Russell Crowe as Comedian Bill Hicks
The rumours have been abound on the internet for the past few week. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, actor Russell Crowe let slip that he has plans to play legendary comedian Bill Hicks in a forthcoming movie. And while the film is only at scripting stage, the internet is alight with protests.
Bill Hicks made his name in the late 80′s an early 90′s. While Hicks was undoubtedly political, his humour often ranged from the lofty to the downright base (anyone who knows his Goatboy routine will agree). He died in 1994 of cancer, but left a legacy of polemic comedy to many inspired individuals.
While many people are outraged at the prospect of Crowe playing Hicks, I for one welcome it. If there is one word to characterise Hicks, it was anger. Anger was the fuel of his routines. And we all know of Russell Crowe’s infamous temper. Also, while many write Crowe off as being limited in his range, often resorting to the superior, the tough guy with a sharp wit, one should bear in mind that Crowe pulled off a perfect performance in The Insider, as an aging scientist whose life is destroyed when he becomes a whistleblower. Indeed, we have seen comedian biopics work previously, with Dustin Hoffman being highly convincing in Lenny, the story of controversial stand-up Lenny Bruce. With the right script and some restraint in Crowe, a film of Hick could end up the perfect tribute.
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Big stars tend to get pigeonhold as their careers continue. The newspapers, radio, television and the Internet all report stars news and state their opinions.
It’s when a star takes a chance and works at building his or her career to a new layer or level that impresses me the most.
Crowe started doing that early in his career, as you mentioned, The Insider. Even in The Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man he is brilliant.
Since Hicks is only in script stages let’s see how the development goes. There will be rewrites, attaching directors and scheduling conflicts.
Meanwhile, Crowe as four movies in production: Tenderness, Body of Lies, State of Play and Nottingham – which is in a road block.
Body of Lies is finishjed and out next month in the US. Tenderness has already been screened. IMDB says State of Play is in post. Nottingham has been delayed- this has started rumours that Crowe is now free to do the Hicks project. The only new addition I’ve heard to Crowe’s career is as Dr. Watson (Another big surprise by Crowe) in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes film.
Great…Dr. Watson is a real character to play. I am sure Crowe will do it justice.
All honesty, we’ll see how Hicks plays out in the development stages. A director still needs to be attached.