October 9

Source: The Scorecard Review

October 9, 2008

Body of Lies film review

Russell Crowe as Ed Hoffman: Crowe is phenomenal as the short-sighted, ego-maniacal Hoffman. He doesn't act, he just is, which makes you wonder if he's really just computer generated. How can anyone be that good and still maintain their own separate, human identity? Not possible-the dude's the Deep Blue of thespians.

Score: 10

Source: jurbancich@sunnews.com

October 09, 2008

No Lies, it's something to Crowe about
By John M. Urbancich

Russell Crowe's latest, "Body of Lies," might be another serious thriller about American involvement with Middle Eastern terrorists, but the Australian actor was at his easygoing best during a recent press conference.

In fact, the fun started early when Crowe, first on the scene, shuffled the name placards on a panel that would include co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, director Ridley Scott, screenwriter William Monahan, producer Donald DeLine and "Body of Lies" author David Ignatius.

"Stop! The boss needs to sit in the (blankin') middle," Crowe said, moving Scott's name from one end of a long table. "And these bad boys (referring to himself and DiCaprio) need to be together on the outside end."

A few seconds later, with all but two of the participants in the room, Crowe asked the press, "OK, who wants to play the part of Leo DiCaprio?" He then grabbed a microphone and pleaded in his best American announcing voice: "Hello, Leo and Bill! Hello! Attention, Leo and Bill! Will you come to the press conference, please?"

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, the usually intimidating Crowe became a real crowd-pleaser, whether giving a tech-type heck for constantly adjusting his mike ("Have you noticed how boring the press conference has gotten since you started turning off my microphone?"), or talking about his role ("I got a phone call from Ridley asking, How would you like to put on a large amount of weight?' That always appeals to me."), or interrupting questions to DiCaprio with answers of his own.

"How come you're not asking me if I did my own stunts?" Crowe wanted to know at one point, proceeding to mime the dialing of a cell phone before adding, "Anyway, here's how I did 'em."

Crowe, who plays a conniving CIA agent regularly conducting government business via the phone while tending to his young children, even easily answered a question about being a dad in real life. "It's the most fantastic thing I've experienced," he said about raising 4-year-old and infant sons with wife Danielle. "It continues to get more fun and more complex every day."

Crowe really only got serious when discussing his relationship with Scott, who has now directed the actor through four films, including their "Gladiator" work of Oscar notoriety. "I went through a period of time where, even after the great relationship that we had on Gladiator,' I didn't fully realize that it's probably a very unique situation to come along in a performer's life, " he said.

"We went through a thing where Ridley asked me to do Black Hawk Down,' but I had just done a movie where there was a helicopter in the background and I wasn't interested. He next asked about Kingdom of Heaven,' but I was doing something else.

"With the last three things we've done together, it's been like, Right, this is what we're doing,' and I go, OK, cool.' I say, Yes,' with him first, and then I work out why I want to do it afterwards," explained Crowe, already wearing a ponytail in preparation for "Nottingham," his and Scott's next film together.

DiCaprio won't be in it, but the way he goofed with Crowe on the podium, it was obvious the two men have a genuine friendship. "Working with Leo is always easy and fun," Crowe concluded, "just like it was when we worked together in 1993 (on "The Quick and the Dead"), when he was just a talented 18-year-old."

When someone in the crowd suggested DiCaprio looked about 12 in that film, Crowe offered his famous glare before quipping, "I'll do the comedy here, mate."