Verified Document

Academy Award For Best Actor: Essay

Unlike most actors of his generation, Crowe possesses the ability to use his face, especially his eyes, to express his innermost thoughts and feelings, almost as if he has managed to somehow enter the mind of his character, thus allowing the full extrapolation of Maximus' heart and soul as not only a greatly admired Roman field commander but also as a father, lover and true patrician citizen of Rome.

Also, after escaping from the confines of the gladiatorial prison, Maximus rides headlong to Spain and to his estate where his wife and son await his safe return. But unfortunately, upon reaching home, Maximus discovers that his wife and son have been crucified and that their bodies have been burned. In this scene, Crowe expresses the emotional outrage of a true father and husband, a man utterly dedicated to his family and...

Once again, without relying upon dialog, Crowe manages to bring to the surface an outpouring of true human grief which is clearly reflected in his face and eyes. Thus, Crowe's mastery of the emotive technique draws the audience into the horrors that surrounds Maximus and serves as a kind of fore-shadowing catharsis when Maximus ends up in a fantasy world at the conclusion of the film with his wife and son in the Roman version of heaven known as the Fields of Elysium.
In essence, Russell Crowe's performance in Gladiator exemplifies his great talent as a film performer and sets him apart from many of his contemporaries as one of Hollywood's most versatile and powerful film actors, traits which must have highly influenced the Oscar judges and the voters of the Academy to make Russell Crowe the Best Actor of 2000.

Sources used in this document:
Unlike most actors of his generation, Crowe possesses the ability to use his face, especially his eyes, to express his innermost thoughts and feelings, almost as if he has managed to somehow enter the mind of his character, thus allowing the full extrapolation of Maximus' heart and soul as not only a greatly admired Roman field commander but also as a father, lover and true patrician citizen of Rome.

Also, after escaping from the confines of the gladiatorial prison, Maximus rides headlong to Spain and to his estate where his wife and son await his safe return. But unfortunately, upon reaching home, Maximus discovers that his wife and son have been crucified and that their bodies have been burned. In this scene, Crowe expresses the emotional outrage of a true father and husband, a man utterly dedicated to his family and to their well-being. Once again, without relying upon dialog, Crowe manages to bring to the surface an outpouring of true human grief which is clearly reflected in his face and eyes. Thus, Crowe's mastery of the emotive technique draws the audience into the horrors that surrounds Maximus and serves as a kind of fore-shadowing catharsis when Maximus ends up in a fantasy world at the conclusion of the film with his wife and son in the Roman version of heaven known as the Fields of Elysium.

In essence, Russell Crowe's performance in Gladiator exemplifies his great talent as a film performer and sets him apart from many of his contemporaries as one of Hollywood's most versatile and powerful film actors, traits which must have highly influenced the Oscar judges and the voters of the Academy to make Russell Crowe the Best Actor of 2000.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Actor/Director Clint Eastwood. Specifically It
Words: 1055 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Eastwood marches to his own drummer, often eschewing the Hollywood publicity and attention so many other personalities crave. He lives in Northern California, rarely gives interviews, and avoids the spotlight whenever possible. In fact, his personal of the cultural loner and reluctant hero on the screen seems to fit him perfectly off the screen, as well. Eastwood's films almost always embody good against evil and the very nature of the

Peter Sellers if It Were
Words: 941 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Another argument which also regards this consideration is related to the fact that, even after his tragic disappearance, Peter Sellers' work still remains valuable and has not vanished from the public's consciousness. He is still present in classifications and constantly receives high scores. He was voted the 41st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine and was also ranked in Empire's Magazine- "The Top 100 Movie Stars of

Selfless Service and Servant Leadership
Words: 730 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

I get no reward financially for making this happen, but by selflessly serving I am rewarded in my spirit and my heart knowing that dog won't have to be locked up in a kennel anymore. My eyes light up when the family with one little boy and a little girl now have a friendly, healthy and fun dog in their home! QUESTION THREE: I want to continue on the path

Waltz With Bashir Vals Im Bashir Is
Words: 1619 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Waltz With Bashir (Vals Im Bashir) is a 2008 Israeli animated autobiographical docudrama by Ari Folman that is based on his experiences as a soldier during the First Lebanon War in 1982. The film is directed, written, and produced by Ari Folman, who also stars in the film as himself (Folman, 2008; IMDB, n.d.). With a budget of approximately $1.5 million, the film has grossed approximately $2.1 million (Rotten Tomatoes,

Sidney Poitier Is an Artist
Words: 896 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

This play, the first by a black playwright to show on Broadway, was a moving reflection of black family life that had great popular appeal (Sidney pp). Poitier's performance was such a critical success that he was asked to star in the movie adaptation in 1961 (Sidney pp). In 1963, his performance in "Lilies of the Field" won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, the first black man

Projections for a Start Up Vaping Business
Words: 7591 Length: 29 Document Type: Capstone Project

Vape Nation Business Plan Company Identification Mission of the Company Business Goals Keys to Success Company Summary Industry History Legal Form of Ownership Location and Facilities Management Structure Products and Services Market Analysis Target Market Industry Analysis Market Strategy Price List Promotional Strategy Sales Forecast Implementation Strategy Overall Strategy Monitoring Plan F. Financial Statements and Projections F1. Forecasted Profit and Loss Statement F2. Forecasted Balance Sheet G. Financial Report G1. Financial Projections G2. Financial Position G3. Estimated Capital/Investment Needs Executive Summary Suggested length of 1-2 pages Company Identification: Vape Nation, based in the U.S. in California is national start-up that

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now