Now that the charismatic Russell Crowe has become such a well-known and sought-after film actor, it's interesting to review this earlier-career work. Having established himself as a chameleon-type screen personality, notable for his gritty, macho, action-hero roles, "The Sum of Us" allows him to display more sensitive, romantic emotions.
Crowe captures the subtleties of his young bachelor character in search of a significant other, with both humor and pathos. Assisted ably by Jack Thompson as his father and John Poison as his new friend, Crowe handles the lead, pivotal role with skill and conviction.
The dramatic device of having characters address the audience (the camera) to share their innermost feelings, is done as naturally as possible, yet for myself it is a bit disappointing to have the "dramatic illusion" broken in the midst of certain telling scenes. What probably worked well in the off-Broadway, (Cherry Lane) production, seems less effective in the realistic film medium.
"The Sum of Us" emerges as a quite off-beat, interesting story, nicely framed in the colorfully picturesque setting of Australia. As for Crowe's subsequent array of widely varying roles, I personally prefer his work in this film as his most truthful and ingratiating.
Crowe captures the subtleties of his young bachelor character in search of a significant other, with both humor and pathos. Assisted ably by Jack Thompson as his father and John Poison as his new friend, Crowe handles the lead, pivotal role with skill and conviction.
The dramatic device of having characters address the audience (the camera) to share their innermost feelings, is done as naturally as possible, yet for myself it is a bit disappointing to have the "dramatic illusion" broken in the midst of certain telling scenes. What probably worked well in the off-Broadway, (Cherry Lane) production, seems less effective in the realistic film medium.
"The Sum of Us" emerges as a quite off-beat, interesting story, nicely framed in the colorfully picturesque setting of Australia. As for Crowe's subsequent array of widely varying roles, I personally prefer his work in this film as his most truthful and ingratiating.