Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Every movie in our current moment, regardless of quality, seems to have spawned sequels, prequels, and reboots; in this episode, we lament that the one film that we wish had been the beginning of a series didn’t make enough money to do so. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Peter Weir’s 2003 adaptation of Patrick O’Brien’s novels, is rich, unironic, and inspiring; it’s a study of leadership, the tension between technology and human skill, and the ways in which discipline and restraint yield more genuine emotion that what we see now, when people post about their “struggles” every thirty seconds. Join us for a conversation about a film that makes its viewers wonder how they would fare as sailors and that makes them think about the shortcomings of their bosses. The film is based on Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey / Maturin series; Master and Commander is the novel in which the captain and doctor meet. Follow us on X and Letterboxd–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by John Deley. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site, Pages and Frames, for essays and short pieces about books and films.