Between LA Confidential and Gladiator, Crowe made the film The Insider and that's, more or less, what's happened to his career. He wants to be actor. And there's nothing wrong with that except for the fact that his actorly choices repeatedly take him far, far away from what audiences responded to.
A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, 3:10 to Yuma, Body of Lies, State of Play and Robin Hood feature strong performances by Crowe. And there's nothing wrong with going the actorly route -- it certainly can result in a longer career. But in terms of leading man, Russell Crowe can make the films ticket buyers want to see or he can prepare to move to supporting roles.
Bud White and Maximus, the audience favorites of his rolls, allowed him to be brooding and longing, paired him with a woman he'd do anything for. In 1995's The Quick and the Dead and Virtuosity, Crowe gave strong performances but he didn't connect with the audiences. Rough Magic, same year, was seen by less people than the other two but those who saw the film felt they were seeing a star emering.
In that Clare Peploe directed film, Crowe was playing a questionable character eager to make a fast buck. Which is how he ends up trailing Bridget Fonda and then quickly falling in love with her.
And that's what men and women want to see. The brooding, the push-and-the-pull, the decency emerging for love. It's not just that Crowe plays it beautifully (although he does), it's also that when he plays it, he makes us all believe that we are his characters and that love makes up more noble and better than we are.
And that's what audiences will line up and pay for.
Cautionary notes, such a film won't be executed by Ron Howard who has no talent for directing longing or brooding or anything that doesn't have that instant-TV feel. Nor will it be found playing against cerebral (read "cold") actresses such as Jennifer Connelly.
