Top Dollar-The Crow

"Might I have the pleasure of your name....before I have you run through?" "Course, can't put much stock in a man who spends most part of a conversation talkin' to a bear." "You know what will be said about this in Spain, don't you?" "I collect swords, you see. I take them from the men I've killed." "Childhood's over the moment you know you're gonna die." "You ask God for help and I'll stop the moment he shows up."

WARNING: THERE ARE VIDEOS AND PHOTO GALLERIES ON THIS PAGE AND IT MAY LOAD SLOWLY

It is said that Michael Wincott is an actor who "lives the character" and he himself says, "You have to be careful so you don't make your character dull and predictable. Sometimes you have to bend the script a little". Well, just watch three different movies and you'll see three different characters, but not Michael. He blends in like a chameleon. Mind you, a gorgeous one.

This section of michaelwincott.org delves into some of the memorable characters Michael has so deftly brought to life. There are screen capture photo galleries, Flash videos, and my review of the film.

Let's get to know a character so naughty yet so yummy . . .

Top Dollar from The Crow

Based on an early 1980s James O'Barr graphic novel, "The Crow" is a gloomy tale of a young man who literally rises from the dead to avenge his death and that of his fiancée. “Every man has a devil and he can't rest until he finds him.” He embarks on a journey, led by his spirit guide, a crow, to kill the slimy thugs who so coldly committed the murders. The story is more gruesome than poignant in that it's set in a hellish rain-soaked, crime riddled inner city whose claustrophobic atmosphere takes some obvious inspiration from science fiction calssic “Blade Runner.”

The movie still has its own distinctive personality. Alex Proyas, an Australian TV commercial and music video director, creates a quick moving mixture of drama and action with generally good technical visuals. Despite the typical early 90s soundtrack and “goth” costuming, “The Crow” does have the look and feel of a timeless tale.

Brandon Lee plays the tragic young hero with an ease and charm beyond his 28 years. His Eric Draven may have been his “break-out” role had not a tragic accident on the set cut his life short. In a terrible ironic twist, Lee connects with the audience as the hero returned from the grave to seek vengeance for his untimely death and separation from his fiancée. (Brandon Lee and Eliza Hutton were supposed to be married just after the film was completed.)

The repartee between Michael Wincott’s Top Dollar and Eric Draven while brief is also strong, leaving many people to wish for more scenes between them instead of the foul thugs. “So you're him, huh?... The Avenger, The Killer of killers. Nice outfit, not sure about the face though?” But for many of us, though we feel for Eric and Brandon, the real star of the film is the unique character of Top Dollar. (BTW- How do we know that is his name? It’s never mentioned in the film.) His quirky wardrobe, his kinky sister/girlfriend, and his affinity for the sword make him a standout in film villains. We’ll not begin to discuss the hair, because . . well, you know we’d be here all day.

Where did he come from? With that Oklahoma sounding accent and long brown hair, I picture him as a Native American with a grudge against society. “Greed is for amateurs. Disorder, chaos, anarchy: now that's fun!” Why does he want a “fire so goddamn big, the gods will notice us again” ? Is he trying to be famous? Is that dimwit really his sister? “I like the pretty lights . .” Is she a witch, sorceress, or just a psycho? Anyway, Top Dollar’s control over the city relies on a large network of gangs and goons, so what difference would it be to him if he looses a few? “Our friend T-bird won't be joining us this evening on account of a slight case of death.” In the end, Top Dollar risked his whole empire of nastiness to bring down the undead Eric only to be gored by a gargoyle atop a Victor Hugo-esque church.

Top Dollar, a guy you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley, but a guy you still want to know. No, not just because he’s incredibly sexy, but because you want to understand him. That’s what makes a good and memorable character. A true actor can bring those unforgettable people to life, and Michael Wincott is one of those rare artists.

Yes, then there’s also the hair . . .

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Filmed in Hollywood and (believe it or not) Wilmington NC, and with an estimated budget of $15,000,000, “The Crow” tallied a worldwide box office of $94,000,000. Its US release was on May 11, 1994 over a year after filming was completed. In 1995, “The Crow” and Brandon Lee were nominated for MTV Movie Awards.