How do you top the fantastic one, two punch of Russell Crowe (the single best actor alive today bar none) and Leonardo DiCaprio in the upcoming “Body of Lies”? You do a movie with a one, two punch of Russel Crowe and Russell Crowe. That’s Ridley Scott’s genius idea (no sarcasm intended) for his upcoming Robin Hood film “Nottingham” where Crowe will apparently play BOTH Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The good folks over at MTV gives us this:
The news comes straight from the helmer himself, with Scott revealing “He’s playing both!” exclusively to MTV News during an interview for his new film “Body of Lies,” which co-stars Crowe. While Scott held additional details close to his chest — saying they would take too long to describe — he did exclaim that Crowe’s dual roles would be “a good old clever adjustment of characters. One becomes the other. It changes.”
I’ve got to admit I would have never imagined a property like Robin Hood as a type of film where you could have one actor play two different roles… but if anyone can convincingly portray two completely different people in the same film then it’s Russell Crowe, who is hands down the most diverse actor in the business with the most pure range we’ve seen in a long long time.
BUT… one potential downside in a gimmick like this is that the gimmick (Crowe playing the two lead roles) could overshadow the movie’s story itself. People start talking about “that movie where Crowe plays Hood and the Sheriff” instead of about “Nottingham”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very interested to see how this “gimmick” plays out… I just hope it doesn’t overshadow the film itself.
he’s got the accent down, though he could stand to loose a little weight…
@46and2: I agree with you!
Oh my god! spoiler!!!!
Is it just me, or does Crowe’s hair and makeup look awful in Body of Lies? While watching the teasers and trailers, I couldn’t help but be completely distracted when his silver halloween wig shows up on screen.
Um, Phil I think you missed the point here buddy. It doesn’t appear as Crowe will play two roles (i.e. the Sheriff and Robin Hood). It looks like the Sheriff and Robin Hood will be the same person.
So what would be the point of doing this?
I mean YES Russel Crowe is a great actor and one who I think could pull off 2 lead roles in one film but what’s the point? What does the film stand to gain from this? I could strip down naked and streak through my neighborhood and it would still be as pointless as Crowe playing 2 roles in one film. I agree doing so would create a gimmick in which seeing the film would become more about the gimmick than the actual film itself! And why a talented director and actor like Crowe and Scott feel they have to pull a stunt like this to make a compelling film is beyond me?
I really don’t care at all for gimmicky publicity stunts and viral marketing laid out to promote sub-par or even bad films that could not otherwise stand on its own as a good film. If it is done in a clever way in which it does actually enhance a film that could also stand on it’s own with or without it then I’m fine with it. (ie: The Dark Knight’s whoisharveydent.com) I see viral marketing used more and more to promote crappy films and it seems deceptive to me. If the director/producers of Cloverfield would have taken my advice there would’ve been one less pissed off movie goer that could’ve found other ways to waste 90 minutes of his life, like sit home in his underwear doing nothing! (Me!!!)
Crowe is a great actor, and the way RODNEY laid it out I am looking forward to this. Its a twist on a old tale that we all have heard a dozen times.
I enjoyed “A Good Year”, didn’t see what was so bad about it but its not a very memorable film.
John, you always say that you think Crowe is the best actor alive. I’m asking in all seriousness and no sarcasm: you find him a better actor than Daniel Day Lewis? I’m genuinely curious. I have no ill will against Crowe (aside from his dumbass behavior at times). I think he’s a great actor, but if I had to make a “best alive” list, I don’t think he’d make my top 5. For my money, DDL is tops. The man literally disappears into his roles, so much so that when I first saw an inteview he did and heard his real voice, it was jarring.
Seriously. Russel Crowe could even also play the role of Maid Marion and this movie would still work. He is that good.
Seen as Robin Hood is a mythical character (that’s right he isn’t real guys and has never been proven), this is a great way to rework the story.
Plus if you think about it Ridley Scott calling this film Nottingham was a slight give away to what is said here, why? Well because it isn’t called Robin Hood, meaning Robin Hood isn’t in it or like is being said it’s about the Sheriff having an alter ego.
Screw Nottingham. We all know the sheriff of Rottingham is better (ha-ha). No, but this is incredible news. Russel Crowe can do anything. I wouldn’t call him the best actor ever (I believe Tom Hanks holds that title), but he’s pretty close.
This is thematically a brilliant idea. In a storyline where the line between hero and villain is blurred beyond the black and white contrast of earlier Robin Hood interpretations, it makes perfect sense to have Crowe play both roles. I’ve had this script in the pile waiting to beread…it just got bumped to the top.
I really hope this works. I have great respect for Russell Crowe. But this movie might flop.
Cool, so during day he is the sheriff of Nottingham and at night he becomes the Robin Hood. Awesome!
“(the single best actor alive today bar none)”
I hope you’re joking and I just completely missed the sarcasm…
This has completely lost my interest. Nottingham as the hero put it on the border, because the whole point of the Robin Hood story is about the underdog/rebel against a corrupt establishment. WHICH ONE WOULD THINK WOULD BE A TIMELY MESSAGE RIGHT NOW. So after already gutting the reason Robin Hood has alway spoken to the public adding this stunt pushes it out of my interest.
I noticed several people saying Scott/Crowe automatically makes it a good movie, which makes me wonder how many ran out to see A Good Year (25 % on RT)?
“The blokes down the pub neeeeeeeeeeeed dramatic symbols to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as the sherriff……..but as a symbol”.
Yup, seven quid right here:)
RODNEY when you put it that way Im now i intrigued
I like the idea that Nottingham himself will have a secret identity as opposed to the idea of Crowe simply playing both parts.
Love Crowe, but I would have NO interest in seeing them clone him on screen.
Most people forget that the enemy of Robin Hood is supposed to be Prince John. Nottingham was just the Prince’s muscle who reluctantly follows orders out of a sense of duty. Taking on a secret identity of Robin Hood to fight the injustice he is forced to witness daily is a very cool idea.
Since it worked so well for Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers….
I sense lameness.
Very interesting take…
I’ll be looking forward to this.
Erm, ok I guess. What i was looking forward to was the conflict between two great actors but maybe this will work.
sounds awesome.
I’m in total agreement with Obi-Wan. If Ridley and Russell are both involved, it will be good.
I am happy now that he is playing the same character, just has a double life. I thought him playing 2 separate physical characters would have been stupid.
HUH?!
“a good old clever adjustment of characters. One becomes the other. It changes.”
yeah, it’s pretty clear, it’s the same character so less gimmicky.
He did muddy things a bit by replying…
“He’s playing both!”
but it is the one character, not both
Um… this doesn’t necessarily mean Crowe will be playing two different roles.
Scott has said all along he’s going to be taking a different approach to the character of the Sheriff of Nottingham. I would bet in his version of the story, the Sheriff actually ends up becoming Robin Hood. They’re one and the same.
Ridley and Russell = Me happy.
Hmmm,
Since Gladiator is like in my top 5 movies of all time I cannot second guess Russell if he wants to do a dual role or in the case of what Darthmuppet just posted two characters. But this could actually work, you have obedient Sheriff secretly undermining the Prince spying, getting information and then you have his alter ego who enforces justice for the people!
Actually sounds kinda brilliant as a new take on an old tale.
..also, according to Devin, Crowe isn’t playing two characters…
Robin Hood and the Sheriff will actually be the same character.
http://chud.com/articles/articles/15728/1/UPDATED-WHY-NOT-INGHAM/Page1.html
If some fucking kid could play two different characters, I’m sure THE BEST ACTOR ON THE PLANET can.
Devin over at CHUD leaked this a while back…
I thought it was a fantastic idea then, and I still think so.
John: You think too much. It’s only a movie.