Excellent article. I'm a huge fan of this film (and indeed Peter Weir's back catalogue in general - a criminally underrated director). Crowe and Bettany both give outstanding performances, and their friendship is rightly the heart of the film, as you point out so eloquently.

The film is also packed with authentic details. For instance, the crew being mostly teenagers and boys, and just how damn difficult it really is to sink a ship with cannons.