#russell crowe plays an interesting exorcist

[thanatoseyes]

So I'm watching the Pope's Exorcist and there's a bunch of contractors fixing up an old building. Dude sees a hole in the wall. Lights a flare. The whole thing turns into a giant flame thrower. Like. I know it's the 80s but . . . I'm pretty sure we know what gas leaks are?

[russell-crowe]

RUSSELL CROWE in the pope's exorcist (2023)

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/30/2024: THE EXORCISM

Man I do not quite know what to say about this. When I learned that there was a movie about how Russell Crowe plays a disgraced actor who tries to salvage his career with an exorcism movie that goes off the rails, I thought, "Is this seriously a meta movie about THE POPE'S EXORCIST???" Which would have been hilarious. But then I learned that this is actually about Jason Miller who starred in THE EXORCIST, and it is co-written and directed by Joshua Miller who I had completely forgotten (or didn't know?) was Jason Miller's son. Joshua Miller was such a staple of my childhood because of TEEN WITCH and THE RIVER'S EDGE and my favorite movie CLASS OF 1999 (I wouldn't see NEAR DARK until I was an adult) that I have a hard time adjusting to the idea that he has any relationship to real-reality; he's like a figment of my imagination. And when I finally wrapped my mind around all of that, I had this big question about what Joshua Miller is saying with this movie, which is part addiction drama and part supernatural thriller of the END OF DAYS variety. I'm still not sure about THE EXORCISM.

In some ways this movie is pretty decent. I'm not crazy about Russell Crowe but he is well cast as the vain, ashamed, addiction-ravaged actor who returns to the world of his one big hit only to realize he might not have the chops for it. His daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins) struggles to keep him and their strained relationship on track, and their situation ultimately creates an interesting inversion of the usual EXORCIST dynamic; where it's usually a question of parents managing disturbed children, this movie addresses the problem of disturbed parents, who are supposed to be reassuring authorities and can be extremely hard to deal with both physically and emotionally when they lose control. Unfortunately, this movie develops the same problem that THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER and THE DELIVERANCE had, where it takes a reasonably interesting dramatic premise and bulldozes over it with ridiculous fantasy-action antics and corny, cliched conclusions.

Apparently Joshua Miller also directed a film adaptation of his book The Mao Game which has been described as the "pseudo-autobiographical" story of a kid growing up in a severely dysfunctional Hollywood family. And I may not find this out, but I'm dying to know which part is "pseudo", is it that the story is essentially true but the names have been changed, or is it that the story is sort of fake but it capitalizes on an air of authenticity conveyed by the Miller name, like some JT LeRoy shit? THE EXORCISM gave me similar concerns, and the potential verisimilitude eventually became totally distracting. It's funny, actually, because THE POPE'S EXORCIST was so committed to marketing itself as being based on a real guy even though it's exactly as realistic as CONSTANTINE...and yes, I remember that THE EXORCISM has nothing to do with THE POPE'S EXORCIST, but they both travel down that same weird path.

Anyway, as I said at the top of the hour, I really do not know exactly what to say about this movie, and in the service of that, this review is going to come to an abrupt end starting now.

[whatyourusherthinks]

The Exorcism Review

I had no idea this movie existed until it arrived in our theater. The only thing I knew about it was starring Russell Crowe, and apparently has nothing to do with the Exorcist franchise. Nor does it have anything to do with the Pope's Exorcist, another demonic possession movie starring Russell Crowe, as well as nothing to do with The Last Exorcism, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley, The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund, Exorcism: The Possession of Gail Bowers, Anneliese: The Exorcist Tapes, My Best Friend's Exorcism, American Exorcism, The Exorcism in Amarillo, The Exorcism of God, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism, Exorcism: Haunted Child, Blackwater Valley Exorcism, The Amityville Exorcism, Exorcism at 60,000 Feet, 13 Exorcisms, Exorcism in Utero, Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil, The Exorcists, Exorcist Vengeance, or The Exorcist: Italian Style.

Wow Roan. Way to list every movie you've found on Wikipedia with the word Exorcism or Exorcist in it. You want to stall the review that badly? Yes, Buggnutz. Yes I do. Because this movie is a Lovecraftian enigma. Any part of this film I comprehend I do not understand, and any part I can understand I do not comprehend. It has been hours since I've seen the movie, at time of posting, and I still can't quite internalize what I saw.

What's This Movie About?

A remake of "the classic horror movie" is plagued by a demon possessing Russell Crowe. There's a bunch of other things that happen in the movie too, but I can't adequately explain what they were or why they happened.

What I Like.

Russell Crowe being so good at acting that he can't play a character who acts badly. That sounds like a backhanded compliment. YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH HERE.

What I Didn't Like.

A movie like this makes me kinda wish that I did a video reviews instead of written ones, just so I could gesticulate wildly with a concerned look on my face, making confused grunts before staring into the camera in shock. Because putting how this movie made me feel into words is a Sisyphean task. Where to even begin...

Every part of this movie is bad. The acting, except for Russell Crowe, is awkward. The editing is stupid. The effects and scares are cliched. The cinematography is obnoxious. The script is confusing, and the dialogue is laughable. The plot has a good idea, but bogs itself down with dumb shit because, well, because the writer/director though it would be edgy. And here's the rub: Individually, these aspects aren't the worst I've seen. With the exception of the plot, Madame Web was worse in every regard than this one. But all together, these ingredients make a shit stew that I was laughing at in the beginning, but it quickly began to stank and ruined what little bits of the experience I was enjoying.

Things this movie ruined for me: The premise. I didn't realize going into it that the idea was that a movie was being haunted, and I think that's fun. The most interesting thing the movie does with it is has cliched demonic possession/exorcism scenes take place in sets. The idea of Russell Crowe maybe just relapsing is ruined by the very obvious signs that he's possessed and everyone being too fucking stupid to realize that the fat guy contorting like Reagan and magically flickering the lights isn't just off his meds. There's a real priest on set who's skeptical of the more esoteric and mystical parts of his belief, which is interesting until they just drop that characterization and have him make possibly the stupidest fucking decision a character in a demonic possession movie could make at the end. I thought they did a good job making Russell Crowe look tormented and miserable, but then I realized that EVERYONE in the film looks like that. Seriously, even at the happy ending the characters look like they haven't slept in five days. I don't know if that was intentional or not but I felt really bad for the actors.

Let's have a quick digression about the Exorcist. This movie really wants to be an Exorcist sequel. The movie that the actors in the movie are working on is blatantly the reboot to the movie, they just don't have the license to say that in the movie. There is a lot of imagery from the Exorcist kinda haphazardly shoved in, only slightly skewed so that way they can't get sued. Honestly, that could all be fine. My issue comes from the feeling that the director's favorite part of the Exorcist is the part where Reagan tells the priest "Your mother sucks cocks in hell!". It feels like The Exorcism keeps trying to one-up it some how. I really didn't need Russell Crowe telling his daughter he'd eat her pussy better than her girlfriend. Roan, you're gonna complain about vulgarity? You swear worse than a sailor with Tourette's. Fair, but my issue isn't that the the movie is vulgar. My issue is it feel exploitative. Russell Crowe has a tragic backstory where he was molested as an alter boy, and it's just in the movie so we can have an highly unnecessary and gross flashback and the director can be mean to him about it for like two scenes. (The director character in the story, not the actual director of the movie. I'll be charitable and assume Russell Crowe wasn't made fun of for being sexually assaulted while working on this movie by Joshua John Miller.)

Final Summation.

I don't even know what to put here. I've basically done my three ending tricks in the review itself, so what's left? Well, maybe tell us whether you liked the movie or not? OH YEAH I FUCKING LOVED IT.

[courtneysmovieblog]

Trailers: STFU Racists

I am so beyond done with seeing racist comments from people that are upset about Black people playing characters like Tinker Bell and April O’Neil. Seriously, if you such a problem with it, unfollow me now and never so much as like any of posts ever again.

For the rest of you, here’s this month’s trailer reviews:

A Thousand and One: Teyana Taylor kidnaps her son from foster care and raises him in New York City until the past comes back to haunt them both. Interesting.

Peter Pan and Wendy: I’m not sure we needed another one, but I’ll probably watch this on Disney+ anyway to spite the racists. Besides, Jude Law as Captain Hook is intriguing--no, I don’t care that they don’t make him look hot enough.

The Pope’s Exorcist: Russell Crowe plays the titular character in this supernatural movie loosely based on the memoir written by real pope’s exorcist. Did any of the stuff in the movie really happen? Probably not, but people won’t care.

Ghosted: Ana de Armas and Chris Evans reunite in a movie where an average joe (Evans) unwittingly falls for a super spy (de Armas). She looks just as badass as she was in the last Bond movie, so I’m in!

The Machine: Mark Hamill playing the dad alone makes this hilarious.

The Blackening: An all-Black group of friends matches wits with a serial killer. This movie is going to rip horror movies a new one, and it looks fantastic!

Love Again: Priyanka Chopra texts her late fiancé’s cell phone number, not knowing that it's now another guy’s (Sam Heugan) number. He uses the texts to meet her in person without telling her the whole story. Comes off as creepy...but hey, Celine Dion cameos!

About My Father: This time, it’s Robert De Niro’s father character that struggles to fit in with potential in-laws. And apparently he cooks their pet peacock. Gross.

Haunted Mansion: Another reboot. I swear I thought this was going to be direct to Disney+, but I guess Disney thought they might have better luck at the box office this time. To be fair, the all-star cast of Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, and Owen Wilson among others is enough to make me want to give it a shot.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: I didn’t know Seth Rogen was doing this. I already love the Into the Spider-verse animation style.

[simplylove101]

2024 Horror Challenge: [58/?]

↳“Have you forgotten what kinda movie we're making?“ The Exorcism (2024) dir. Joshua John Miller

Plot: A troubled actor begins to exhibit a disruptive behavior while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, Adrian Pasdar & David Hyde Pierce

Another movie where I totally forgot to type up a thing because it just overall kinda left me feeling meh. I expected to dislike it even more based on the super low rating but I think seeing faces I knew helped at least get me to finish it and be like "Eh, okay then." Now I would certainly say this was a waste of a decent cast though because it was. I haven't watched The Pope's Exorcist yet (or know if I even plan to because lol um) but it is pretty crazy that Russell Crowe did two exorcism movies in the span of a year of each other. Certainly an interesting career move, especially since both didn't do so well, but maybe he just really enjoys the subgenre? Who knows. I wouldn't say it was anything particularly special, though I was willing to give it a chance. It could have been a cool enough concept (a movie in a movie) but it falls pretty flat. I don't remember everything cuz it's been a minute but I do remember my disappointment so enough said I think. lol

[naughtygirl286]

So Yeah we went to see the new Russell Crowe horror movie The Pope's Exorcist We seen the trailers for this and thought it might be good and I would have to say I personally like Russell Crowe. So We went to see it and I would have to say as far as exorcism movies go this was pretty good we did enjoy it.

Now apparently this is Inspired by the true story of Father Gabriele Amorth who was the Chief Exorcist of the Vatican and we went around doing apparently Thousands of exorcisms and wrote a bunch of books about his experiences (which I'm told are very good) and this movie is loosely based off one of this stories.

Its not overly scary at least I didn't think it was there was some nice kinda creepy moments and this movie does have a really nice atmospheric horror feel to it. It was I think really suspenseful it kept you interested I don't think I would want to live in that church/castle were the movie takes place you'll be constantly jumping at shadows for sure! but it does have some really nice camera work and cinematography that was all really good.

I felt like it had great acting especially from Russell Crowe he was an absolute joy to watch in this I love him on screen he take this character very serious and yet has alot of fun with him and even alot of the funny moments in this movie come from Russell Crowe also Peter DeSouza-Feighoney who plays Henry the boy who get possessed in the movie did excellent and apparently this is his first Hollywood movie and he was great in it. Also everyone else was amazing too. The make-up and visuals were great in this too and so were the stunts and the music and score fit it as well now were I thought this movie was very good and in the way that it ended it almost sets it up as a series and I could see that happening were it becomes something similar to The Conjuring which wouldn't be a bad thing being I do enjoy the The Conjuring Movies/Universe I could see this one getting a second and maybe a third if everything goes well with it. So yeah I would recommend giving this a watch if you want a lil bit of fun spookiness before the summer.

[russell-crowe]

Ops. idk about "unhinged" but thanks to advice me about that one. I'm trying to chek out all his filmography and i've seen some ones that didn't look pretty interesting to me, so i just was wondering about your personal taste in orden to make more easy to choose the nexts ones to watch. "A beautiful mind" is absolutely one of his best actings. Every time I've seen this movie I've cried. Very good film. But my fav of him is Master and Comander, for his acting and for the movie in itself. I think the second one is 3:10 to Yuma, i was socked by the charisma he irradiates in this movie, and the film is one of the most entretaining westerns i've seen.

The worst for me, by the moment, was Noah, i just can't watched it till the end, not for him but for the movie, i think is pretty bad, i cant watch a biblical movie with all that sofisticted effects in where the character of Noah appears wearing jeans… But yeah, i'm totally with you, i think, saving some exceptions, this man have a pretty good list of roles on his name. And his movies are are pure entertainment cinema (in the best sense), he always plays a charismatic roles that stick me to the screen. I think he is propably one of the best actors alive.

I think the next i'm gonna see is that one in where he is doing some kind of stuff with horses (ican't rememeber de name now lol.)

Well, thank you for your talk, and for your dayly Russ content! Have a nice day :)

Ahhh, now that I know why you asked I will give you a more tailored list of movies I like. <3 Regarding Noah: I watched that one in the cinema which... helped. I actually wrote a review on Noah for my class at the time, but I cannot find it so I don't know what my concrete thoughts were on it.. I understand your opinion on it though. Sometimes I see behind the scenes photos of Noah and I can't help but think: "Oh, that was a... look." And 3:10 to Yuma is definitely one of his best! I am glad you've watched it. :D Okay, anyway, movies that I personally recommend sorted by release date: Proof (1991) For the Moment (1993) The Sum of Us (1994) The Quick and the Dead (1995) Virtuosity (1995) (this movie is one of his worst but it is a bad movie that is actually enjoyable when you know to expect trash) L.A. Confidential (1997) Mystery Alaska (1999) The Insider (1999) Gladiator (2000) Master and Commander (2003) Cinderella Man (2005) A Good Year (2006) 3:10 to Yuma (2007) American Gangster (2007) (there's a couple movies here that im not personally interested in, but out of those State of Play (2009) is the most watchable) Robin Hood (2010) (it looks worse based on the posters than it actually is, I promise) The Next Three Days (2010) Les Miserables (2012) The Water Diviner (2014) Fathers and Daughters (2015) The Nice Guys (2016) Boy Erased (2018) (Crowe doesn't have a big role in it, so if you want to watch movies for Russell and Russell only it is not worth it. Great movie though.) I'm not so much into his latest movies. True History of the Kelly Gang is very artsy and imho a nice viewing experience, but not worth it for Russell. The Greatest Beer Run Ever is an entertainable movie, but again with Russell in a supporting role rather than main character position. Poker Face is a bad movie, but he looks really good in it which makes it watchable... and tbh I do not have a lot of hope for The Pope's Exorcist based on the trailer. I'm kinda hoping the movie that he's working on right now will be good again though - that one looks amazing when it comes to the script.

[russell-crowe]

i watched the pope's exorcist, and if it wasn't for crowe's performance it would have been a huge flop

i'm not overly familiar with the horror genre, but i agree that russell's performance is the saving grace of the movie. i would add that the rest of the cast is all fairly decent as well - even the kids. i'd say the little boy was just really unlucky to be dubbed over with this weird, cgi satanic voice.

considering that there is a chance that the pope's exorcist gets a sequel, i am willing to give it another shot. i find the character of amorth to be interesting enough and russell has a real loose charm playing him. :) i just hope the next film, if they do end up making one, steps away from horrible cliches and the godawful cringe special effects.

and i just generally like that he has fun with roles, so even if the movie is a bit "eh", i still like seeing him have fun with his italian little scooter or twirling a tennis skirt as zeus.