Off the Radar #2: Billy Crudup

Just hours ago, the majority of the world was introduced to what is easily the best superhero movie ever made; "Dark Knight". After emerging from the movie, it may be hard to think of anything but The Joker, Batman and Harvey Dent, but hopefully audiences will also remember one of the previews that, to the joy of the many superhero fans in the midnight audience, premiered before "Dark Knight" began. Based on the trailer for "Watchmen", it seems that Zac Snyder's (300) big screen adaption due out this March will be in keeping with the legacy of the source material as one of the greatest graphic novels yet written. I've written about "Watchmen" briefly before on this blog, but to give you a quick reminder, the plot unfolds in a world on the edge of Doomsday as the Cold War rages on, and nations become more and more powerful and careless in their responsibilities. In the midst of this war, another one brews as "masked vigilantes" (notice, not superheroes, as only one among them has actual powers), who one attempted to fight crime and evil are protested against by the very people they were trying to save. The most lengthy and visually stunning scene in the trailer comes at its beginning as we see the making of Dr. Manhattan, a scientist transformed into the government's ultimate weapon; a walking nuclear bomb capable of dismantling matter at his fancy. Oh yeah, and in this reality, he just happened to win the Vietnam War. If you or some reason haven't seen the compete preview yet, here is a link:

www.apple.com/trailers/wb/watchmen

Yes, that devastatingly handsome man who unfortunately gets shocked by the particle cannons is Mr. Crudup. It's not too much a misfortune though, as once he is transformed into Dr. Manhattan, he goes around wearing nothing but a radioactive glow the rest of the movie. It was Zac Snyder's intention in casting "Watchmen" to not use any prominent stars in Hollywood, for fear that they would overpower the material itself. While Mr. Crudup may not be a household name, his body of work is already extensive and varying. He seems to prefer playing creative types; artists and writers, and manages to consistently flesh them out to their very soul. His most commonly seen roles are those in "Big Fish"Will Bloom, Edward Bloom's son, and "Almost Famous" as Russell Hammond- the reckless guitarist who memorably takes an acid trip to the roof of a house and jumps into a swimming pool screaming "I am a golden god!!" However, it is in his less known roles that he excels the most. My high school theatre teacher swore by his work in "Stage Beauty", a movie whose glory was crippled by the release of the far inferior of "Shakespeare in Love"a few years earlier. Crudup plays Ned Kynaston, the greatest and last of the Shakespearian cross-dressing actors and manages to retain al dignity and beauty in a role that could easily be played for farce. 

Crudup, while already sporting a respectable film resume, has made an even more respected name for himself on Broadway. I personally have seen him onstage three times; and all three plays now occupy a spot atop my favorite dramatic literature list both for his own performance in them, as well as the strength of the productions as a whole. In 2005's  "The Pillowman", he was mesmerizing as the leading character Katurian K. Katurian, a short story writer being questioned by two police officers in a fascist state for the presumed murder of several local children. Guiding the entranced audience through four-page long monologues and gruesome tales, Crudup was the emotional anchor of the production; our own navigator through a world we would like to think is too horrible to be called our own. More recently, I witnessed his Tony-winning performance in 2006/2007's "Coast of Utopia" trilogy, in which he was featured in the first two parts. While the Stoppard material itself could have bored many who didn't have a familiarity and affection for classical Russian Literature (I can't speak to this, having written my high school thesis on Crudup's real-life character and Dostoevsky), Mr. Crudup, as the suffering literary critic, Vissarion Belinsky, was the humanity behind the constant revolutions being detailed in the show, the character that stole hearts and souls with his honesty and passion. Before the first of the trilogy, I had the enormous privilege of meeting Mr. Crudup outside the stage door on his way into the theatre, and, after carrying on a short conversation with him, found him to be a most agreeable and humble man. While I can only give him praise and tell you that he is one of many reasons to see "Watchmen" when it arrives in March, in my heart I am secretly hoping that it isn't too big a hit, so that Mr. Crudup may soon return to the stage and I may hope again personally witness his diverse and touching performances.