With news that Russell Crowe will be starring in Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Les Misérables and Darren Aronofsky’s interpretation of the tale of Noah, this week we’re focusing on the very best of his movies on Blu-ray. So if you’re stuck for ideas this weekend, why not try out one of the following:
Gladiator:
Without doubt one of Crowe’s greatest and most celebrated roles, Gladiator is a historic force to be reckoned with on Blu-ray. Directed by Ridley Scott, Crowe stars as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by a corrupt prince and cast out to the outer fringes of the Roman Empire. Instead of giving in to his fate, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge his family and bring himself face to face with the man who destroyed his life. Presented on two Blu-rays with 11 hours of extra content, fans can look forward to audio commentaries, deleted scenes and features such as Vision of Elysium: Topic Portal and Strength and Honour: Creating the World of Gladiator, which give a definitive guide to the origin, production and impact of the film.
Robin Hood:
Reuniting with Scott, Crowe stars as Robin Hood in this gritty adaptation of the man behind the myth. Robin returns from the crusades a heroic warrior but soon finds the order of his homeland has been uprooted forcing him to lead an uprising against a weak and corrupt ruler. Fans of Crowe can look forward to mighty battle scenes, awesome sword fights and a touching romance in this action packed adventure. Extras include an extended cut of the film, deleted scenes and features such as The Art of Nottingham and Rise & Rise Again: The Making of Ridley Scott’s Robin.
American Gangster:
This engaging tug of war drama about drug cartel leader Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and tough cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is fantastic in its portrayal of two men leading a campaign of terror against each other and society. Spanning many years, it showcases the construction and downfall of an American drugs empire and the rise and fall of its overlord. Offering both a theatrical cut and a director’s version of the film, the Blu-ray comes complete with commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews and deleted scenes.
So what do you think of our choices? Hit the comments to tell us your favourite Russell Crowe movies, or tell us what else you’ll be looking forward to watching on Blu-ray this weekend.
