Sunshine and storm: Anna rants at length about her two main Swoons, Doyle and Crowe

[annathepiper]

First, the sunshine...

So I have a shiny new copy of Great Big Sea's latest record, Sea of No Cares. Picoreview: more pop-flavored stuff and ballad-y stuff than I'd like and less trad stuff, but on the initial run-through there seem to be at least four or five ditties there I'll probably be coming back to for repeat listens. "Sea of No Cares", "Scolding Wife", maybe "Clearest Indication", also "French Perfume".

Very fine liner notes. Lots of nummy, NUMMY pictures. The lovely and talented Mr. Doyle has apparently been working out or something because he is looking quite lean and nummalicious these days! Which is making me all the more eager to go ogle him and his lovely and talented companions this April!



And now, the storm.

Okay, so, yesterday I had three different people forward me a link about the story about Russell Crowe getting pissed off at this guy at the BAFTA awards in Britain 'cause his acceptance speech was truncated. Hearing it, I was a trifle concerned... I mean, I already knew Crowe was a temperamental guy, but this seemed over the top even for him. On the other hand, considering that the source was the British media and I'm at least partly sure the site in question was a tabloid paper, I was at least semi-certain that the story was bogus.

However, Bou told me tonight that Crowe had more or less confirmed it himself, and up on my favorite fan site they had a link to a story about his official response to the situation. Check this story if you care.

The short form of the story does seem to be, though, that Crowe sez he went and talked to the guy in private and doesn't regret it, but, quote, "But this whole thing of couching it in terms of a British gangster movie is just bollocks," unquote. He states quite clearly that he was very upset but also says that the guy also knew what they were going to talk about in private... and this is a far cry, in my opinion, from getting a couple of his bodyguards and damn near assaulting the poor schmuck, which is what the original story would seem to want to lead the reader to believe.

This rather makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing, I guess. I had a real hard time buying Crowe physically assaulting a guy over something as trivial as a speech being truncated. I can buy being Crowe being really upset about it, because of his emotional investment in making A Beautiful Mind. I can even buy him going and having a very agitated conversation with the guy in private -- and Crowe's a big guy. I've seen the man. Somebody his size gets mad at you, it's going to be intimidating, even if he's not actually trying to beat you up.

But I also buy the British tabloids blowing his admittedly agitated reaction way the hell out of proportion.

I just hope this is mostly something that's gotten blown out of proportion, at any rate. I'd hate to have to decide Russell Crowe is an irredeemable asshole. :)

Comments

[princessheacock.livejournal.com]

I guess I'd prefer to see a version of the tale in neither a tabloid nor from Mr. Crowe himself. But its going to be difficult to get that I agree. And I do see the point of not wanting to have the conversation in public.

But I also know the tendency to exaggerate to make oneself look good. And how one might want to embellish the story a little to get sympathy, etc. The manager guy sure got mine!

[annathepiper]

Yeah, like I said to you on the MUSH, it'd be difficult to get a take on the story from an unbiased source. Though truth be told, I trust the veracity of Mr. Crowe more than I do a British tabloid any day of the week. *giggle* He might have the rep of being a brawler, but he also does not have the rep of being anything but absolutely straightforward and up front about what he does.

[flashfire.livejournal.com]

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I didn't think Crowe was that big when we saw him up close. ;-) A little chunky, sure.

'Course, if he can handle himself anything like Bud White in L.A. Confidential or Maximus in Gladiator, I'd want no part of him. ;-)

Flashfire, dear, I have news...

[annathepiper]

You are also a big guy, though you're leanly built and Mr. Crowe isn't, even when he's in peak physical condition. I wouldn't want somebody your height pissed off at me either. ;) Especially if he had a reputation as a brawler, which Crowe does, and is of vigorous, forceful temperament, which Crowe is!

And besides, you have a SWORD.

Of course...

[flashfire.livejournal.com]

...I don't exactly carry said sword around with me when I go out. ;-)

Re: Of course...

[annathepiper]

No, but at home? Boy, I wouldn't wanna tork you off at HOME! *LOL* ;)

Re: Of course...

[flashfire.livejournal.com]

True, but it's kind of hard to get into too much trouble with various people on the street within the confines of your own home.

I should take pics of the sword now that I have me camera.

Re: Of course...

[annathepiper]

Yes. Yes you should.