November 14, 2003

Ben Brantley reviews play Taboo, music and lyrics by Boy George, book by Charles Busch and directed by Christopher Renshaw; Euan Morton and Boy George star; photos (M)

Prosecutor in murder trial of Lee Malvo tells jurors they will hear two hours of Malvo's chilling audiotaped confessions, in which he explains who he killed and why; prosecutor Robert F Horan Jr says Malvo's statements are both direct evidence of his guilt and rebuttal of his main defense, insanity; Malvo's lawyer Craig S Cooley makes crucial concession in his opening statement, acknowledging Malvo's guilt and that tapes might have powerful influence on jury; contends that Malvo's statements, and killings themselves, were product of brainwashing by John Muhammad; suggests that Malvo might have sought to take responsibility for shootings in effort to save life of Muhammad, whom he considered his father; Horan and Cooley have different explanations for inaccuracies in Malvo's statements; Horan calls them immaterial and Cooley claims Malvo was admitting to things he did not do; photo (M)

This stupendously entertaining movie, adapted from two of the novels in Patrick O'Brian's 20-volume maritime adventure series, celebrates an idea of England that might have seemed a bit corny even in 1805, when the action takes place, but that is brought to vibrant life thanks to Russell Crowe's commanding performance and Peter Weir's thoroughgoing mastery. Mr. Crowe plays Jack Aubrey, captain of the H.M.S. Surprise, a British frigate doing battle with a mysterious French battle ship off the Coast of South America. The combat scenes are shot with economy and vigor, but the most thrilling parts of the movie take place between skirmishes, when the complex system of authority and deference that runs the Surprise — and the personality traits needed to keep it running — is at the center of attention. The film's theme is the nature of authority, and Aubrey functions as a kind of ideal CEO: charismatic, tactically astute and able to instill in his sailors a sense of discipline and respect. Paul Bettany plays the ship's surgeon, Aubrey's best friend and foil, and the tension between them — between reason and duty, between intellect and action — gives the movie some unexpected dramatic depth. — A. O. Scott

Canadian National Railway, which has transformed itself over last decade from lumbering government agency into envy of North American railroads, recently completed share buyback worth $655 million and gave notice of plans to raise up to $1 billion in debt; cash flow is at record levels, and share price has surged almost 50 percent this year; president-chief executive E Hunter Harrison want to control broader range of transportation alternatives, through possible mergers with rail lines in US and alliances in trucking; photo (M)

Medicare Bill Bogs Down House and Senate negotiators said they were unable to agree on three big issues in a bill to revamp Medicare and give prescription drug benefits to the elderly. PAGE A22