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Fred C. Dobbs · Director Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 201 Location: New York

I don't know why people don't like Russell Crowe, he's a pretty good actor, imo.

I've seen these Russell Crowe films, and all of the films i've seen with him, they've all been pretty damn good! Is there a reason a lot of people don't care for him? -

L.A. Confidential - ****1/2 (of *****) - The director, Curtis Hanson, is also a big film noir fan and especially a fan of the Bogart film In A Lonely Place, and Hanson uses the noir-ish atmosphere and mood perfectly.

The Insider - **** (of *****) - Even though the film was overlong, I still enjoyed this film about the corruption of the tobbaco industry. Al Pacino are Russell Crowe are both very good in this film. Michael Mann's best film, but that's not saying much, since Heat is pretty good, but Ali and Manhunter are boring.

Gladiator - **** (of ****) - THIS, my friends, is a good action movie. It's just a lot of fun, and a perfect "summer action film" without obnoxious gangsta rap music or "nu-metal", over-the-top CGI, and laughable situations and dialouge. Very entertaining, and underrated amongst film snobs.

A Beautiful Mind - ***1/2 (of *****) - The weakest of the Crowe films i've seen, but Crowe is still, acting-wise, excellent, and does an amazing job portraying a schitzopheric mathematic genius, who has to deviate who is real and who isn't. The film itself, however, gets kind of dull, I suppose, around the last 30-40 minutes.

Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World - **** (of *****) - Very good preformance from Crowe and a very good action/drama. Peter Weir directs, and the film, which sadly ranks lower than the crappy Pirates of the Carrabbean (which is on the IMDB Top 250...WHAT THE F*CK!?!) actually has some emotional depth, excellent character development, some nice sets, and excellent direction.

So what's the deal, why all the hate?
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Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 04.27.2004 9:52 pm Post subject:

I like Crowe -- not a huge fan or anything, but he's a good actor.

Perhaps a lot of the "hate" for Crowe (who hates him, exactly?) stems from how he's often portrayed in the press as a major asshole.

Still haven't seen Master and Commander, but it's on my Netflix queue -- with about 300 films ahead of it. Very Happy

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matt header · Posted: 04.27.2004 10:05 pm Post subject:

His work in The Insider is one of the finest performances of the last twenty years, in my opinion.

Hawkwing74 · Posted: 04.27.2004 10:14 pm Post subject:

I agree on Crowe as well. I loved him in Gladiator and I think his role was a large part of the movie's success. Can't say how he is in real life...

beltmann · Posted: 04.27.2004 10:20 pm Post subject:

I think Crowe is a major force in contemporary cinema, a man who routinely and defiantly diverts attention away from large-scale effects and towards his intelligent, skillful, poetic performances. Who else could have stolen Gladiator and Master and Commander away from the breathtaking vistas and CGI technicians? (If only LOTR boasted such a performance!) I wasn't terribly admiring of his work in A Beautiful Mind, but can you think of two better--and more disparate--performances than Crowe in The Insider and L.A. Confidential?

In short, I am a fan.

I suppose some "hate" is the result of the knee-jerk backlash that occurs whenever a pop-cultural force becomes "too" large. Michael is probably correct that some dislike is residue from the media painting him as volatile--perhaps he is an arrogant jerk, but I'm not about to judge a man I don't know. Besides, if we start allowing a man's personal existence to interfere with our opinion of him as an artist, we'd be forced to buy tickets only for Tom Hanks movies.

Eric
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The Third M?n · Posted: 04.27.2004 10:34 pm Post subject:

He made Proof of Life a rather good film.

beltmann · Posted: 04.27.2004 10:47 pm Post subject:

Just read an interesting Reuters article that seems relevant to Crowe's public image:

Russell Crowe Offers Aid to Montreal Jewish School

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 04.28.2004 12:41 am Post subject:

A Beautiful Mind is the movie that got me into film so much, and I will credit it for that. Which is, perhaps, why it is one of my favorites of all time.
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The Third M?n · Posted: 04.28.2004 6:02 am Post subject:

JoeE · Posted: 04.28.2004 11:52 am Post subject:

Check out Romper Stomper.

beltmann · Posted: 04.28.2004 4:22 pm Post subject:

I'll second Romper Stomper. The film itself is merely good, I think, but Crowe is mesmerizing. [Same applies to Quick and the Dead and Virtuosity.]

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

juhsstin · Camera Operator Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 87

nothing beats his performance in virtuosity Confused

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beltmann · Posted: 04.28.2004 4:49 pm Post subject:

The Third M?n · Posted: 04.28.2004 6:51 pm Post subject:

By the way, check these pictures out, from Cinderella Man, his new film.

He sure has lost some weight...

Fred C. Dobbs · Director Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 201 Location: New York