Director Peter Weir 's first turn behind the camera since 1998's critically acclaimed The Truman Show , Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is based on one of the 20 Napoleanic War-era adventure novels in author Patrick O'Brian 's Master and Commander series. Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey, a high-seas adventurer who maintains a strong bond with ship-surgeon Stephen Maturin ( Paul Bettany ). After conquering much of Europe already, Napoleon's forces have set their sites on taking Britain, so Aubrey and the crew of his ship, the HMS Surprise, take to the Pacific to intercept any attacking ships from the French fleet. When Aubrey eyes a renegade French super-frigate, the Surprise pursues, leading to an adrenaline-charged chase through the distant reaches of the sea. Edward Woodall , James D'Arcy , and Lee Ingleby also star as members of the Surprise's crew. — Matthew Tobey