Russell Crowe. More than just an actor – a prince amongst men. A prince of thieves in fact – the only Robin Hood to inexplicably sound a bit Irish. Mighty Russ Le Roq – the musician, the poet, the lover and the fighter, fisticuffing his way from award ceremony to award ceremony and walking out of radio interviews when it suits. Full disclosure: watching Russell Crowe gives me hives. I have this problem with only three actors: Russell Crowe, Will Smith (post-Fresh Prince) and Keira Knightley.
This week, we get to see Mr Crowe debut his wares as a director – directing himself (who else would he hire?) – so, by all means, if you’re immune to watching this saggy-faced, wet-eyed egomaniac, then be my guest. The Water Diviner is a drama that follows an Australian father determined to locate the bodies of his sons who lost their lives during the Battle of Gallipoli. Just don’t blame me if Russ is singing the theme tune. Also on release is the ’80s-inspired, home-invasion thriller The Guest, which is reviewed this week.
Elsewhere, Cinemateket starts a fascinating new series of screenings and seminars under the heading, Vær Beredt … på Civilisationens Undergang (be prepared for the downfall of civilisation), including a Mad Max marathon on Saturday (from 19:15) that anticipates the national release of the fourth in George Miller’s classic series, Mad Max: Fury Road, next week.
On Sunday at 14:15, Cinematek’s Danish on a Sunday series shows Lars von Trier’s bizarre 1994 foray into television with English subs. Seemingly a reply to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, The Kingdom (Riget) begins with a phantom ambulance that pulls in at the hospital every night, only to disappear. I recommend allowing LVT to dazzle and disturb you – his tongue rests firmly in-cheek here and he’s all the more fun for it. Tickets are 55-80 kroner and an extra 40 will get you coffee and a pastry. For full listings, see dfi.dk/Filmhuset.
Finally, at Huset (huset-kbh.dk) on Friday at 19.30, you can see Undefeatable (1994), a C-Grade thriller in which a petty gang leader pays for her sister’s college education by organising street fights. No doubt Russ Le Roq would approve.
