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the gunslingers but he had already committed to a film called "The Sum of Us".
Stone was happy to wait, she wanted Crowe that bad. Crowe was suddenly thrust
in with some big names in Hollywood. The cast boasted Sharron Stone, Gene Hackman
and Leonardo DiCaprio. After the completion of "The Quick and The Dead" Crowe was
offered a part in the film "Virtuosity", a Sci-Fi extravaganza starring Denzel Washington.
Crowe played the part of Virtual Serial Killer, Sid6.7. Virtuosity did a lot for Crowe
and he was offered his next role in the crime thriller "LA Confidential". His performance
was a blinder, but even though everyone thought he deserved a crack at "Oscar" it wasn't
to be his year. It was a painfull period highlighted by this quote
"One of the most painful things of the LA Confidential character I played was that the author,
James Ellroy, kept telling me that Bud White wasn't a drinker. I said, 'come on, this is 1953.
He's a blue-collar bloke, a cop. You're telling me he doesn't sit around with the boys after
his shift and have a beer?' And Ellroy says, 'absolutely not.' So for five months and seven
days I didn't have a drink. It's probably the most painful period of my life."
199 wouldn't be his year with "The Insider" either. His character Jeffrey Wigand was the best
part of the film but once again he missed out. Crowe again was showing how talented he could be.
The film world had a new buzz word, Crowe.The year 2000 was a big one for Crowe with both
"Proof of Life" and of course his oscar winning performance, that at last was recognized by the
"academy", the role of General Maximus Decimus Meridus in the blockbuster "Gladiator".
Finally he was recognized for his talent. At the presentation he was humble but offered this
in his acceptance speech. "If you grow up in the suburbs of anywhere, a dream like this seems
kind of vaguely ludicrous and completely unattainable. [But] this moment is directly connected
to those imaginings. And for anybody who's on the downside of advantage, and relying purely on
courage, it's possible." Now Crowe is being applauded for his magnificent portrayal of John
Forbes Nash Jnr in the critically acclaimed "A Beautiful MInd" and the "Oscar" buzz word once
again is Crowe. His success has been highly deserved and he has been rewarded for his hard work
with a salary to match. "Gladiator" earned Crowe $US5,000,000 then "Proof Of Life" raised his earnings
to a reported $US7,500,000 while "A Beautiful Mind" took him to mega star status earning a cool
$US15,000,000. Crowe loves to head "down under" and is a favourite with television presenters in
Australia. He has toured with his band "30 Odd Foot Of Grunts" and performed live on television.
His bond with the australian psyche goes far beyond film though. Aussies love their cricket and
Crowes cousin Martin Crowe is a former New Zealand test cricketer. Crowe is a real family man and
according to Martin loves getting all the relatives together for a reunion. What ever happens in
the future the expatriot New Zealander, the born again aussie Russell Crowe will have a lot of
satifaction and perhaps a wry smile on his face when he looks back over his carrer that started with
an australian soapie called "Neighbours" way back in 1985. Russell Crowes Career Highlights Film & Television includes ...... A Beautiful Mind (2001) Proof of Life (2000) Gladiator (2000) The Insider (1999) Mystery, Alaska (1999) Breaking Up (1997) Heaven's Burning (1997) L.A. Confidential (1997) No Way Back (1996) Rough Magic (1995) Virtuosity (1995) The Quick and the Dead (1995) For the Moment (1994) The Sum of Us (1994) Silver Brumby, The (1993) Love in Limbo (1993) Romper Stomper (1992) Hammers Over the Anvil (1991) Spotswood (1991) "Brides of Christ" (1991) TV Proof (1991) The Crossing (1990) Prisoners of the Sun (1990) "Neighbours" (1985) TV |