Russell Crowe has had a steady career of non-franchise movies. His performances in films such as American Gangster and Body of Lies helped to give studios more faith that they could make big, adult dramas outside of their tentpole releases.
His role as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator earned him an Academy Award, and he continues to deliver powerful performances such as that of tobacco firm whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand in 1999’s The Insider.
Gladiator
The film that established Russell Crowe as one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Gladiator is an epic historical drama set in the Roman Empire. It follows the story of the loyal Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed by his own son and heir apparent Commodus after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Reduced to slavery, he rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge his family's murder and reclaim the throne. The movie was directed by Ridley Scott, and it features a supporting cast that includes Connie Nielsen, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moller, Oliver Reed (in his final film role), Derek Jacobi, and Joaquin Phoenix.
The story was influenced by several sources, including the 1960s sword-and-sandal films Spartacus and The Fall of the Roman Empire, as well as works such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and La Dolce Vita. Scott consulted with several historians for the project, but he also made significant deviations from historical facts to increase interest in the spacemov film and for practical or safety reasons.
The movie was a huge hit and earned a prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won nominations for its screenplay and costumes, as well as acting honors for Crowe and director Ridley Scott. Following his success in Gladiator, Crowe continued to deliver critically acclaimed performances in a wide range of genres. In the western 3:10 to Yuma (2007) he played an honest police officer, while in American Gangster (2008) and State of Play (2009) he starred as corrupt government officials. In 2010 he was the lead in an action film about Robin Hood, and in 2012 he portrayed an avenger of justice in the period drama Les Miserables.
A Beautiful Mind
From the heights of a Nobel prize-winning career to the depths of schizophrenia, A Beautiful Mind tells the story of mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., played by Russell Crowe and adapted from the 1998 biography by Sylvia Nasar. This human drama, directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman, is a fine entry into the biopic genre. Crowe and co stars Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Adam Goldberg, Josh Lucas, and Christopher Plummer give outstanding performances, aided by the film's impressive production values.
In addition to his acting work, Crowe is a skilled director who has made several notable movies of this kind, including the war films Prisoners of the Sun and The Crossing and the drama Proof. He also helmed the documentary Texas (2002), about the rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
After making a name for himself in Australia with a number of awards-worthy performances, Crowe gained international attention with his turn as the title character in Gladiator and his portrayal of mathematician John Forbes Nash in A Beautiful Mind. He continued to impress with such projects as the seafaring epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), the western 3:10 to Yuma (2007), and the biopic Cinderella Man (2005), in which he portrayed Depression-era boxer James J. Braddock.
Cinderella Man
Following his Oscar-winning turn in A Beautiful Mind, Crowe worked with director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman again for this inspiring true story about Depression-era heavyweight champion James J. Braddock. The film showcases the most physically demanding role of Crowe's career while also showing his ability to portray a fully-rounded character.
The movie's title, taken from the fairy tale Cinderella, refers to the notion of a second chance. And the movie certainly offers one — it follows Braddock from his rags-to-riches success in the late 1920s to a life of near-poverty where he works as a dock worker and struggles to keep his family (led by a solid performance from Renee Zellweger) above water. But when his former manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) offers him a one-time fight with defending champ Max Baer, Braddock decides to take the challenge.
In this rousing film about class, money and not having enough, the boxing action is front and center and, thanks to Howard's assured direction, the fights are as compelling as any you'll find in a movie. The DVD contains several extras, including The Man, the Movie, the Legend: A Filmmaking Journey (SD, 14 min), in which Howard, Grazer and Crowe discuss how they came together to make the movie. Also included are interviews with people who knew Braddock and comments from the legendary boxer via vintage recordings.
The Quick and the Dead
Russell Crowe has been a major player in Hollywood since the 1990s. Born in New Zealand, he is the son of a caterer and a film set decorator and has ancestry from Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Maori (his maternal great-grandmother was a tribal leader). He's had a few misses along the way but mostly his movies have been solid. He's an incredibly talented actor who delivers the goods in every movie he stars in.
The Quick and the Dead is one of those movies. It's a straightforward western that leaves most of the thrills to the acting and cinematography. Set in the Arizona town of Redemption, it centers on two gunfighters battling for love and revenge. When gunslinger "The Lady" rides into town, everyone is afraid including the crooked sheriff (Gene Hackman). It doesn't take long for her and her sidekick "The Kid" to establish themselves in town but it takes a lot of courage for them to face down Herod.
Sam Raimi is a zippy director and his experience in horror comes through nicely in his shots of the empty, foreboding town. He's also good at creating visual humor and his use of light is effective. The costumes and sets are great too. Crowe's performance is terrific, particularly his facial expressions.