Open Forum Friday: Russell Crowe… Brilliant Actor or Talentless Douchebag?

Posted by on May 14th, 2010   Filed under: Open Forum Friday

openforumrussellcrowe

Over the past decade, Russell Crowe has unquestionably earned a place on Hollywood’s A-list, starring in a number of box office hits and earning Best Actor nominations three years in a row for The Insider, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind. Recently, however, Crowe has found himself among a group of big name stars who haven’t been attracting nearly as much attention as they used to be. Perhaps it is his choice to deal primarily in dramas and political thrillers that has been scaring people off, or perhaps it is his reputation for being abrasive and hot-headed in real-life. Either way, there is still an on-going debate over whether Russell Crowe is a legendary actor that go down in history as one of the greats, or if he is more than a little bit overhyped.

I have to admit, even his most successful films like Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind seem to have faded with time, but on the other hand, The Insider still holds up, and both L.A. Confidential and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World have no shortage of fans. Out of his recent projects, only American Gangster did particularly well, but a lot of that is probably thanks to Denzel Washington. Robin Hood is his first attempt to get back to a mainstream blockbuster in quite some time, but once again reviews seem very mixed. What do you think? Are you a fan of Russell Crowe? Is he a top notch actor with a lot of range, or have his weaknesses been exposed over time? Do his off-screen antics affect how you see his performances on screen? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.



  • YOU GO RUSSELL!! You don’t take crap off of anyone! That’s what I like about you the most. They write fantasy adventures about guys like you… but they can’t handle you in person. You just keep right on being you…

    …one admirer who respects you for giving it back to ‘em.

    ;) S

  • To answer the question above about Russell’s acting ability. What a bunch of bunk! All one has to do is spend 2 minutes watching any movie Russell appears in and you know immediately you are in the presence of a talented actor of quality and great depth and scope. He never fails to move me with his characters.

    ;)S

  • Werner

    YES! Russell Crowe is a brilliant actor!

  • Space Bandito

    Figt’n Around the world! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrudCISD2a0

    Russell Crowe is what Sam Worthington wants to be. A man with charisma and talent.

  • Joe

    He is a Douchebag… a very talented Douchebag

  • Brendan

    @Susan Catt: I seriously doubt they write fantasy adventures about guys who get ‘roid rage at the smallest perceived slight against them.
    Just wondering, are you one of those women that married a death row inmate? ‘Cause that’s sounds like the kind of guy you would look for.

  • Larry W.

    How does this talentless douche even have a career?

  • “talented douche” is the general consensus I think. He comes across a bit too smug onscreen for me, but there are exceptions. Have to say though at least he isn’t as guarded and glib as many actors of his stature, so worried they may make a mildly contentious comment that they say nothing, apart from bland platitudes. At least Crowe wears his heart on his sleeve. You know where he stands.

  • Soop

    I’m with Joe, on post #5…He is a Douchebag… a very talented Douchebag.

    I recognize his talent, but I don’t respect this man in any sense of the word. Do we really have to argue about a man who believes himself superior because he has acting ability? It’s a little sad to be talking about this anyway..but overall, it would just be good if we never see someone like Crowe again.

  • Paul Andrews

    Brilliant actors do great performances, and bad ones. Talentless douchebags only do bad performances. LA Confidential alone makes RC a great actor.
    No one thinks Robert de Niro is a bad actor because of his performances in Righteous Kill or Analyze That – they remember Taxi Driver and Godfather II.

  • 1138

    Very talented actor and he has never failed to impress in whatever he stars in…even if the movie is bad.

    However he is a douche based on some radio interviews I’ve heard and some TV interviews I’ve seen.

    But hey at least he’s upfront about being a douche.

  • omfg

    >>**I have to admit, even his most successful films like Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind seem to have faded with time**

    WhaT ThE fUcK you talking about? Gladiator is and will always be a great classic. Yea, sure, its CGI is not as great as now. But how many scenes and how much do they use the CGI? Hm? Maybe 0,1%. And what a movie being dated has anything to do with acting skill
    (which this thread is all about) is a mystery to me…

    No offence Sean, but the question/argument of your article is dim-witted, and it seems more like you rather want to start a discussion than to really answer your own question. Gladiator, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Master and Commander and American Gangster have all been prime examples (especially Gladiator) of his variation in acting, his momentous skill in the career.

    The reason why you think he is a douche bag is probably because of his portrayal in the media. But how he is in real life (rumours) has nothing to do with how he performs in front of the screen. I will bet you that the majority of the actors, directors and other people in the film industry are what you and I would consider as ‘’douche bags’’ in real-life behaviour. But it isn’t relevant, at all.

    >** Robin Hood is his first attempt to get back to a mainstream blockbuster in quite some time, but once again reviews seem very mixed. What do you think? **

    So what, you think blockbusters ar the movies that really decide an actors skills? That blockbuster are important films? I would claim the opposite, as the blockbusters most of the time are very low-quality (after all, they are pointed towards the stupid masses).
    Here is what Crowe has starred in the last decade. Personally, I see it as an overall great achievement, and cannot understand how someone can doubt his acting skills:

    Robin Hood (2010)
    State of Play (2009)
    Tenderness (2009)
    Body of Lies (2008)
    American Gangster (2007)
    3:10 to Yuma (2007)
    A Good Year (2006)
    Cinderella Man (2005)
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    A Beautiful Mind (2001)
    Proof of Life (2000)
    Gladiator (2000)

  • Jay

    I think Russell Crowe is a good actor, however legendary is too strong to describe him in my opinion. Personal life should not be factored into placing judgment on his work. For example if the best plastic surgeon was cheating on his wife is that going stop you from going to him for a nose job.. probably not. His douchebagness will hurt his lasting impression though people might not want to work with him, landing less jobs etc.

  • he is both, one of the most talented actors working and so full of himself it is sickening. Master and Commander, The Insider, L.A. Confidential you don’t get much better than that.

    But he had one of the most embarrassing episodes ever (in my opinion) for an actor on The Tonight Show a few years ago. He was on with Dean Kamen the prolific inventor of such things as the Segway. Anyway, Kamen was trying to be a good host and help Crowe with his Segway and Crowe brushed him off and said to the audience, “scientists!” with a shit-eating smirk. the audience didn’t laugh and it was a great example of Crowe’s pewrsonality. He obliviously devalued Kamen’s work and profession, probably all scientific endeavors in general) and made a point of making fun of Kamen. Really, Crowe? Your a fucking actor, your contributions to society can be measured with a teaspoon. Kemen invented a way to make affordable drinking water out of sea water, you putz!

  • omfg: You are correct, the point of the article was to start a discussion. I don’t think that Crowe’s talent is as obvious as you think it is. I find it interesting that he personally hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since A Beautiful Mind. I think a lot of people would argue that Crowe’s performances are all fairly similar.

    And Gladiator has definitely faded over time… when people talk about undeserving Oscar wins, this is one movie that comes up time and time again.

  • Juan Costrada

    What film should have won that year Sean?

  • Traffic.

  • bullet3

    He’s a great actor, period. I can’t think of a single performance of his that I haven’t liked, and many of them have been great (Insider, LA Confidential, Gladiator, American Gangster). Whether he’s an asshole or not in real life, I think it’s ridiculous to call him “talentless”.

  • MJS

    Crowe has a tough guy gravitas that’s hard to find in straight-up movies stars today. I enjoy his movies greatly.

    I could give a fuck what he does off screen.

  • L

    I love “Gladiator” and “Master n’ Commander”.
    “A Good Year” was one of the worst fils I’ve seen
    I want to see him as an complete douche again, like in “Romper Stomper”, and not in the selfrightous “fighing around the world for a good cause” roles he loves so much.

  • oomfg

    >>** And Gladiator has definitely faded over time… when people talk about undeserving Oscar wins, this is one movie that comes up time and time again.**

    As if Oscars matters for real film critics. Every real film fan knows and learns eventually that the Oscar ceremonies are equivalent to shit. It’s predictable, sought and monotonous. The films discussed are always safe “bets’’. Not something new and exciting – there are some indie example – but only when it has been hyped in the media first, of course.
    Who does really care about Academy Awards anymore, or even previously awards given from the academy?

    And when you say faded over time, what do you specifically mean?

  • Ben

    Put my vote firmly in the “talented douchebag” category.

  • Well, he’s no Gerard Butler that’s for sure ;-)

  • Bob Bobson

    No, he sure isn’t. He’s infinitely more talented than Butler.

  • oomfg

    I think it is safe to say that EVERYONE is more talented than Butler, no matter how much we all love him.

  • Kim

    I think it’s a testament to Russell Crowe that when people thin of him they’re reminded of characters like Jack Aubrey, or Maximus Decimus Meridius. Mediocre acting doesn’t draw you in enough to make forget you’re watching a famous actor. Dances With Wolves was on TV the other night and I couldn’t help but laugh at Kevin Costner’s ‘method’ of getting into the character of a man in the 1860s.

  • Slix

    I disagree, just because he hasn’t been nominated in a while doesn’t diminish their ability. Been a while since Tom Hanks was nominated. I’m curious if anyone can list off the last nominations for Denzel, Freeman, Nicholson, etc.

    I think Crowe is a great actor that sometimes acts like a douche. Even in movies I don’t really care for, I like his acting.

  • For Film Junk’s official stand on whether or not Russell Crowe is a douchebag, please listen to Film Junk Podcast Episode #270 in which we also skirt the issue of whether or not Ridley Scott is a douchebag. (Sorry for this blatant self-promotion, but it seems a lot of people are interested in the answer.)

  • The real discussion here should be how hard Russell Crowe got shafted by not winning best actor for A Beautiful Mind. Him being a douchebag or not has nothing to do with how amazing his acting is.