They say that within every comedian is an aspiring dramatic actor. Russell Crowe seems determined to prove the opposite. The Oscar-winning thespian, who recently gave a well-received performance as Hermann Goring in Nuremberg, has enjoyed the opportunity to unleash his funny side in recent years with such films as The Nice Guys and The Pope’s Exorcist. The latest example is The Get Out, a comic neo-noir thriller directed by Derrick Borte (with whom the actor worked on Unhinged, a film with a very different tone). As an aging Albanian nightclub owner, Crowe proves consistently delightful even when the material lets him down.
Set in Los Angeles (which is played by Australia’s Gold Coast, because not even movies that take place in L.A. can afford to shoot there anymore), the story revolves around Manco Kapac (Crowe), who as the film begins introduces himself via voiceover narration. “It’s a good job, but long hours,” he tells us about owning a nightclub in Koreatown, making it evident that he’s thinking about retiring.
The Get Out
The Bottom Line
Crowe having fun proves infectious.
