This article contains mentions of sexual assault.
Russell Crowe’s role inThe Loudest Voiceshowed off his range, even if it was divisive among critics. Crowe has been a formidable force in Hollywood for decades, having roles in some of the most influential films of all time. These include movies such asA Beautiful Mind,The Insider, andGladiator,the last of which won Russell Crowe theAcademy Award for Best Actor.
After a string of smaller projects over the past few years,Russell Crowe is turning his attention to streamingwith Netflix’s upcoming filmUnabom.He will play Henry Murray, Ted Kaczynski’s controversial psychology professor at Harvard. Crowe is no stranger to complicated characters like Murray, and while this will be his streaming debut, the Academy Award-winning actor has done television before.
Russell Crowe Played Roger Ailes In The Loudest Voice
He Disappears Into The Role of Roger Ailes
Though he has mostly starred in movies,Russell Crowe played Roger Ailes inThe Loudest Voice, a Showtime drama series that chronicled Ailes’s creation and guiding of the rise of Fox News.Alongside depicting the political and professional rise of Roger Ailes, the series also focuses on the numerous sexual harassment lawsuits and settlements that led to the end of his career.
Through impressive prosthetics and makeup,Russell Crowe disappears into his role as Roger Ailes, showcasing the unsettling nature of the character. Crowe’s performance as Roger Ailes inThe Loudest Voiceis mesmerizing, commanding every scene that he is in, showing why he has been a Hollywood force for so long. It might actually be one of the most underrated performances of his career, lost among the sea ofRussel Crowe’s best movies.
The Loudest Voice Also Features One Of Crowe’s Unabom Co-Stars
Russel Crowe And Annabelle Wallis Are Reuniting In Unabom
Alongside Russell Crowe inThe Loudest Voiceis Annabelle Wallis as Laurie Luhn, a former Fox News staffer who accused Roger Ailes of sexually abusing her.Her scenes with Crowe are some of the show’s most uncomfortable to watch, but Wallis does an excellent job with the material she is given, especially alongside one of Hollywood’s best.
Laura Luhn attempted to sue Showtime over her depiction inThe Loudest Voice(viaVariety), but eventually dropped the case.
InUnabom, Annabelle Wallis will play Christiana Morgan, Professor Murray’s academic partner and co-director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic.Working together inThe Loudest Voiceproved they can be a force onscreen together, which will certainly be important inUnabom, as the two characters will likely share a lot of screentime.
Critics Were Divided On The Loudest Voice, But It’s A Must-Watch For Crowe Fans
Russell Crowe Was Easily The Best Part Of The Loudest Voice
Despite the immense amount of talent inThe Loudest Voice, it ended up being divisive among critics, earning just 55% onRotten Tomatoes,with one of the biggest criticisms being its shallow interpretations of the events portrayed in the series. While the series itself may have some narrative shortcomings overall, Russell Crowe is simply fantastic as Roger Ailes, and it should be considered among the best performances of his entire career.
Russell Crowe was nominated for numerous awards forThe Loudest Voice, including the Critics' Choice Television Awards and the Golden Globes, taking home the victory in the latter. It can be argued that his performance inThe Loudest Voicehas a place up there alongside his roles inA Beautiful Mind, Gladiator, andThe Insider, being easily the best aspect of the entire series. ThoughThe Loudest Voicemay be divisive, it’s a must-watch for any fan of Russell Crowe, as he continues to show his immense talent decades into an already historic career.
The Loudest Voice
Cast
The Loudest Voice is a limited series depicting the rise and fall of Fox News founder Roger Ailes. Released in 2019, it focuses on his influential role within the Republican Party over the past decade, while interweaving flashbacks to critical moments from his earlier life.
