The pandemic has given us ample time to dive into our watchlists, and often times, Twitter is a perfect place to get a recommendation on something you might’ve missed the first time around. But one person’s recommendation—and roundabout diss—of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World made it all the way to Russell Crowe himself, who then came to defend it.
Master and Commander—the 2003 war epic Crowe starred in alongside Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, and James D’Arcy—was widely lauded by critics, made over $212 million at the box office worldwide, and won two Academy Awards. But in comparison to both Crowe’s filmography (which includes the likes of Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and Les Misérables) and the fact that Master and Commander was overshadowed by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’s domination at the 2004 Oscars, Master and Commander is the perfect kind of movie to recommend for someone who might’ve missed it the first time around. (It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime.)
For musician Ian McNabb, Master and Commander is a sleeper hit. And he meant a literal sleeper hit as in if you need something to watch to make you fall asleep, this is it.
“Lots of folk complaining about lack of sleep during the Pandemic,” McNabb tweeted on Jan. 8. “May I recommend Master And Commander starring the usually captivating, attention-grabbing Russell Crowe. I’ve never made it past the ten minute mark. You’re welcome. And thanks Russell.”
McNabb made a point of tagging Crowe’s Twitter handle (versus someone tagging Crowe in the replies). But it took until Jan. 17 for Crowe to respond.
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“That’s the problem with kids these days,” Crowe replied. “No focus. Peter Weirs film is brilliant. An exacting, detail oriented, epic tale of fidelity to Empire & service, regardless of the cost. Incredible cinematography by Russell Boyd & a majestic soundtrack. Definitely an adults movie.”
According to Vanity Fair, McNabb responded in a now-deleted tweet to Crowe’s “kids these days” comment and noted that he was older than Crowe.
But as Crowe elevated McNabb’s tweet with his own defense of Master and Commander, Twitter took to joining in Crowe’s praise of the film while joining in on roasting McNabb for his take.
McNabb, for his part, is taking the dragging in stride: He pinned an article about Crowe’s defense atop of his Twitter profile and reacted with a series of laughing emoji.