ScreenCrave.com » russell crowe

Russell Crowe Casting Rumors Near Fatal

Damon Houx — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:22:38 +0000

Remember when we told you that Russell Crowe had at least three projects that he was being considered for? Yeah, that was last week, so now there’s a new Crowe rumor. Vulture says he’s being courted for Jaume Collet-Serra‘s Harker, which is being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. They also say that Crowe is out for Robocop.

Harker would be a revamping of the Dracula mythology, with Jonathan Harker – usually shown as the weak man who first comes to visit Count Dracula to sell him land – now is being redrawn as a detective hunting vampires. The last time Crowe got involved in a rewrite of a famous legend it was Robin Hood, which then stripped everything interesting about their original concept (that the Sheriff of Nottingham was actually Robin Hood in disguise) and was reduced to being a reboot/prequel.

Of course, what’s most interesting about all of these rumors is that Crowe isn’t seen as a great draw and hasn’t been for a while and yet now he’s getting A list projects virtually thrown at him. Crowe is one of our best actors, so it’s not that it’s a bad thing, it just doesn’t seem motivated by recent great work or being an audience favorite.

What upcoming project would you like to see Crowe attached to next?

Russell Crowe Up for Everything Ever

Damon Houx — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:12:15 +0000

The world seems to have tired of Russell Crowe as a leading man, but that’s not stopping Hollywood from giving him juicy roles. Crowe has recently been rumored for the lead in Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah, according to Deadline Hollywood, and Vulture recently said he was “in talks” for Akiva Goldsman’s Winter’s Tale. And now Variety’s Jeff Snieder threw out that Crowe may be up for the Robocop reboot.

Crowe’s got some work ahead of him as well. He’s currently in production on Tom Hooper‘s Les Miserables as Inspector Javert, and he already shot his role as Superman’s father in Man of Steel. Crowe won an Oscar in 2000 for his work in Gladiator, but though he’s remained a respected actor, his relationship and tabloid troubles turned him into a charicature. Though he’s had some misfires, it looked for a little bit like he was going to become a character actor after his turn in 2008′s Body of Lies.

But 2010 had him as the leading man in both Robin Hood and The Next Three Days, both of which were disappointments at the box office. One would think that would cool Hollywood on the performer, but if any of these roles come to pass, it shows that talent can trump drawing power.

What’s your favorite Russell Crowe performance?

And the Father of the Man of Steel is… Russell Crowe?

Damon Houx — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:54:29 +0000

One-time Robin Hood Russell Crowe is negotiations to join one-time Robin Hood Kevin Costner in Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel as Superman’s father Jor-El. That’s what Variety is reporting, and that it went public means there’s probably a good chance it will happen. Russell Crowe is a late addition to the cast after the flurry of announcements a couple months back, but the film has yet to begin shooting. Crowe would then be filling the shoes left by Marlon Brando in the first Superman movie.

Crowe could – at one point – be called a movie star, but in the mid 90′s through until the start of this century, he was also a world class actor, but the last couple years have found him at a loss, even when paired with director Ridley Scott, as their Robin Hood was a miserable adaptation. There Crowe was trying for a youthful sort of role, this role suggests his transition into elder statesman.

The only thing that would make this movie more Hood-centric would be the casting of Sean Connery, Cary Elwes, or Patrick Bergen. The film starts shooting later this summer, so the rest of the cast, or any other surprises should be hitting momentarily. After this summer, it feels like the Superhero movie is running out of steam, so it will be interesting to see what reboots do to the genre.

Are you ready for the Man of Steel?

New DVD Releases: The Next Three Days, Jackass 3, Morning Glory

Andrew Payne — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:58:16 +0000

Literally something for all tastes on DVD this week as we’re getting a new thriller (The Next Three Days), rom-com (Morning Glory), indie comedy (Four Lions) and this year’s Best Documentary Feature winner (Inside Job). Hard to argue with that selection it fits all moods. And if you’re a horror fan, you even have this year’s buzziest TV series, The Walking Dead, unleashing its zombie-filled first season on DVD.

Oh. Yeah. There’s also this little movie called Jackass 3 coming to DVD today as well. I’m not sure what exactly to call that fanbase, but I imagine they’ll be enjoying the film at home with about a crate of Mountain Dew.

Check it out below…

Feature Films

The Next Three Days

Picture this moving coming out in 2006:

Paul Haggis, fresh off winning (roughly) 457,000 Oscars for traffic. Russell Crowe, still hot off residual love for his three-straight nominations to start the decade and the (weirdly) rave reviews for Cinderella Man and Master and Commander.

They probably grab somebody like Charlize Theron (another Oscar winner) to fill the Elizabeth Banks role since they have a lot more clout. The rest remains the exact same. The exact same movie, just at a different time for buzz and the corresponding clout to get a more award-worthy actress.

With that movie and that team at that time – this is an Oscar contender. With 10 nominees, it probably gets Best Picture – because critics would instantly have Haggis and Crowe penciled into the “good” category and grade them on enough of a curve that a pretty flat thriller instantly moves into “Oscar-worthy” status on their reviews simply because they’ve been told they must think that anything Crowe and/or Haggis does is exceptional.

Don’t believe me? A Good Year nearly got Crowe a nomination in 2006 for a movie that absolutely nobody remembers. Paul Haggis’ In The Valley of Elah (which co-starred Theron) earned its lead, Tommy Lee Jones, an Oscar nomination and almost got Paul Haggis another triple crown of Picture, Director and Screenplay for a very run-of-the-mill murder mystery that came out in 2007. If there were ten nominees that year, it definitely would have been nominated for Best Picture.

Now, Crowe and Haggis make a film together that gets completely ignored because their stars have tarnished a bit and critics are now able to think about them rationally again.

The point? Know-nothing critics who write their reviews based on conventional wisdom rather than any sort of insight have an alarming amount of power with regards to the Oscars. No, they don’t vote, but their reviews, opinions and the buzz they create often dictate which movies the voters see and fuel campaigns.

And if those critics had gotten a hold of this film in 2006, it likely would have ridden their wave of cloyingness all the way to the Kodak.

But, hey, you might’ve liked it. In that case, you can buy The Next Three Days on DVD.

Also:

Four Lions – Buy Now
Jackass 3 – Buy Now
Inside Job – Buy Now
Morning Glory – Buy Now

TV on DVD

“The Walking Dead”: Season 1

Can you name Frank Darabont’s last film?

That would be The Mist, the unevenly received Steven King adaptation that smacked of studio interference and last minute changes. It came out 4 years ago.

Before that, there was a six-year gap between his films as his very personal The Majestic bombed and undoubtedly erased the goodwill he’d built up with The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption before that.

We’ve only gotten four films from Darabont, and now he’s relegated himself to working for television. And y’know what? That’s an upgrade.

For creative forces behind-the-scenes such as Darabont, there isn’t a better playground for their minds to frolic than on the small screen. Budgetary pressure is normally gone, turnaround time is so fast that the studio doesn’t have time to meddle, and networks have now begun encouraging show-runners and creators take the auteur path of creative control that defined film’s renaissance in the 70s.

After all, AMC is the network that reportedly told Vince Gilligan that Breaking Bad was the worst idea they’d ever heard and then immediately told him to go make it.

This is why television has surpassed film in terms of quality in recent years. Advances in filming technology has allowed it to achieve the quality of the big screen, allowing creative visionaries to head to television and tell their stories without anyone hanging over their shoulders. This gives us shows like Lost, The Wire, The Sopranos and Arrested Development – all better than any movie I can remember coming out in a long while.

Now we have The Walking Dead maybe the best example of a cinematic superstar moving to television and jumping in full-stop. Not as an executive producer or simply lending his name, but running the whole show.

If this continues, studios may lose all their best minds to television in short order.

And if you prefer Darabont’s work on the small screen, you can buy Season One of The Walking Dead on DVD.

And Just So You Know, This DVD Exists…

Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington Compete for Second Place at Weekend Box Office

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:07:33 +0000

It’s no secret that there’s only one film that has a shot at claiming the top spot when this weekend’s box office report comes back. Hint: all your friends on Facebook are talking about it. Another hint: it’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Still, there’s always the number two spot to aim for, and even though it came in second last week, Unstoppable, the latest collaboration between Denzel Washington and Tony Scott, might still hold on to that place. It earned $23.5 million already, losing out to Megamind. It’s always tough to compete with an animated kids’ film. But with that in mind, all the kids this week will probably flock to the latest Harry Potter movie, leaving Megamind in the dust.

Then again, Russell Crowe has a new movie coming out that may threaten Unstoppable‘s place in the ranking. The Next Three Days has the added bonus of Elizabeth Banks in the cast to draw in the male viewers. Chris Pine, on the other hand, plays a major part in Unstoppable and he will surely catch the eye of many young women.

Whichever of those two that come out on top this weekend may have the reviews to thank. The Next Three Days hasn’t impressed the critics, whereas Unstoppable is being hailed as one of the most thrilling action movies in recent memory.

Our guess? With Harry Potter soaring above the competition, Unstoppable will grab the number two spot while curious viewers will place The Next Three Days in third. Megamind‘s target audience will be too distracted by the latest outing in their favorite franchise to pay any more attention to that movie; it will fall to fourth.

Disagree with this assessment? What will you be seeing this weekend?

The Next Three Days: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:30:49 +0000

Oscar winning screenwriter and director Paul Haggis returns to theaters this weekend with his latest film, The Next Three Days. It stars Russell Crowe as a desperate man who’s willing to do whatever it takes to reunite his wife with their family, the only problem is — she’s in prison. From that premise alone you can imagine all the craziness that will ensue. Is The Next Three Days a worthy follow up to Haggis’ previous works? Find out in our review…

The Players:

Director: Paul Haggis:
Screenwriter: Paul Haggis, Fred Cavayé and Guillaume Lemans (Pour Elle)
Cast: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Ty Simpkins, Lennie James, Olivia Wilde, Helen Carey, Brian Dennehy, Aisha Hinds, Jason Beghe, Allan Steele, RZA, Liam Neeson, Jonathan Tucker, Kevin Corrigan
Cinematography By: Stéphane Fontaine
Original Music By: Danny Elfman, Alberto Iglesias

The Plot:

The Next Three Days centers on John (Crowe) and Lara Brennan (Banks) and his undeniable quest for her freedom. After having an argument with her employer, Lara is arrested the day after her boss’s dead body is found in a parking lot. All of the evidence points to her as the killer and she’s sentenced to serve some serious time in prison. Her husband John feels as if the system has given up on finding the real murderer so he decides to take matters into his own hands. After extensive research, interviews, and hours of strategizing, John sets out to do the unthinkable — break his wife out of prison.

The Good:

Elizabeth Banks: Banks is mostly known for her comedic roles in films like The 40 Year Old Virgin, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and Role Models. She barely dips into other genres but when she does she’s amazing as proven by her performance in this film. She does a great job of making you feel the frustration that her character is going through with her heartbreaking performance.
Trial and Error: The one great thing about the story is how it shows one man’s journey through trial and error. John is trying to break his wife out of prison and that’s no easy feat. You see him going on YouTube and asking around to see how he can get fake passports, how he can make a “bump” key, and how he can safely get out of the country within a certain amount of time. He visibly works for the knowledge. It doesn’t come to him overnight. It’s realistic.

The Bad:

The Tone: It’s hard to tell if this is a hardcore drama, a thriller, or a subtle action film. The movie starts off with a comedic scene, and throughout jokes continue to appear when they’re really not needed. Most of the material came from the cops who were investigating John. Instead of working they were busting each other’s balls and saying snarky comments. We thought this was a murder investigation?
The Pace: The film seemed a bit long in the tooth. It runs at about 122 minutes and a good 20 of those could have been cut out.
The Supporting Characters: The supporting characters are not developed well. All of the cops blended in to one. They all seemed like extras from “NYPD Blue,” with the main offender being the lead investigator (Lennie James) who was pulling off his best James McDaniel impersonation. Also, there’s a storyline with John’s dad, played by the great Brian Dennehy that they don’t really explore.

Overall:

The Next Three Days isn’t a horrible movie, but its definitely not one of Paul Haggis’ best. As a whole it doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat but the final act delivers some good action and decent suspense. This is a definite hit or miss.

Rating: 6/10

The Next Three Days opens on November 19.

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Will you be going to see The Next Three Days this weekend?

Paul Haggis Reunites With Russell Crowe for The Equalizer

Krystal Clark — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:22:39 +0000

Back in June we learned that Oscar winner Russell Crowe was attached to star in the big screen remake of the popular TV series The Equalizer. He’s set to play the title character and according to a report from THR he’ll get a little help from Paul Haggis. The duo previously worked together on the upcoming thriller The Next Three Days and it looks like they’re at it again.

The trade says that Haggis won’t direct but is in negations to pen the screenplay for the film. The studio is currently on the look out for someone else to take on directing duties. The Equalizer is based on the cult television series of the same name that starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall.

In a lot of ways the character is like a vigilante. He has a murky past that’s never fully disclosed; all we know is that he used to work for an organization called The Company or The Agency or something ambiguous of that nature. He’s an unconventional hero to say the least but he gets the job done. Even though Haggis isn’t currently up for the director’s chair that doesn’t mean it’s not a possibility. Stay tuned.

What do you think of Haggis and Crowe working together again?

New DVD Releases: Robin Hood, Modern Family, 30 Rock

Andrew Payne — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:43:15 +0000

There’s only one big time feature film release on DVD this week, but it’s a big one. At least it seems like a big one. It shoulda been a big one. It wanted to be a big one. But, in the end, not quite a big one. The one we’re talking about? Robin Hood. Yes, the movie you first started seeing trailers for during the end of last football season is finally available as a distraction from this football season. If you care.

If you don’t, you can distract yourself with the last of the avalanche of TV on DVD options coming out this week which includes last season’s winner for Outstanding Comedy Series and the three-time champ it dethroned.

Read on to check them all out…

Feature Films

Robin Hood

This is a classic case of false advertising. A classic case.

How exactly is this a Robin Hood movie? Sherwood Forest is barely the backdrop. Robbing from the rich and giving to the poor? Not exactly what we see Robin Hood doing the whole time. And the main villain? Somebody named Sir Godfrey while the Sheriff of Nottingham is barely there.

Yes, this does sort of serve as a prequel, but couldn’t we have gotten a hint of that? Something like “Robin Hood Begins” or “The Road to Sherwood”? This entire movie is essentially the first ten minutes of “Prince of Thieves”. In other words, everything about Robin Hood that’s not Robin Hood.

So why are they able to get away with this? Why are they able to essentially give us a completely new story and just tack on some Robin Hood elements and slap the title on it and package it as a Robin Hood movie.

If you sell a vitamin and call it a weight loss pill and it doesn’t make you lose weight you’ll be sued. But if you release a movie that has barely anything to do with Robin Hood other than the characters’ names and some vague allusions to what we know about Robin Hood it’s just fine? Doesn’t seem right.

However, if you don’t care about this sort of thing, you can buy Robin Hood on DVD.

Also:

Ondine – Buy Now

TV On DVD

“Modern Family”: Season 1

Quick question: Why did “Arrested Development” fail where “Modern Family” became a smash hit?

On the surface they’re the same. Sublimely funny, quirky documentary-esque shooting style, major critical raves, similar time slots (though “Arrested’s” was actually better) and an Emmy for best comedy. Despite all this, one is one of the biggest comedies on TV while the other barely beat “Oliver Beane” for the smallest.

So what’s the answer as to why one succeeded and the other disappeared? Simple: Like-ability.

The hallmark of “Arrested Development” was how awful every character was. Each was either self-absorbed or outwardly cruel – something that clearly turned off a lot of viewers, as brilliant as the show was.

Contrast that with “Modern Family”, a show that gives us characters who actually seem to care about one another, yet are still able to live within that snarky world of “Arrested Development”. This gives us jokes of similar quality but a warmth everyone can embrace. And it’s that warmth that turns a ratings dud into a smash hit with writing of similar brilliance.

And now, you can buy season one of “Modern Family” on DVD.

Also:

“30 Rock”: Season 4 – Buy Now
“Bored To Death”: Season 1 – Buy Now
“Castle”: Season 2 – Buy Now
“Community”: Season 1 – Buy Now
“Desperate Housewives”: Season 6 – Buy Now
“The Hills”: Season 6 – Buy Now
“How I Met Your Mother”: Season 5 – Buy Now
“Human Target”: Season 1 – Buy Now
“Law & Order: SVU”: Year 11 – Buy Now
“The Mentalist”: Season 2 – Buy Now
“Spartacus: Blood and Sand”: Season 1 – Buy Now
“Two and a Half Men”: Season 7 – Buy Now

And Just So You Know, This DVD Exists…

Yes, it’s starring Steve Guttenberg.

What DVDs will you be picking up this week?

Russell Crowe Joins The RZA in Man With the Iron Fist

Krystal Clark — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:45:37 +0000

The RZA is really stepping up his Hollywood game with his latest film The Man With the Iron Fist. The rapper turned actor is one of the founding members of The Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary rap group that was highly influenced by Asian culture, and 70s martial arts films, hence their name. RZA has been working on The Man with The Iron Fist for years and according to EOnline, he’s made a major casting coup by landing Oscar winner Russell Crowe.

In the film RZA will play “a weapons-making village blacksmith in feudal China,” and as for Crowe he says “I won’t spoil it for you, but Russell’s gonna be the baddest man alive. That man is in fighting shape. That man will knock you out.” The film is scheduled to begin production in Shanghai this December.

Not only will RZA star in the film but he’ll also direct from a script that he’s co-written with Eli Roth who’s been working as a producer on the project for the past 5 years. It might seem odd to see Crowe acting opposite RZA but it shouldn’t. They’ve worked on two films together already, American Gangster and the upcoming Paul Haggis flick The Next Three Days.

This movie sounds like Black Samurai, Afro Samurai and The Last Samurai mixed in with a bunch of other vintage martial arts titles. Do you think Crowe can pull this off? If Tom Cruise can, we should give him a shot.

What do you think of Crowe joining The Man With the Iron Fist?

Russell Crowe in The Next Three Days Poster

Krystal Clark — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:35:54 +0000

Russell Crowe’s latest film The Next Three Days is a drama and thriller rolled into one. It has everything needed to keep you on the edge of your seat including an Oscar winning star and an acclaimed director in Paul Haggis. Over at The Hit List, they’ve unveiled the first poster for the film that reveals part of the main character’s grand scheme. Check it out…

The Next Three Days centers on a woman (Elizabeth Banks) who’s imprisoned for a murder she claims she didn’t commit and her college professor husband (Crowe) who decides to break her out. The Next Three Days co-stars Liam Neeson, whose character advises Crowe on how to pull off a successful escape, Brian Dennehy who plays Crowe’s father, and Olivia Wilde who stars as a young mother who befriends his character.

I like the whole “plotted out” design of this one sheet. It doesn’t tell you everything but it lets you know that surveillance, traveling, and false documentation will somehow figure into the film. I like it! What about you?

The Next Three Days is scheduled to hit theaters on November 19th.

What do you think of the poster for The Next Three Days?

The Next Three Days Trailer – Russell Crowe Wants Answers!

Krystal Clark — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:50:46 +0000

Are you ready to see Russell Crowe bust a cap in someone’s ass? It’s been a long time since we seen that revenge seeking version of the actor on the big screen (Robin Hood just didn’t cut it). Luckily for us, the theatrical trailer for his new film The Next Three Days has been released on Yahoo and we get to see a bit of the old Russell. Check out the trailer below…

The film centers on a woman (Elizabeth Banks) who’s imprisoned for a murder she claims she didn’t commit and her college professor husband (Crowe) who decides to break her out. The Next Three Days co-stars Liam Neeson, whose character advises Crowe on how to pull off a successful escape, Brian Dennehy who plays Crowe’s father, and Olivia Wilde who stars as a young mother who befriends his character.

The most refreshing thing about this trailer is Banks’ portrayal as the wrongly convicted wife. She’s so good in comedic roles that sometimes it’s easy to forget that she can pull off dramatic parts as well. This is a nice change of pace for her.

The Next Three Days is directed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis and is scheduled to hit theaters on November 19th.

What do you think of the first trailer for The Next Three Days? Are you interested in seeing the film?

Russell Crowe to Star in The Equalizer Remake

Krystal Clark — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:47:24 +0000

Russell Crowe is putting down his bow and arrow from Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood and picking up a gun in the big screen adaptation of The Equalizer. According to The LA Times, the actor will star in a film based on the cult TV series that ran on CBS from 1985-1989. The show’s entire premise wreaked of vengeance and who can deliver revenge better than Crowe?

The Times claims that Crowe has signed on to play Robert McCall, the series protagonist who was made famous by Edward Woodward. In a lot of ways the character is like a vigilante. He has a murky past that’s never fully disclosed; all we know is that he used to work for an organization called The Company or The Agency or something ambiguous of that nature. He’s an unconventional hero to say the least but he gets the job done.

The film had been gestating in development with The Weinstein Company for years but is no longer under its umbrella. Now several high-end producers including Mace Neufeld have their hands on the property and are shopping it around with Crowe attached as the lead. We’re sure the actor will get people interested, which means The Equalizer could be put on the fast track into production in no time.

What do you think of Russell Crowe playing The Equalizer?

ScreenCrave.com » russell crowe

Russell Crowe Casting Rumors Near Fatal

Related Posts

Russell Crowe Up for Everything Ever

Related Posts

And the Father of the Man of Steel is… Russell Crowe?

Related Posts

New DVD Releases: The Next Three Days, Jackass 3, Morning Glory

Feature Films

TV on DVD

And Just So You Know, This DVD Exists…

Related Posts

Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington Compete for Second Place at Weekend Box Office

Related Posts

The Next Three Days: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 6/10

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Related Posts

Paul Haggis Reunites With Russell Crowe for The Equalizer

Related Posts

New DVD Releases: Robin Hood, Modern Family, 30 Rock

Feature Films

TV On DVD

And Just So You Know, This DVD Exists…

Related Posts

Russell Crowe Joins The RZA in Man With the Iron Fist

Related Posts

Russell Crowe in The Next Three Days Poster

Related Posts

The Next Three Days Trailer – Russell Crowe Wants Answers!

Related Posts

Russell Crowe to Star in The Equalizer Remake

Related Posts