Russel Crowe talks shit on DeNiro

[TheDeadWalk]

While Russell Crowe might be the perfect pitchman for, say, Band-Aids or perhaps a stress-relieving medication, the fisticuff-prone star says he has no intention of trading his fame to become a corporate shill like so many of his A-list counterparts.

"I don't use my celebrity to make a living," the Aussie thespian sniffs to GQ. "I don't do ads for suits in Spain like George Clooney or cigarettes in Japan like Harrison Ford."

Crowe recognizes that his decision to sacrifice easy moolah for the sake of his principles is a difficult concept to grasp in Hollywood. "... On one level, people go, 'Well, more fault to you, mate, because there's free money to be handed out,'" he explains. "But to me it's kind of sacrilegious -- it's a complete contradiction of the [bleeping] social contract you have with your audience."

According to Crowe, you won't catch him talking up the wonders of Foster's beer or the taste sensation that is vegemite, unlike a fellow Oscar winner who's sold himself to the highest bidder. "I mean, Robert De Niro's advertising American Express," sighs the actor. "Gee whiz, it's not the first time he's disappointed me. It's been happening for a while now." Hey, we're right there with ya, buddy.

Meanwhile, Crowe's upcoming Australia-set project with Nicole Kidman, who, by the by, has pocketed millions to promote Chanel, has hit a snag. Filming on the romance "Eucalyptus" has been delayed due to bad weather, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The flick centers on a beautiful woman (Kidman) who falls for a mysterious stranger (Crowe). The only thing standing in the way of happily ever after? In order to marry her, he must be able to identify 800 varieties of eucalyptus on her father's property. Our advice: elope.



http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/hotgossipc3

[KLash]

i respect Crowe's principal's. Actors earn enough green as it is, stop being so damn greedy.

And that Eucalyptus sounds like crap from the premise there :p

[Sigur509]

Originally posted by KLash

And that Eucalyptus sounds like crap from the premise there :p

Yep.

[outsyder]

This has some interesting implications . . .

http://www.maximumcrowe.net/maximumcrowe/caps/snapshot5.jpeg

[James Logan]

I used to like Russell Crowe.

But right now, I think I'd qualify him as an arrogant, disrespectful, immature fucker. Based on this and many other things.

[jeo4]

Considering that DeNiro hasn't acted in anything decent in a decade, I'd say that hawking credit cards is the least of his issues. On the other hand, whatever pays the bills, I guess.

I enjoy a lot of Russell's work, but acting in commercials isn't really that much different from acting in film, even if it is pushing AMEX and the virtues of New York City. If he doesn't want a part of that, it's his decision and it isn't necessarily a bad one, either. But he's taking a chance pissing off a lot more than DeNiro in saying what he says. It's not like he exercises good judgement every day himself, so who is he to criticize?

[Nachokoolaid]

Damn...I was expecting a more exciting article than that. But then, I thought it read, "Crowe TAKES shit on DeNiro." Now that's some controversy.

[William Munny]

Originally posted by James Logan
I used to like Russell Crowe.

But right now, I think I'd qualify him as an arrogant, disrespectful, immature fucker. Based on this and many other things.

Couldn'y have said it better myself.

My distaste for Crowe was upped tenfold after seeing him moping alongside Peter Weir when "Master and Commander" lost to "Return of the King".

[bob]

I disagree with him mentioning George Clooney, as Clooney has done no purely commercial films except the Ocean's Eleven films since he made Batman and Robin, and he often puts up a part or all of his salary to get his more obscure projects made.

Plus, you know, he's so attractive.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Well said, Russell. He is right about both celebrities doing commercials and Bobby DeNiro flushing his career down the toilet in the last seven years. His name on the credits used to mean a surefire great flick. Now it means it should be avoided like the plague. Analyze This, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Men of Honor, Meet the Parents, 15 Minutes, Showtime, Analyze That, Godsend, Shark Tale, Meet the Fockers. What a run.

DeNiro is one of the worst actors working today -- there, I said it.

[Ted Pikul]

Not only that but he's deprived Chevy Chase of a career.;)

[The Heart Collector]

1. American Express finances Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film Festival. I'd saw holding a FUCKING FILM FESTIVAL is more of a benefit to film than starring in a fucking movie about boats, Russell. And what the fuck do you want the man to say? "Hey, thanks for all the millions that are used to finance my film festival, but I'd rather not appear in the commercial".

2. Social contract with your audience? WHAT THE FUCK? Someone's taking acting too seriously. You're a fucking actor, you shit. Not a government official.

[Ted Pikul]

Yeah, but that commercial is vomit inducing.

"My heartbreak" :rolleyes:

[Buck Turgidson]

In general, I tend to agree with him about not doing ads. You should really save your credibility for important things, so people will know when you speak up for something, you actually mean it.

I've always really despised that whole "Do ads abroad but not in America" thing. If they're embarrassing, don't do them, and if you are willing to sell stuff outside the US, you should be here, too. Do them all or none.

(Japanese cigarettes ?!? God, that is LOW. Nice goin', Indy :rolleyes: )

Now, having written that...that AmEx ad is not bad, at all. It looks nice (Scorsese Directed it...arguably the work with the most integrity and merit he's done in a few years :D), and it's simply not embarrassing to anyone involved, from my vantage point. Plus, in exchange for this rather unoffensive ad, he gets help for his film festival, as noted above.

I have some issues with DeNiro and his artistic choices over the last few years, but to have Russell Crowe (a talented actor and a guy I like, with some reservations, but still...not quite in DeNiro's league, just yet) take a whiz on him is a little off putting.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
1. American Express finances Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film Festival. I'd saw holding a FUCKING FILM FESTIVAL is more of a benefit to film than starring in a fucking movie about boats, Russell. And what the fuck do you want the man to say? "Hey, thanks for all the millions that are used to finance my film festival, but I'd rather not appear in the commercial".


Didn't even know that. Makes Crowe come off as an even bigger prick.

Originally posted by The Heart Collector

2. Social contract with your audience? WHAT THE FUCK? Someone's taking acting too seriously. You're a fucking actor, you shit. Not a government official.

Ex-fucking-actly. Especially coming from a dude who, before GLADIATOR hit, acted like a normal, small life dude, who saw acting as something simple and qualified anyone who spoke seriously of acting as, I quote, "either lying or full of themselves".

The man's hit the peak of the Full of Himself mountains to me.

[ComeNightfall]

Social contact my ass. The only contact Russell Crowe likes is his fist in someone's face.

[ilovemovies]

This doesn't take away from the fact that Crowe is a great actor.

But it does show that's awfully pretentious. He is being a bit of prick. Disappointed at him because of being in a commercial? What made him so high and mighty.

[thedudeman69]

Rusell Crowe is a big ass blowhard. He needs to get over the fact that he lost a oscar in 2001. Robert Deniro is a way fucking better actor than he will ever be. Robert Deniro has more talent in his fucking Athlete's foot than Rusell has in his whole body. He needs to be a dumbass, and relieze that Robert Deniro is trying to do his job, and if he doesn't like it, he can go fuck himself. whew. sorry. :D

[Strider]

I think Russell Crowe is an excellent actor, but as others have said, he is truly an arrogant bastard. He seems to have this "holier than thou" attitude going on. Who gives a shit if Robert De Niro is doing commericials for American Express? Crowe shouldn't be criticizing De Niro just for that alone. Seriously, who the fuck does Crowe think he his? Just because he doesn't appear in commericials for credit cards, cars, clothing, beverages, etc., that makes him better than every single famous actor who do appear in these commercials? Give me a break, man. Quit the bitching, and focus on you career.

Strider

[Moviefan1234]

What I love about Russell Crowe is that he says exactly what's on his mind regardless of who he is talking about. He basically said what a lot of us have been thinking about bigname celebrities. And on a sidenote, it's a damn shame Eucalyptus will now probably never see the light of day. It sounded like it was going to be a terrific picture.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by Strider
Just because he doesn't appear in commericials for credit cards, cars, clothing, beverages, etc., that makes him better than every single famous actor who do appear in these commercials?Strider

Not a better actor. Just a better person.

[The Heart Collector]

Better person because HE DOESN'T DO COMMERCIALS?

Give me a fucking break here. It's a commercial. It's not like DeNiro's raping babies here.


Acting is both a craft and a JOB. JOB. People get PAID to act, people get PAID for merchandise, etc.


What, is Michael Jordan an inferior person than Russell Crowe because his face was on those batteries?

[BakeTheMooCow]

in·teg·ri·ty n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code

I have respect for people with integrity. I have no respect for corporate whores who let companies fuck them in the ass for a few bucks while they shout the brand name to the heavens as they reach a screaming orgasm.

[Arlius]

Crowe is an admirer of De NIro's better work and he pays tribute to him earlier in the same interview...

I don’t follow anybody in particular. When people talk about Laurence Olivier or something, I go, “Fuck, man, once you’ve had De Niro with Raging Bull, that’s where you begin.”

Also, in it's proper context, his comments about celebs doing commercials wasn't made for the sake of bashing De Niro, he was simply answering a question...

GQ: But that’s one of the contradictions of the modern movie industry. So much is devoted to building up actors as icons, and yet the whole essence of believable cinema is that you need to not think about who the actor is when you’re watching a character.

RC: Yeah, well, I try and avoid it as much as possible. I don’t use my “celebrity” to make a living. I don’t do ads for suits in Spain like George Clooney, or cigarettes in Japan like Harrison Ford. And on one level, people go, “Well, more fault [to] you, mate, because there’s free money to be handed out.” But to me it’s kind of sacrilegious—it’s a complete contradiction of the fucking social contract you have with your audience. I mean, Robert De Niro’s advertising American Express.


He also isn't fond of product placement...

GQ: If you did all that, what do you think you would be losing?

RC: The first thing that goes out the door is your complete integrity. I’m the sort of bloke that will have stand-up arguments with producers, saying, “Look, mate, I know you’re product-placing that fucking thing.” If I can see it, I’m just not going to allow it to happen…. You lose all of your integrity as soon as you cross over into that sort of crass commercialism.

Oh.. and the full article is online here...

http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_442

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
in·teg·ri·ty n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code

job

1. A regular activity performed in exchange for payment, especially as one's trade, occupation, or profession.

[BakeTheMooCow]

His job is acting. I have no problem with him making money as long as he does his job well. Clearly he no longer does. I've never seen anyone sleepwalk through successive roles as him. And his job isn't telling me I should use AmEx either. He should stick to making good movies like he did until Jackie Brown. Or he should put on a suit and go door to door selling encyclopedias. You can't have it both ways.

ass·wipe adj

http://www.thespiannet.com/actors/D/deniro_robert/rd.jpg

[B1rd_Po0p]

... Have you ever noticed that most of the bigger actors who DO pitch stuff in ads usually do it overseas?? (Like Brad Pitt.) Is it because they are ashamed to do it in America? Or because they get paid more over seas??

... and have you noticed that more and more films seem like giant commercials anyway?? You see Pepsi, you see Taco Bell: you name it. So then it would seem like those actors are in a commercial too, right?

I saw one last night on TV for diet Pepsi with p. Diddly or whatever the fuck his name is and a bunch of other people. It almost seems like it's becoming some kind of hip trend to be in a commercial.

Personally I don't really care what they do.

[<3mekthx]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
His job is acting. I have no problem with him making money as long as he does his job well. Clearly he no longer does. I've never seen anyone sleepwalk through successive roles as him. And his job isn't telling me I should use AmEx either. He should stick to making good movies like he did until Jackie Brown. Or he should put on a suit and go door to door selling encyclopedias. You can't have it both ways.

ass·wipe adj

http://www.thespiannet.com/actors/D/deniro_robert/rd.jpg

His job is what ever the fuck he wants it to be. Hence the word his before the word job. I think he's earned that right.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by <3mekthx
His job is what ever the fuck he wants it to be. Hence the word his before the word job. I think he's earned that right.

I was unaware that acting had become something people do solely for money and not for the art and love of making movies. Can someone clue me in on when the transition took place? Alright, let's say this is not a question of aesthetics. It's purely business. And I'm a consumer. Well then if the product sucks ass, and there's no refund policy, I have the right to say that the manufacturer is a blowhard. Comprende?

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
in·teg·ri·ty n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code

I have respect for people with integrity. I have no respect for corporate whores who let companies fuck them in the ass for a few bucks while they shout the brand name to the heavens as they reach a screaming orgasm.

That's about the most ridiculously caricatural post I've read in a long, long while.

Who says it's immoral to participate in commercials? Maybe you wouldn't do it because you personally don't think it's right. But whot tells you everyone who makes commercials is a "whore" who agrees to "take it in the ass" for the money? You say these people have no integrity. Why, because they don't go by YOUR moral code? You do know they have the right to have their own moral code, right?

First of all, his job is ACTING. That's it. Whether it's in a movie, a commercial, a sitcom or gonzo porn is all his to decide. That's an actor's job -- not to act in good movies, or movies YOU personally like, but to act. Period. And second of all, what's so morally wrong about it? DeNiro uses the money from the commercial for the Tribeca Film Festival, which showcases new talent and independant film; Clooney uses part of all the money and commercial movies he makes to produce smaller movies through Section Eight...And you take a piss on them? I'd be inclined to thank them, because they're helping with those moves much more than a lot of other rich actors are. And fuck, man, it's not like AmEx is kiddie porn.

And maybe you think DeNiro doesn't do a good job anymore. I agree to the extent that I think he doesn't challenge himself as much. But does that make him an "ass-wipe"? Fuck no. That's just you judging the man. In empirical terms, his career is doing fine -- Tribeca is working fine, MEET THE FOCKERS is the biggest commercial success he's had in years if not ever, and from the reviews I read, HIDE AND SEEK works well until the "ending" completely negates it all. That's a better track record than 90% of actors out there. And maybe the man actually does his best at comedy because he never did that kind of movies before. You might not like it, I might not like it. But there's one hell of a step between that and calling the man an ass-wipe and a whore, or saying that "clearly, he doesn't do his job well anymore". Because the millions of people around the world who went to see FOCKERS probably disagree with you -- and you're not pretending that your opinion is the Allmighty Truth, or that these people are just fucking stupid because they don't agree with your beautiful assessment of the "obvious", now are you?

I mean, c'mon.

Originally posted by B1rd_Po0p
... Have you ever noticed that most of the bigger actors who DO pitch stuff in ads usually do it overseas?? (Like Brad Pitt.) Is it because they are ashamed to do it in America? Or because they get paid more over seas??


A lot of them make commercials in Japan because the Japs pay up. Other countries I don't know -- but the Japanese are willing to pay, because having big name stars in their commercials REALLY works over there, apparently.

And Arlius, even reading the interview in context, Crowe comes off as a prick.The holier-than-thou attitude, in my eyes, is still right there.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
I was unaware that acting had become something people do solely for money and not for the art and love of making movies.

You do know some people make a living acting in OTHER stuff than movies, right? You do know that acting is something some people do to put food on the table, right?

I'm not saying you're necessarily wrong. I'm just saying that it's not because you think something should be done one way or for one reason that everybody who does it for another reason or in another way is a dick.

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
Well then if the product sucks ass, and there's no refund policy, I have the right to say that the manufacturer is a blowhard. Comprende?

I personally don't comprende. ;) Maybe it makes the manufacturer a blowhard -- is DeNiro the manufacturer? No. He just acts in the fucking commercial. And besides, that AmEx sucks ass is again a question of opinion. Both my parents have AmEx cards and are very happy with it. What's wrong with that?

Besides, if you buy a product and then are disappointed with it, but are stuck with it because there's no refund policy -- I'm sorry to break this to you, but tough luck, it's your mistake. ;)

[BakeTheMooCow]

I wasn't even talking about AmEx. DeNiro acts in movies. From what I'm reading in this thread, that is purely to put food on the table (nevermind that he makes enough to feed a small African nation). So I'm led to believe that the movies are the product, and I'm just a consumer. It's no longer an art form, it's just something Hollywood manufactures and I eat up, right? So I have the right to say whatever I want about the quality of it.

Obviously there's no moral code set in stone, or what he's doing would be considered a lot worse. But I have always believed and will continue to, that there's an unwritten rule about celebrities selling themselves to be fucked in the ass by corporations. DeNiro has sold himself and therefore lowered himself in my eyes.

Bill Hicks said it better than I ever could: "You do a commercial, you're off the artistic role call, forever. you're another corporate shill, you're another whore at the capitalistic gang-bang. If you do a commercial, there's a price on your head, everything you say is suspect..."

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
I wasn't even talking about AmEx. DeNiro acts in movies. From what I'm reading in this thread, that is purely to put food on the table (nevermind that he makes enough to feed a small African nation). So I'm led to believe that the movies are the product, and I'm just a consumer. It's no longer an art form, it's just something Hollywood manufactures and I eat up, right? So I have the right to say whatever I want about the quality of it.


Fair enough, misunderstanding on that part. :) In that case, sure, yeah, call DeNiro a blowhard on the movie part. If I can call Vin Diesel stiff and gay-iconic, you can call anyone whatever you want. :)

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow

Obviously there's no moral code set in stone, or what he's doing would be considered a lot worse. But I have always believed and will continue to, that there's an unwritten rule about celebrities selling themselves to be fucked in the ass by corporations. DeNiro has sold himself and therefore lowered himself in my eyes.


This, though, is the part I don't get. Maybe I will, but I just need to ask you one question: how do you feel about the fact that he used that commercial money to keep the Tribeca Film Festival going? The money goes to the Festival. The Festival showcases new talents, small movies, independant work. Is that bad? And is that "getting fucked in the ass", as you put it, or doing one thing for someone (promoting their brand) in exchange for them doing one thing for you (indirectly funding your film festival), as I'd put it?

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow

Bill Hicks said it better than I ever could: "You do a commercial, you're off the artistic role call, forever. you're another corporate shill, you're another whore at the capitalistic gang-bang. If you do a commercial, there's a price on your head, everything you say is suspect..."

Well, yeah, Bill Hicks is funny...part of the time. But what makes him funny is that he's outrageous. He goes from what be a truth, or a general feeling, and exaggerates it. Not that I think this thread should become a Bill Hicks debate -- but surely you can see those last two sentences are a caricature, right? Because I don't see how acting in a commercial literally makes "everything you say suspect" or "makes you a whore". Unless taking money to work for a big corporation makes you a whore -- but in that case, aren't we all whores? It'd be a fun world.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by James Logan
This, though, is the part I don't get. Maybe I will, but I just need to ask you one question: how do you feel about the fact that he used that commercial money to keep the Tribeca Film Festival going? The money goes to the Festival. The Festival showcases new talents, small movies, independant work. Is that bad? And is that "getting fucked in the ass", as you put it, or doing one thing for someone (promoting their brand) in exchange for them doing one thing for you (indirectly funding your film festival), as I'd put it?

I don't care what he does with the money, as long as he is still working hard and making movies worth having his name on the marquee. Maybe that's why he's been making such horse manure lately. Because he needs money for the film festival. Even then, you think DeNiro's reasons for making the AmEx commercial are so heartfelt and pure that he wants to donate every cent to Tribeca? No way. He earns enough from the tripe he's been making lately to support that festival for the next 20 years.

Analyze That (2002) - $20,000,000
Showtime (2002) - $17,500,000
The Score (2001) - $15,000,000
Meet the Parents (2000) - $13,500,000
Analyze This (1999) - $8,000,000
Ronin (1998) - $14,000,000

That's his salary for movies since 1997. That's not including Godsend, Shark Tale, Meet the Fockers and Hide and Seek. Is that more than enough to keep the festival going? Heck yes! So why's he bending over and letting AmEx grease up his orifice? Because he's a greedy twat who can't get enough. That's why.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
I don't care what he does with the money, as long as he is still working hard and making movies worth having his name on the marquee. Maybe that's why he's been making such horse manure lately. Because he needs money for the film festival. Even then, you think DeNiro's reasons for making the AmEx commercial are so heartfelt and pure that he wants to donate every cent to Tribeca? No way. He earns enough from the tripe he's been making lately to support that festival for the next 20 years.


So he's making as good a living as he can making the movies he does. So what? Everyone does, and everyone would. But not everyone would give back part of it through a project like Tribeca. The man does.

As for the "horse manure" part...Again, I agree with you on the fact that he's not making RAGING BULLs anymore. But both FOKKERS movies were hits, SHARK TALE was a hit, and the ANALYZE movies did good enough to have a sequel -- all I'm saying is that, if public success and approval is the sign of a good career, then DeNiro's career is still doing way better than horse manure level. Not that I always agree with the public, but no one'd spit on a run like that -- can't exactly say he picks his movies in the worst of ways. Not the best, but not the worst. Millions of people seem to think he's doing movies "worth having his name on the marquee". And for all we know, he IS "working hard" -- the fact that you aren't a fan of the results doesn't prove anything about his working habits. It's an opinion, one I partially share. But it's not because I liked his younger days better that I think he's become a selfish, lazy, buttfucked twat now.

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
So why's he bending over and letting AmEx grease up his orifice? Because he's a greedy twat who can't get enough. That's why.


I don't know. I find this remark extremely condescending. Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just that I'm reading your repeated assumptions that doing commercials is akin to "getting fucked in the ass", "being a whore", and having your "orifice greased up", without you actually telling me how so or why it is. Hundreds of millions of people have jobs with corporate companies. Some love what they do, some just do it to put food on the table. Does that make them whores, too?

The ad isn't offensive. It doesn't promote anything sickening. DeNiro probably uses the fucking bank card anyway. So he acts in the commercial -- which is acting, and all acting is acting just the same, and if you deny that, then I'll just have to go out on a limb and say that you don't get acting --, gets some money for himself, and gets some money for his film festival. What's so bad about that?

Robert DeNiro is a fucking human being. I love him, I admire him, but he's not a God on a pedestal for whom doing something human is like renying his identity and getting buttfucked. How is doing a commercial like getting butt raped? Please, I'd like to understand -- and I'd really be disappointed if the only answer I get is the usual "corporate evil" mantra. Because I honestly think you're smarter than that. :)

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by James Logan
How is doing a commercial like getting butt raped?

You use your status, hard earned by appearing in genre-defining American classics, and use it to reduce yourself to the lowest possible denominator. Much like a whore on all fours getting reamed in the rear end for whatever change is thrown in her direction. Anyway, I'm exaggerating. I thought that was pretty obvious. From his IMDB page, looks like he's going to direct and star in a movie which sounds promising. As much as he's disappointed me in the past, I have hope that he redeems himself.

[<3mekthx]

Man, all this talk of anal rape is burning my virgin eyes.

[B1rd_Po0p]

It's amazing what gets us all fired up. In the meantime - DeNiro AND Crowe are laughing all the way to the bank...

[Jon Lyrik]

Crowe is an arrogant, drunken fucktard.

But I can't blame anyone for taking a shot at DeNiro now. He becomes possibly the greatest actor of his generation with the release of Raging Bull, and made many great movies in the 80s. He was on a great roll in the early/mid-90s too, and then it went to a sudden, screeching stop after Ronin. Why?

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by B1rd_Po0p
It's amazing what gets us all fired up. In the meantime - DeNiro AND Crowe are laughing all the way to the bank...
It's not like I have sleepless nights over this. I just enjoy a good back-and-forth, especially with James. I realize Crowe and DeNiro both make more from one movie than I can ever dream to earn in my lifetime.

[Jon Lyrik]

Originally posted by B1rd_Po0p
It's amazing what gets us all fired up. In the meantime - DeNiro AND Crowe are laughing all the way to the bank...

Hey, we can be bitter, can't we? :(

[Gregorious8]

Wait, what's wrong with whores?

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
It's not like I have sleepless nights over this. I just enjoy a good back-and-forth, especially with James.

Likewise. :) I don't take anything personally from Bake, and I trust he doesn't take it from me. But debating passionately is more fun than dully agreeing. ;)

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
You use your status, hard earned by appearing in genre-defining American classics, and use it to reduce yourself to the lowest possible denominator.

Fair enough. I still don't see how commercials is the "lowest possible denominator" -- there are way, way, worse things -- but at least I can see how you think doing it is a lowly thing. Still disagree, though -- and still think Crowe is one fucking hell of an arrogant prick. ;)

[APzombie]

Good discussion. I personally dont mind and actually like it when some actors do ads on the side. Most of the time its for respectible products and they are usually funny as hell, like for example Martin Scorsese's ad for that credit card (forgot, maybe american express too) where he shrubs over photographs he developed at his nephews birthday party. That was clever, cool and funny as all hell.

I also dont mind because 90% of every A-Star actor donates heavy cash to needed charities, we all know this is esspecially the case with DeNiro.

So unless DeNiro is promoting the wizzinator (http://www.thewhizzinator.com/) while the only reason he is a celebrity is because of his upcoming "Weirdo Deniro" sexual harrasment trial, im cool with it.

Oh yea, although he is one of my favorite actors today, Crowe is a prick. :)

[Strider]

The other night, I went to the theater, and I saw the American Express commercial with Robert De Niro again. And to be quite honest, I think his performance is vastly superior than any of his other recent performances. That's not much of a compliment, though. ;)

I love De Niro, and he's one of the greatest actors of all time, but it's time to face the music - he's coming out in a lot of crap, and he's deteriorating right before our eyes. Hopefully, he'll return to greatness eventually.

Strider

[B1rd_Po0p]

Originally posted by Strider
The other night, I went to the theater, and I saw the American Express commercial with Robert De Niro again. And to be quite honest, I think his performance is vastly superior than any of his other recent performances.

Doesn't he just sort of stand there with the wind blowing in his hair?? :D

[Ted Pikul]

That's the reason it's one of his best performances.;)

[B1rd_Po0p]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul
That's the reason it's one of his best performances.;)

*Laughing*

I liked DeNiro in Goodfella's. Once he started doing comedies it's like his appeal diminished to me. I know - it's bad to pigeon-hole actors like that - I know that they need to grow and experiment and test their range and all that. But come ON! He went from being this total bad-ass to... Analyze This? I weep...

[The Heart Collector]

"I'm glad he set us straight. Because Harrison, Bob and I were putting a band together called Grunting For 30 Feet, and that would also fall under the heading of 'bad use of celebrity'. Thanks for the heads up."


- George Clooney













George, I love you.

[jeo4]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
"I'm glad he set us straight. Because Harrison, Bob and I were putting a band together called Grunting For 30 Feet, and that would also fall under the heading of 'bad use of celebrity'. Thanks for the heads up."


- George Clooney













George, I love you.

I love him, too. :D

[Strider]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
"I'm glad he set us straight. Because Harrison, Bob and I were putting a band together called Grunting For 30 Feet, and that would also fall under the heading of 'bad use of celebrity'. Thanks for the heads up."


- George Clooney

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Clooney kicks ass. :D

[Nachokoolaid]

I was going to post the Clooney comments, but I guess someone beat me to it. Here's the whole article from MSN if you're interested.

Clooney Grunts at Crowe

George Clooney is the kind of guy who takes personal attacks, well, personally, as his quip-filled letter-writing campaign to Bill O'Reilly proved. So it's not surprising that the once (and perhaps future) Sexiest Man Alive has a few choice words for Russell Crowe, who recently took George and a couple other A-listers to task for earning mountains of moolah to plug products.

"I don't use my celebrity to make a living," the cantankerous Oscar winner sniffed to GQ. "I don't do ads for suits in Spain like George Clooney or cigarettes in Japan like Harrison Ford."

Crowe called the star stumping "sacrilegious -- it's a complete contradiction of the [bleeping] social contract you have with your audience," and added how "disappointed" he was to see Robert De Niro shilling for American Express.

Now Clooney, who we strongly suggest don a helmet and a cup the next time he bumps into the fisticuff-prone Crowe, has launched a salvo directly at one of the Aussie star's soft spots, calling out his sideline gig as a singer-songwriter for the band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.

"I'm glad he set us straight," the "Ocean's Twelve" looker tells US Weekly. "Because Harrison, Bob, and I were putting a band together called Grunting for 30 Feet, and that would also fall under the heading of 'bad use of celebrity.' Thanks for the heads up."

While Clooney is able to joke about the actor's commercial censure, Nicole Kidman, who pocketed a reported $5 million to emote in a four-minute spot for Chanel, apparently isn't laughing.

The London Daily Mail claims the sylph-like star, who has known Crowe since their days as unknown Aussie actors, was fuming over his anti-advertisement comments, which came out just as production on their romance "Eucalyptus" was shut down.

"Nicole was really upset by what Russell said and their friendship is all but over," an insider tells the paper. "They had a huge shouting match and she is feeling very hurt."

[B1rd_Po0p]

Right on George!!

As for the Nicole Kidman Chanel commercial, have you seen it?? It's like a mini-movie; I love it! It's kinda like the one Scarlett Johansson does - very romantic. ..

:eek:... did I use the word 'romantic'?? Quick! Somebody throw Die Hard into the DVD player!! Ahh!!

[electriclite]

Originally posted by James Logan


Well, yeah, Bill Hicks is funny...part of the time. But what makes him funny is that he's outrageous. He goes from what be a truth, or a general feeling, and exaggerates it. Not that I think this thread should become a Bill Hicks debate -- but surely you can see those last two sentences are a caricature, right? Because I don't see how acting in a commercial literally makes "everything you say suspect" or "makes you a whore". Unless taking money to work for a big corporation makes you a whore -- but in that case, aren't we all whores? It'd be a fun world.

I think those two lines are the God's honest truth. I had a discussion the other day about the Sex Pistols with a friend and why some people dislike them. I had brought up the fact they were put together much like N'Sync or the backstreet Boys. Sure the results were SEVERELY DIFFERENT, but once you hear about a punk band, which is in theory supposed to be the epitome of anti-establishment, anti-corporation, etc, being put together like a well thought-out formula for "How To Cash in on a Trend", you tend not to look at them and their work the same way you had before.

Same with De Niro. The man influenced and inspired generations of actors working today to study the craft of acting. They'd methodically read about how he worked as a taxi driver after doing Godfather 2 in order to play his character in Taxi Driver. Men hang posters of Raging Bull in their rooms and idolize him for characters he played thanks to his dedication to his craft. Here is a guy who for the better part of the last century epitomized the "art of acting" for generations, and now he's selling ya AMEX cards. And I get it, i understand why, its smart business, I'm just giving you a perspective. And i think that is the perspective that Russell is coming from.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
"I'm glad he set us straight. Because Harrison, Bob and I were putting a band together called Grunting For 30 Feet, and that would also fall under the heading of 'bad use of celebrity'. Thanks for the heads up."

- George Clooney

'30 Odd Foot of Grunt' was formed in 1992 and Crowe has been playing since he was a teenager. He didn't become a major star until 1997 or some would say 1999. So he didn't exactly switch over from movies to music to cash in on his celebrity status.

I still love George Clooney though.

[The Heart Collector]

Yeah, and the only reason anyone knows the band even exists is because Russell Crowe is in it.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Yeah, I guess he and his bandmates should've worn masks like those guys from Slipknot.

[Buck Turgidson]

George and Russell are going to have to settle this like Bates and Reed did in Women in Love.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by Buck Turgidson
George and Russell are going to have to settle this like Bates and Reed did in Women in Love.

Dennis Miller: I don't want to go on a rant, here, but America's foreign policy makes about as much sense as Beowulf having sex with Robert Fulton at the first battle of Antietam. I mean when a neo-conservative defenestrates it's like Raskolnikov filibuster deoxymonohydroxinate...
Peter: What the hell does rant mean?

-- Family Guy

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
Yeah, I guess he and his bandmates should've worn masks like those guys from Slipknot.

It worked for Mr. Bungle.

[Buck Turgidson]

There was only one battle at Antietam, by the way.

[Buck Turgidson]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/polybius/Avatar%20pics/BatesReed.jpg

[Ted Pikul]

So they both have to fuck each other in the ass? ;)

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
in·teg·ri·ty n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code


Yeah, but what does integrity have to do with DeNiro hawking AE cards? Crowe is ethically opposed to it -- Deniro isn't.

And give me a break. If Crowe really feels his dick is so small that he needs to veil and flaunt integrity as his decisions not to do commercials -- give me a friggin' break. This is a guy who confronts people in public bathrooms like a 12 year old girl. Crowe has been accussed of so much sexual harrassment that I think he really does need to look for integrity in something as trivial as where a fellow actor chooses to get work (and it ain't like Deniro is doing porn...)

If you want to talk about integrity -- talk about the integrity it takes to talk about your beliefs and ethics without throwing in a few jabs at your peers. Obviously Crowe doesn't have enough integrity to do something that's actually respectable.

I don't see what the big deal is about our precious big named stars doing commercials. This is the way it used to be done in the Golden Age, and all through. It seems nice to me. I mean, if Deniro was showing up to my house, acting like a badass and trying to intimidate me into applying for AE --- Okay, yeah... He'd be a real jerk. Otherwise - either you like his movies, either you appreciate seeing him in the commerical --- But to try and twist into some big issue that has to do with morals and ethics --- It's nothing like that.

Now if you want to say what he's doing is in bad taste -- I'd agree.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
Yeah, but what does integrity have to do with DeNiro hawking AE cards? Crowe is ethically opposed to it -- Deniro isn't.

If you judge someone, it's always in comparison to your own moral or ethical code, or a legal code. You could say I shouldn't judge, which I understand - but since I choose to, I'm going to judge Robert DeNiro based on my own ethical standards. You did the same with Crowe when you said it wasn't ethical for him to take jabs at others. Maybe Crowe isn't ethically opposed to taking jabs at others. Does that excuse him in your eyes? No, you still called him on it. I didn't do anything different.


It seems nice to me.
Now if you want to say what he's doing is in bad taste -- I'd agree.

http://www.mydesignerperfume.com/img/Contradiction.jpg

[James Logan]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove

And give me a break. If Crowe really feels his dick is so small that he needs to veil and flaunt integrity as his decisions not to do commercials -- give me a friggin' break. This is a guy who confronts people in public bathrooms like a 12 year old girl.


This might very well be both the funniest and the truest thing I've read or heard all day. :)

Oh, and George Clooney rules. And yes, he does make a good point -- if Russell Crowe wasn't Russell Crowe, I'm sure life'd be very different for his little band. After all, his name and person is being used to "sell" that band, heh?

[TheDeadWalk]

I've been reading along and enjoying this thread until I hit a few speed bumps.

Someone please explain what the fuck these mean, and how I am to interpret them with the thread.

Dennis Miller: I don't want to go on a rant, here, but America's foreign policy makes about as much sense as Beowulf having sex with Robert Fulton at the first battle of Antietam. I mean when a neo-conservative defenestrates it's like Raskolnikov filibuster deoxymonohydroxinate...
Peter: What the hell does rant mean?

-- Family Guy


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/polybius/Avatar%20pics/BatesReed.jpg

http://www.mydesignerperfume.com/img/Contradiction.jpg



Thanks.

[The Heart Collector]

The perfume is named CONTRADICTION.

Also, the quote from Family Guy was supposed to mean that no one understood just what the fuck that reference about men handling each other was.

The picture is the aforementioned reference.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
The perfume is named CONTRADICTION.

Also, the quote from Family Guy was supposed to mean that no one understood just what the fuck that reference about men handling each other was.

The picture is the aforementioned reference.

Thanks. I appreciate your help.

If I can ever help vote Tom Hanks to get a third oscar, I'll do it. Just for you.