Feeling Unhinged These Days? You’re not alone. Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe stars in #UnhingedMovie ONLY IN THEATERS JULY 1 @russellcrowe @jimmisimpson @GabrielBateman @derrickborte @CarlEllsworth pic.twitter.com/rQAaMqi1Q1
— #UnhingedMovie (@unhingedmovie) May 12, 2020
There’s a strong chance that Russell Crowe will be back to his brilliant best when he returns to the big screen in Unhinged. Crowe has always been one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but he has taken on a few dubious roles over the years; with 2014’s Noah being a prime example. That offering was banned in a number of countries for being controversial.
The new film, set for release on July 1, stars the Wellington-born actor as a psychotic stalker known simply as The Man. Crowe hasn’t received major recognition for his work since 2002’s A Beautiful Mind. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, but lost out to Denzel Washington. Unhinged will give Crowe a chance to display his wide range of acting skills as he goes against type.
What is Unhinged About?
Unhinged is set to be released in time for the Independence Day weekend in the States, which is a prime time for new blockbusters to drop. The picture is the sixth feature film from German director Derrick Borte, who is known for the 2009 comedy-drama, The Joneses. Along with Crowe, Caren Pistorius and Jimmi Simpson star.
The film is a psychological thriller in which Crowe plays an unhinged stalker who follows Pistorius’ Rachel after a road rage confrontation at a red light. Things quickly spiral out of control after Rachel fails to apologise for beeping her horn at The Man, who sets off on a rampage of destruction designed to teach her a lesson. It’s a highly original concept for a movie, and there is great potential for lots of twists and turns.
This film shouldn’t be confused with the 1982 slasher film of the same name from Don Gronquist. That movie did also feature a car crash, but then centred on three college students that stay in a stranger’s house only to be picked off by a crazed killer. The only similarity between the two films is that they both have a character who is decidedly, well, unhinged.
Twenty Years Since Crowe’s Oscar Win
Gladiator remains one of Crowe’s most outstanding achievements. It has been twenty years since Sir Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama was released, but the picture still remains popular to this day. Crowe played the part of Maximus Decimus Meridius, and perfectly portrayed a man stricken with grief after having everything he held dear stripped away from him.
In a general sense, Gladiator’s success paved the way for numerous other historical and fantasy pieces on film and television including The Hobbit, 300, Troy, Vikings, and the incredible Game of Thrones. Meanwhile, Crowe’s performance as the formidable warrior – an Oscar-winning performance that has stood the test of time – has gone down in history, arguably inspiring other seemingly unbeatable characters in various other media that followed, too. It is notable that some of the top entertainment titles of today are based on the 2000 movie or its base theme. Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome is one of the slot titles available at Betway Casino, for example. The site offers users a chance to delve into a variety of their favourite blockbusters and this gladiator-themed title seems to be their response to those who enjoy delving into the Ancient Rome theme in another format. Various mobile offerings do the same. I, Gladiator from Next Dimension Game Adventures Ltd gives players the chance to imagine they are in the colosseum. Another option in the genre is Blood & Glory 2: Legend from Glu Games Inc, another title that gives players a chance to experience the themes from that iconic film in game form.
Gangster Film in the Pipeline
🥳 The first CONFIRMED cast member of of my new movie ‘American Son’ is the SUPER talented Russell Crowe!! 😎🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/giVpiUsyo7
— Rapman (@RealRapman) May 14, 2020
If Unhinged turns out to be a flop and Crowe doesn’t receive any recognition for his performance, he will have a chance to earn something in his next role. It was recently announced that the New Zealand star is going to be taking on the lead part in Andrew Onwubolu’s American Son, a gangster film based on Jacques Audiard’s French movie, A Prophet.
The original picture was held in high esteem, and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. It was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 2010. The script for the remake was written by Dennis Lehane, who is known for Mystic River and Shutter Island. All these factors suggest that the new offering could be extremely captivating.
Russell Crowe always brings a serious quality to his performances, but it has been a long time since he won any major awards for his efforts. Unhinged and American Son will give the 56-year-old a chance to show that he is still one of the best actors in the world.
