Russel Crowe?
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Six-Shooter — 13 years ago(November 06, 2012 07:02 PM)
Wasn't Brad Pitt one of their first choices for the character? And what's so bad about Brad Pitt? He gets way too much hate for being popular.
The knack to flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. -
Onyx12 — 15 years ago(April 18, 2010 03:14 PM)
Resurrecting this thread for comments on Crowe's accent. His accent struck me as barely American, much less New York/Jersey. Many words slip into his natural Aussie dialect. Two examples I just heard: he pronouces shark as "shahk" and our as "ah".
You may say I'm nit-picking but these discrepancies were so glaring they kept me listening for other mistakes rather than enjoying the performance. I blame the director for not ensuring that Crowe sounded totally authentic.
Overall, I think he was miscast. He is too low-key and his body language is non-existent. I had to strain to hear his dialogue half the time. This role called for someone more bombastic, edgy and a little bit outrageous. Russell's low, rather monotone voice could put you to sleep. He is a good actor, but this was not his role. -
Montmartre1 — 15 years ago(July 02, 2010 05:18 AM)
disagree with you. I was born and raised in New York (manhattan) and have lived in the U.K. for more than 30 years. I still retain (I am told) my New York accent)!
I found Crowe's accent to be perfect in the film. I studied acting and write for a living too and frankly, I don't know what you're basing your criticsm of his accent on.
it's fair if you say you didn't like him in the role, but as far as his accent and his speech in general (in the film) I am sorry but I have to disagree with you.
I thought he did a superb job. -
craigbhill — 13 years ago(September 29, 2012 09:15 AM)
Crowe is a perfectionist. He works hard to nail the accent of the character he's playing. Tho your criticism is legitimate, if you put 20 New Yawkas in a room and asked them to pronounce shark, some would pronounce it your preferred way and others would pronounce it shahk. But Crowe concentrates most on how the inner life of the character should be portrayed. I think you're thinking more of a Rod Steiger or Eli Wallach, more bombast, where Crowe saw Richie as subtle. Rather than imagining how a role should be played, get into how it is played, and fit those aspects of what you're watching into the character you're seeing portrayed, and if you're watching a really good actor like Crowe, you'll learn something about Richie you'd missed. ~ Native Angeleno