Master and Commander

A British naval captain pursues a faster enemy ship across the Pacific. One of the best films ever made about command, loyalty, and what men owe each other.

This film failed commercially and has been quietly regarded as a masterpiece ever since. It does not explain itself. There are no title cards telling you when and where you are. It drops you onto a wooden warship in 1805 and trusts you to find your footing.

Crowe as Aubrey and Paul Bettany as his surgeon friend Maturin give you one of the best male friendships in film history. They disagree about almost everything. They play music together. They argue about the cost of what Aubrey's ambition demands of his crew. They don't stop being friends.

It's probably streaming somewhere. You can grab it on digital, or if you're a data hoarder like me pick up the physical copy. Either way, if you're a guy, just watch it.