Monday 4 April 2011

Best Actor 2000: Russell Crowe in Gladiator


Russell Crowe won his Oscar from his second nomination for portraying Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator.

Gladiator of course tells the story of a former Roman General turned into a Gladiator after the murder of his family, and now only desires the death of the evil Emperor Commodus who did it to him.

Maximus Decimus Meridius is not a particularly complex character. He is at first a noble soldier, than an angry and revenge seeking although still noble Gladiator. Crowe keeps him on a fairly simple level as the great stoic hero that is the polar opposite of the evil Commodus played Joaquin Phoenix. Crowe keeps with his macho, noble portrayal throughout the film, with his dark stares and dramatic recitation of speeches. After that initial scene they beat him down send him on his way, and turn him into a gladiator. Now he is dark brooding sort of, never frankly seems to grieve all that much, over his brutally murdered family. What Crowe does is keep that dark hero brood with his performance. Which he actually does just fine enough to make him fuel the big dramatic speeches in the way they should be fueled. This performance does work in the most basic sense of just the lone hero who wants his revenge against the evil man who wronged him.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, you certainly hated him, it's really funny that I was watch watching The Insider last night and wondered how you would evaluate his performance in Gladiator and then I come here and you're reviewing him. I didn't hate his performance that much but I think he deserved the Oscar way more the following year. Overall a good performance in my opinion and an excellent critical review.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I hope you don't pick Tom Hanks!

Anonymous said...

Great review, and I agree completely with you on his acting. He has been better.

Deiner said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

In complete and full agreement.

dshultz said...

Yeah. I first watched this film at the age of 11, and I thought it was awesome, and Russel Crowe was an amazing actor. Then I grew up, became genuinely interested in movies and actors, and now, your review could not have been more accurate.

dinasztie said...

He was simply awful.

mrripley said...

This is 1 of the worst wins in best actor ever!!!! hurts too 'cos he has been better since and definitely before it.

Anonymous said...

Well, I thought he did a great job.
-Sean Turcotte Kazmierzak

Anonymous said...

And he is a great horseman, that was for real so if you want to bash the man try to out horse him. I doubt you could ride like a Polish horseman.
-Sean Turcotte Kazmierczak