While we have yet to see the latest film version of Robin Hood, our friends at FilmDrunk did. They were forced to tag the Russell Crowe / Ridley Scott collaboration with an emphatic thumbs down.On the business end, however, "Robin Hood" took in $36 million in North America during its opening weekend, failing to unseat "Iron Man 2," which is beset with its own plot problems, for the number one spot.
In fact, it's been a few years since a Russell Crowe film has met, let alone exceeded, box office expectations. Since Crowe is without a doubt a top-notch actor, the question becomes this: Is his unattractive personality what's turning off mass audiences?
Crowe was his typical pissy self when promoting "Robin Hood," and one suspects if the film was fronted by another big-time movie star -- for example, if Johnny Depp switched over to green tights -- there would have been a better vibe surrounding the whole project.
Crowe is far from the only talented jerk in Hollywood -- but then again nobody is depending on Sean Penn for boffo openings. Could it be that Crowe just doesn't have the personality to continue as a box office rainmaker?
| No -- his unpleasant personality turns off mass audiences | |
|---|---|
| Sure -- he just needs to find the right script |


























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Thursday 20 May
By moviefan
Firstly, Crowe was not in a 'pissy' mood while promoting Robin Hood. I suppose you're talking about the one BBC radio intv in which he did get a bit testy when being baited by the interviewer. I have been following Crowe on his RH promo tour from the time he touched down in LA for his Walk of Fame ceremony back in April. For a solid month he flew from Oz-US-Europe-Us-back to Europe for promos all over Europe. In every one of the hundreds of videos/interviews I've seen/read he's been absolutely charming and in good humor, answering questions about the movie and telling stories about his sons.
Secondly, Crowe does not choose to do superhero/comic book/pirate/gross out college humor type of movies, so there's your answer right there. And as he's one of the finest actors working today, I've no doubt we'll be seeing many more fine movies in the years to come.
Thirdly, Robin Hood was the #1 movie in over 50 countries around the world on the weekend and there are many folks, reviewers and audience alike, who were very much entertained by Robin Hood.
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Thursday 20 May
By singingnewyorker
Bloggers are NOT journalists. Honest writers search facts & report w/ integrity. #2 in North America #1 in the world.
Sunday 23 May
By prometeum
There's an option missing in the poll:
#3 MEH!
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Thursday 20 May
By Carney
I think you mean EMPHATIC thumbs-down, not "empathetic".
Any version of Robin Hood that has him not stealing from the rich to give to the poor, not living in Sherwood Forest, and not fighting the Sheriff of Nottingham is bizarre.
Even so, it would have to be better than the truly wretched Kevin Costner version. Costner was his usual charisma-deficient, mumble-mouthed self who gave up on his howlingly bad English accent early on. Add in jarringly anachronistic and moronically PC elements like a crotch-kicking Maid Marian and a "dignified token" African character (who somehow speaks English and shows the awestruck primitive English the telescope - a European invention) it was an insult to the legend, the English people, and the audience.
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