Russell Crowe

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
  • IMDb: link

Adapted from Patrick O’Brian’s nautical novels, 2003’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World takes us aboard the HMS Surprise captained by Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) during the Napoleonic Wars. After barely escaping an attack by a superior French vessel, Aubrey and his crew repair the ship at sea rather than flee home in disgrace. After being bested again, and learning a bit about camouflage from a discussion with the ship’s doctor (Paul Bettany) about an insect on the Galapagos Islands he wishes to study (along with other flora and fauna), the captain sets on a plan to give his ship a fighting chance.

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State of Play

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: State of Play
  • IMDb: link

state-of-play-poster

State of Play is an ambitious project which, at times, gets away from director Kevin Macdonald. The script was worked on by the men who gave us Michael Clayton, Lions for Lambs, and Flightplan. And, for better or worse, you can see each writer’s stamp on the film, meaning at times it becomes both too preachy and too focused on “getting us” with unexpected twists. To be fair, many aspects of the film work well and it’s an enjoyable, and even somewhat smart, thriller which has something to say about the state of both journalism and politics.

Cal McAffey (Russell Crowe) is a reporter’s reporter, that dying breed your more likely to find in a movie like this than an actual newspaper office, at least these days. He’s a throwback, the last of the old guard focused on finding the truth of a story and bringing it into light. His stark worldview is encroached on by a sassy young blogger (Rachel McAdams) who can put out several tasty tidbits a day, an editor (Helen Mirren) pressured to make the paper more commercially viable, and a breaking scandal involving the death of an assistant to a golden boy politician (Ben Affleck) who just happens to be Cal’s former college roommate.

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3:10 to Yuma Redux

/ / Home Video
  • Title: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
  • IMDb: link

“Just remember, it’s your old man that hauled Ben Wade to that station… when nobody else would.”

3:10 to Yuma

This remake of the 1957 film (read that review) makes a few changes to the tale.  The down-on-his-luck farmer Dan Evans (Christian Bale) still agrees to help deliver the notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to justice, but in this version his reasons are just as much about making himself look better in his son’s eyes (Logan Leman) as providing for his family.

The inclusion of the son on the adventure changes the dynamic of the relationship and the one-upsmanship between Ben and Dan.  Although this gives the film a fresh take on the story, it’s a take that isn’t as good as the original.

Also of interest here is the peculiar ending which seems haphazardly put together.  In the first film Wade reluctantly helps Dan at the last minute, but here Wade and Dan almost become bosom pals (which was the intention of director James Mangold) as they race through the town trying to catch the train.  So the tense psychological drama is dropped in favor of a buddy film. Sigh.

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