Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Prof Popinjay

Finally finished Moby Dick with Patrick Stewart. The part I liked best is not reading a book about whales thicker than the complete works of Steven King. I think Melville may have accidentally took a spill and mixed his research with his novel because every last bit of it was in that book. Tedious! Those who know of this movie are usually excited about the involvement of Patrick Stewart and he was as good as you’d expect. His portrayal of Captain Ahab is an interesting juxtaposition to his Jean-Luc Picard. However I found the opposite performance of Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs) as Mr. Starbuck to be phenomenal! It’s a pivotal role and he’s not even on any of the box art or promotional material. Gregory Peck is all over the promotional work and only has a bit part where he yells at you as Father Mapple for what seems like a good forty minutes. It’s not that long but it feels like it. I have to admit, when Ted Levine was contemplating killing Ahab I couldn’t help but wonder if Ahab would soon be “putting the lotion on its skin” at the bottom of a hole somewhere but that Buffalo Bob is a hard character to shake. Ted Levine makes this worth the watch more than any actor in this. It’s a shame he wasn’t used to promote the film more. Piripi Waretini brought an authenticity to Queequeg that was refreshing. it was nice to see such a diverse cast.

The effects of the whale was kind of dated but it’s what one might come to expect from a 1998 TV miniseries. If you’re into classic literature but don’t intend on becoming a marine biologist don’t read the book, just watch this movie.