Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.
No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good?
This week, Russell Crowe turns 62, and at his best, there have been few actors of his generation more compelling to watch. At the height of his career, he was as good as it gets, delivering performances year after year that felt authentic, intense, and fully committed.
An Academy Award winner for Gladiator (2000), Crowe put together a run in the late 1990s and early 2000s that stacks up with just about anyone. He earned Oscar nominations for The Insider (1999) and A Beautiful Mind (2001), the latter a performance many believe would have won had it not been for a controversial altercation with a BAFTA producer shortly before Oscar voting began. It’s a fair argument, considering he swept the major precursors that year, winning BAFTA, CCA, the Golden Globe, and SAG.
More recently, Crowe reminded audiences what he can do with a scene-stealing turn as Hermann Göring in Nuremberg, capturing the character’s superficial charm with a sharp, controlled edge. He’ll next star opposite Ethan Hawke in The Weight, which premiered at Sundance to strong reviews.
Whether playing a hero, a villain, or something in between, Crowe was always a reason to buy a ticket. To celebrate one of the most commanding actors of his era, here are Russell Crowe’s 10 best performances.
10. The Nice Guys (Jackson Healy, 2016)
9. Romper Stomper (Hando, 1992)
8. American Gangster (Richie Roberts, 2007)
7. 3:10 to Yuma (Ben Wade, 2007)
6. Cinderella Man (James J. Braddock, 2005)
5. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (Captain Jack Aubrey, 2003)
4. L.A. Confidential (Bud White, 1997)
3. Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator, 2000)
2. A Beautiful Mind (John Nash, 2001)
1. The Insider (Jeffrey Wigand, 1999)
