, actually, and Master and Commander demonstrates the overlap.
Siri v. Microsoft Sam is more compelling dialogue: Likewise, every character in this movie has the personality of a ship deck scrub brush: all utility, no fun. We’re supposed to think that one guy killed himself because he couldn’t live up to Aubrey and the crew’s expectations - no. He did it because Aubrey’s effort to inspire him was so insufferably boring. I’d use his name, but I already forgot it. In fact, I already forgot it before he even finished drowning.
It’s not just that the movie is slow to develop - it’s that every character is too mild-mannered and bland. No fire, no passion, no emotion. That probably is valuable in a dangerous military setting - just stay focused on your job - but for a piece of entertainment, it’s numbing.
THE RATING: 2/5 Wickies. I want to like it, but I just can’t. For everything I appreciate, I’m bored for a half hour in between. Good themes, good philosophy, but an almost unwatchable presentation.
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NEXT WEEK: The Hunt for Red October (1990)
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