Russel Crowe SLAMS Craig Bierko- Page 2

[Jon]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 1:54pm

Bierko is a jerk for expecting Crowe to "bond" with him. They were playing rivals. Bierko's character is an incredible a**hole who the audience should hate as much as they love Crowe's character.

During rhearsals for the original production of WEST SIDE STORY, Jerome Robbins kept the actors playing the Jets seperated from those playing the Sharks. They were told to avoid talking to each other. He would put up newspaper articles about gang violence on a bulletin board, to help inspire the anger required for the show to work.

Russell Crowe is a very "method" type of actor. He worked for several months on his boxing, just as he spent months learning to play the violin for MASTER AND COMMANDER. Maybe he thought it would help his character if he didn't get all chummy with Bierko off-camera. And if Bierko wasn't as serious about the preparation required for the boxing scenes, and ended up geting banged up a little, it's his own fault.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:04pm

I think its interesting how sometimes "method" becomes a justification for acting like an "a**hole."

[alterego]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 3:42am

Well said Magictodo82 ! I don't think he was so into the "method" when he was in The Rocky Horror Show or The Blues Brothers Show.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 4:59am

To be fair to Russell, while other reports make me think he's a belligerent asshole, I think Craig's interview was either taken out of context, or Craig has conveniently emphasized certain aspects of their interaction (or lack thereof) while glossing over/refusing to acknowledge Russell's positive gestures towards him.

Here is Craig's full interview from the LA Times. http://www.calendarlive.com/cl-ca-bierko8may08,1,5180360.story

Notice this full quote.

"I don't know him from Adam. There was literally not a single moment where I felt like we were actually bonding. Or having a conversation. Even — there were cursory greetings. And I was almost sorry he did this …. He had a physician there, this really great physician. And I was having some trouble, because I'd tweaked my back. And he sent this guy over. And I thought, 'Oh, I don't want to see the nice guy behind the curtain.'

Updated On: 6/3/05 at 04:59 AM