Paul Bettany: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Dr. Stephen Maturin - Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Peter Weir remains one of the most versatile filmmakers working today. You have to be a man of considerable talent to jump seamlessly from The Cars That Ate Paris to Picnic at Hanging Rock, or from The Year of Living Dangerously to Witness. One of his finest offerings, however, is Master and Commander, featuring the second collaboration between Bettany and Russell Crowe. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is based on three of the twenty Aubrey-Maturin novels written by Patrick O'Brian. The action takes place during the Napoleonic Wars, wherein Captain 'Lucky Jack' Aubrey (Crowe) has been ordered to pursue the French warship Acheron and take her as a prise. Following an attack on his ship HMS Surprise, Aubrey pursues the Acheron to South America to prevent the war spreading to the Pacific. Among his crew is the ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin (Bettany), who is also a keen amateur naturalist. Master and Commander is a great epic drama, with a near-perfect balance between humour, portent and tragedy. Holding your own against Crowe is no easy task, but Bettany does a fantastic job, with Maturin's intelligence and compassionate streak clashing with Aubrey's impulsive nature and Machiavellian scheming. Their scenes together are a delight, whether it's an argument over discipline on board ship or the famous weevils scene at the dinner table. Bettany brings a rounded grace to the part and he remains a compelling screen presence.