New Zealand actor Russell Crowe plays an irrational, rage-poisoned driver in 'Savage' who terrifies a woman with a frantic chase
Russell Crowe is the antagonist of the thriller 'Savage', where the actor gives us a terrifying performance. The game of cat and mouse turns grim for a single mother who is eyed by Crowe's oddball character. The typical showdown between two drivers turns into a frantic chase that shows the darker side of human nature.
It's hard to believe coming from me, I know. But it's true. This script scared me. The character is dark and gruesome, and while I'm looking for challenges, I don't want to get into emotionally upsetting roles. The nature of this man made no sense to me. He is incapable of making a decision with common sense and lives in a conspiracy spiral, blaming others for his mistakes. I didn't want to play an unreasonable vigilante.
Why in the end did he agree to get into his shoes?
It cost me. He's a guy who didn't give me the slightest opportunity to show my charms. He doesn't have a sense of humor, he doesn't smile, and he doesn't show humanity. But I took advantage of the moment we live in to show a man burned by anger. That aspect of the human being seemed relevant to me because I feel that there is generalized anger in society. This narrative has a second reading that is very important today.
Does Crowe move away from the heroes?
In a way, yes. I have to evolve as a person and as an actor, so I'm always looking for something different. This character is not a hero, on the contrary, he is a guy who has suffered a trauma and has become an irrational being who is not afraid of being violent. The world is witnessing this exaggerated violence that occurs without any kind of provocation.
Who inspired you to create his role?
He had no one in mind. The character came up in conversation with the director, Derrick Borte, who had a very clear idea of what he wanted. To tell you the truth, I have stopped doing overtime for the characters. As a young man he used to investigate the lives of each of the men he played, but he was hopeless. This character did not need that kind of study and what I had to do was let myself be guided by my director. We are experiencing a global pandemic, but that does not mean that other problems have disappeared. I say this because my character doesn't know how to take a step back when a problem arises. Taking a step back is rational. However, it is not the way this character responds.
How is he capable of embodying such strange people? Does she look anything like his characters?
I also question it and don't believe it. Even Gladiator, he's not a great character. In his life, certain circumstances occur that put him in a certain situation and he gets carried away reacting to what happens to him. But from the beginning, he's drifting away from the life he's been leading, and he wants to go back and do something else because he doesn't really want to be there. I find it fun to remember. I feel like it's another life, so long ago. I read something the other day that was supposed to be a positive review about me, even though it really wasn't. The guy said that he really enjoyed the movie because it's nice to see me doing more than cliché in Ridley Scott's epics. It's ridiculous. I've done two, out of 36 movies, but to a critic, I'm a cliché who does epics with Ridley all the time.
Do you read what is written about you?
Well, it just pops up. I'm not looking for it. It's not like I have to take a pick and shovel and go down to the bottom of the mine (laughs). I'm a tough guy, I can read the reviews. I find it interesting what people say about me. The perspectives they take, and the excuses they come up with.
Many rock stars say that the good thing about going on tour is coming home and, when they get home, they are eager to hit the road. Does the same thing happen to you?
I love shooting movies and being on the filming set surrounded by the team. When I'm on a set and I look at the camera, I feel like I'm in the right place. Being an actor is my thing, although some say I don't have a sense of humor.
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