Crowing about Russell
While the age of Russel Crowe being one of the hottest actors on film might have passed, there’s no denying that his masculine, rugged charm means that he’s still a firm favourite for many film buffs. He is beloved by many kinds of people: you might be a dancer, a bingo lover, a fan of musicals…there’s a Russell Crowe film that’s got something for everyone. He has played everything from distraught husbands to Roman soldiers to biblical figures to singing Frenchmen. He has won an Oscar, Australian Cinema and Television Awards, a BAFTA, Golden Globes, Critics Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and more. There’s no denying that Russell Crowe has made an impact on the film business.
The New Zealander (who is often mistaken for an Aussie because he lived there for so long) was born in Wellington in 1964. The film industry was in Crowe’s blood from birth: his parents were film set caterers, and his grandfather was a cinematographer. When Russell was just four years old, his family made the big move to Australia and settled down to a life in Sydney. Lucky for him, his mother’s godfather was one of the producers of a local series, Spyforce, which is where he got his start in the television industry. Russell was hired to do one line of dialogue, and that was it; the bug had bitten. Russell did a few more small pieces of acting before the age of sixteen, which is when he knew it was time to dedicate himself entirely to the dramatic arts.
Russell headed back to New Zealand, where, surprisingly, he started performing as a musician. Some time later, he would return to Australia and begin working as an actor. His illustrious career sprang from humble beginnings! Now, let’s take a look at some of Russell Crowe’s best films.
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The Next Three Days
This 2010 action and drama film saw Crowe starring opposite Elizabeth Banks. Banks play’s Crowe’s wife: wrongly convicted of a murder that she did not commit. Having spent most of her young son’s life locked away for the crime, Banks is starting to lose hope that she will ever be exonerated and rejoin her family as a free woman. Crowe can feel his wife slipping further and further away from him and decides that the time has come to take action. His life as a single father is tiring and stressful, but Crowe’s character resolves to break his wife out of prison and start a new life, far from the US, where no one can find them. He sets about planning the escape slowly and carefully. Crowe consults with a man who has broken out of more high-security prisons than anyone else in the US and begins his journey. He’ll need fake passports, a flawless knowledge of the prison and how its processes work, and an iron constitution to make it through. Almost failing many times along the way, Crowe’s character persists and eventually manages to set his carefully laid plan in motion. What follows is a tense, adrenaline-fuelled, and daring escape that Crowe’s wife had no idea was coming. While this film did not earn Crowe any awards, it is, without doubt, one of his finest performances and shows the lengths to which a man will go to keep his family together and safe from harm.
Les Misérables
Les Mis, as it is commonly known, is perhaps one of the most celebrated and well-known musicals in the history of the theatre. Crowe’s casting as Javert surprised many musical fanatics, but in the end, Russell Crowe managed to win them over with an emotional and stirring performance as the French policeman. The film is set against the backdrop of France in the early 19th century, just before the French Revolution began in earnest. The story is that of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a convict who has broken parole and is mercilessly pursued by Crowe’s character, Javert. Jackman’s character manages to assume a new identity and eventually builds up his business and becomes a respected man. However, his joy is short-lived as Crowe’s character arrives in his town as the new Chief of Police. Crowe’s character pursues Jackman across decades, coming within snatching distance of him more than once. Crowe’s Javert turns into a spy within the rebel’s ranks and is captured. It is by Jackman’s character, Valjean, that he is freed in the end. It is a complex story featuring many emotionally layered characters, and Crowe stands out among them.
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Gladiator
Gladiator is, without doubt, one of Russell Crowe’s best-known and loved performances. Crow plays a Spaniard in the Roman army, General Maximus Meridius, who is tired of life on the front lines of Rome’s invasion of Germania. He is a celebrated general and much beloved by the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Maximus is so beloved, in fact, that when the time comes for the throne to pass from father to son, the emperor instead decides to pass all of his responsibilities on to Maximus until such time as there is an heir fit to take the throne. The emperor’s spiteful, immature and volatile son, Commodus, hears of this and kills the emperor in cold blood. Commodus becomes emperor, as no one except for Maximus and the emperor knew of his wishes. He asks for Maximus to pledge his loyalty, but Maximus refuses, knowing how the emperor died. Commodus orders Maximus and his family killed, but Maximus is lucky enough to escape. So begins Maximus’ journey as a slave and then gladiator. He is captured by slave traders and sold into the fighting rings. Maximus, in his misery, vows to reach the Colosseum and fight in front of Commodus and eventually to kill him. It is a story of one man’s love for his family and his desire to avenge them. And it is well worth watching.
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Final Word
Russel Crowe is clearly a man of many talents, acting chief among them. Though we have not listed all of his best work here, this list is an excellent start for any Russell Crowe newbie. It gives you a look at the range of his talent and how hard work and a desire to succeed can really pay off.