Crowe is back, better than ever?

By Paul Sheehan, The Envelope

Russell Crowe is a chameleon of an actor, transforming himself for every part. Now, at 43, he faces the hardest role of his 20-year career -- convincing the members of the motion picture academy that he has changed his ways in real life. Crowe's temper has gotten the better of him more than once. While Hollywood once hailed him as a new breed of leading man – a wonder from Down Under who won the Oscar in 2000 for "Gladiator" – the good will turned against him when he let his temper do the talking. A 2001 dust-up with the producer who dared to cut him off while accepting the BAFTA for "A Beautiful Mind" is said to have cost him a second Oscar. Snubbed two years later for "Master and Commander," Crowe saw his high hopes for "Cinderella Man" in 2005 dashed after he assaulted a hotel clerk. Now, he is back in the Oscar race with two showy roles – one saintly ("American Gangster"), one sinner ("3:10 to Yuma").

Hannibal gets his just desserts and Hanks goes back-to-back.