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Jim Ferguson
Interviews
Russell Crowe
In His Latest Movie "Gladiator"
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Jim
Ferguson: Good to see you Russ. Congratulations. "Gladiator."
Did you have any idea, going into this thing that it was going to
require so much physical work to play a gladiator?
Russel
Crowe: Well
when I did "Mystery, Alaska," we chatted about when it came out,
I didn't think I could find a role that would damage me physically
any more than that, but I managed, I managed. I found one!
The thing is when we were doing the schedule right at the beginning,
you know, they were saying "it's all going to be okay mate, because
after this fight sequence we're going to have seven days where you're
going to have a couple of days off, and then you just do walking
and talking scenes, and then do a little bit of a rehearsal and
we'll start the next one." That didn't happen. It was just
unrelenting. You know, sometimes it was down to the point
of fighting tigers during the day, and rehearsing the next fight
sequence at night time.
Jim
Ferguson: Anyway, just the opening scene itself, that battle
scene, which I think you filmed in England somewhere... unbelievable
scene. When you put those costumes on and played the Roman general,
does it help you become Maximus?
Russel
Crowe: Well,
I don't know. There's a couple of ways of looking at that,
because I thought, you know particularly the general's thing at
the beginning, it's kind of a grand costume and all that sort of
stuff. But there is a certain level of difficulty retaining
that masculinity and dignity in what is basically a netball tunic.
You know, so you're running around saying your orders as a general,
but you know, why people are going to take you seriously when you've
got a skirt on? But I did really enjoy...
Jim
Ferguson: Well, they took fellow countrymen Mel Gibson seriously
in "Braveheart," didn't they?
Russel Crowe:
You know, I have a kind of a childlike sort of view on my
job, and when they first came to me and said, "Here's the concept.
It's 185 AD, it's going to be directed by Ridley Scott, and you
start off as a Roman general," mate, that had just exploded my imagination.
Jim Ferguson: One last question,
because I'm out of time. Would you agree with me that perhaps this
is such a big epic, livestock sets, extras, the Roman Empire and
all it's glory, that you may never make another film this big again?
Russell
Crowe: Ah
it's very possible. You know it's a $103 million budget, so by no
means an extraordinary budget in this day and age when "Waterworld"
cost over $200 and things like this, but... You know, it's a very
efficient production company, and we managed to make, I think, a
movie in it's scope that actually belies it's budget. But
the great thing about this film, Jimmy, I reckon, no matter how
big the sets are, it's the heart of this film which is the thing
that people take with them when they leave.
Jim
Ferguson: And it's your ability as an actor that draws into
that world, and you do it so beautifully. Don't miss "Gladiator"
and Russell Crowe. Thank you.
Russel
Crowe:
Cheers. Thanks mate.
--
End of Interview --
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