But Wikipedia lists one further entry for the date, and it’s the one that makes 1^st December 1961 a Very Big Day in History indeed—around here at least: Born: Jeremy Northam, English actor, in Cambridge.

That’s right. Jeremy Northam, “English actor,” celebrates his 50th birthday today! For close to 25 of those 50 years he has been one of the best actors, of any nationality, in the business.

To mark this milestone in Jeremy’s life, I thought a list of reasons why we admire the man would be in order. Fifty of them, one for every year he’s been in the world. I asked for assistance in compiling my list from the group of ardent admirers who frequent Jeremy Northam Chat and Jeremy Northam Info as well as this blog. The response was wonderful! My sincere thanks to everyone who was able to contribute ideas. I have tried to edit and arrange everyone’s thoughts to their best advantage; I hope the end result pleases. (Several contributors wanted to remain anonymous, so not every item is credited to someone.)

Special thanks are due to Joan, who provided many of the photos that accompany this post; to SkippyQSB, whose beautiful screencaps also provided photos (via JNI); and to Gill, who supplied the audio clips and always makes my JN Blog posts look so spiffy.

LauraP

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And now, without further ado, I give you…

50 Reasons to be a Jeremy Northam Fan:

1. Jeremy’s need for variety in his roles and dislike of typecasting. It makes for a “magical mystery tour” for fans of his work; we never know what is coming next, but we can be certain we’ll enjoy it because our man never lets us down. No matter what he tackles, be it a serious drama, a frothy comedy or an audiobook, he approaches it with utter professionalism, fierce intelligence and a goodly measure of perfectionism. I have completely failed to ever predict his next career move, and that, as well as the quality of his performances, keep me on my toes as a blogger, and excited as a fan. After seeing him as Mr. Knightley, who would ever have guessed he’d play a bug scientist fighting mutated giant cockroaches in the New York subway system? Who could have predicted that he’d play a Victorian poet, a futuristic spy who’s had his memory blanked, and Dean Martin in succession? Not me! (Contributed by Gill)

As RH Ash in 'Possession'

As Peter Mann in 'Mimic'

As Dean Martin in 'Martin and Lewis'

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2. His versatility as an actor; he always surprises and amazes me by how good he is at everything he attempts. From doing comedy in Happy, Texas, to his astonishing transformation during Cypher, to his subtle and restrained brilliance as Sir Robert Morton, Jeremy has incredible range as an actor. (From Ansie)

As Harry Sawyer in 'Happy Texas'

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3. How he could have become a “celebrity” actor, but instead chooses to actually explore a variety of roles, some that (try) to hide his handsomeness—like the character of Col. Lane Woolwrap in Guy X. (Contributed by Gammie)

As Col. Lane Woolwrap, 'Guy X'

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4. His ability to immerse himself in a role. You see the character on the screen, not the man. Jeremy’s performance as Morgan Sullivan/Sebastian Rooks in Cypher is a great example of this; with subtle changes throughout the movie, he completely transforms from meek, put-upon Morgan to sexy, Bond-like Sebastian.

As Morgan Sullivan, 'Cypher'

As Sebastian Rooks, 'Cypher'

The equivalent in his audio work is his incredible ability to create diverse characters with just his voice. Puddleglum from The Silver Chair and Miss Bates in Emma stand out. It’s amazing to me that he was able to express so perfectly the voices of both a 19th-century English spinster and a fantastical creature called a “marshwiggle.” (Contributed by Robyn)

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5. How he’s so good at disappearing into a character that it can take a while to think of him as “Jeremy Northam.” Many of us who are now his biggest fans have had to confess that in the beginning we failed to recognize him when he appeared in a new project. Sometimes it even took two viewings of something before he really caught our attention and we were able to make the connection between a splendid performance and the actor who delivered it. I adored the character of Fitz in Piece of Cake, but the next time I saw Jeremy, in Emma, I didn’t connect the inexperienced young flier with the gentlemanly Mr. Knightley. I also admired his work in An Ideal Husband and Gosford Park before I added it all up and got the right answer to the question “Is that the same guy who played ___?” But I’ve always been really bad at math! (From Laura) Another example: The first thing I saw him in was Emma, and then I forgot about him—the shame!—until The Tudors. That reminded me what a great actor Jeremy is, and I sought out some of his intervening work. (From Marie)

As Mr. Knightley, 'Emma'

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6. How Jeremy’s talent comes first, then his looks “sneak up” on you. For example, after seeing Emma and admiring his acting, I then found myself thinking, “Hey, he’s very handsome!” (Chosen by Gammie)

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7. His intelligence and insight. Not only is this evident in Jeremy’s acting, it shines through in his audiobook performances. His ability to interpret the written word is apparent in the perceptive way he describes the literary characters he has played, such as Prince Amerigo or Mr. Knightley. But even more impressive to me is how his insight is transmitted via his skills, whether he’s acting or reading. I just finished listening to the Our Man in Havana audiobook again and was in awe of how his intelligence and wit come through those words written on the page. It’s in how he interprets a sentence: the phrasing, the pauses, the inflections of his voice, the accents he takes on… it’s so subtle but also powerful. He’s a master at interpreting literature. (Submitted by Ansie)

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8. The sense of humor and humility he displays in interviews, like this one from the Guardian in 2002, called “Northam passes on the singing.” (Contributed by Gammie) Click on the link to read this short interview in its entirety.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2002/jan/31/news1/print

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9. How modest he seems in interviews. I love the Leicester Square TV clip from the red carpet at the Dean Spanley premiere. When he’s asked what he’d like to be reincarnated as, Jeremy says “I think a Parson’s Jack Russell would do me.” Cute! (Picked by Marie) He’s interviewed from 0:53 to 1:56 in this “Leicester Square Premieres” clip:

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10. This interview about An Ideal Husband, especially the bit at the end (at 1:10) where he says, “She [Gertrude]—this sounds a terrible generalization and maybe it’s a terribly sexist thing to say—but like so many women, [she] seems to have that extra capacity for feeling and intellect which so many men seem to lack.” Jeremy Northam on Sir Robert Chiltern: (Note that the volume on this clip is very low and Jeremy is very soft-spoken.)

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11. The interview from the Glorious 39 region 1 DVD extras.

A rare recent interview, in which Jeremy looks and sounds at his best. (Chosen by Joan)

Jeremy being interviewed about his role as Balcombe in 'Glorious 39'

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12. This quote, from a 2002 interview with Emily Blunt for her Blunt Review:

Surely the job of fiction is to actually tell the truth. It’s a paradox that’s at the heart of any kind of storytelling. All the great novels, all the great films, all the great dramas are fictions that actually tell us the truth about us or about human nature or about human situations without being tied into the minutia of documentary events. Otherwise we might as well just make documentaries.

I’ve thought this for years, but I have never been able to adequately explain myself to people who think reading or watching works of fiction is a waste of time. Leave it to the articulate, intelligent Jeremy to put my thoughts into a succinct, perfectly worded statement! (Contributed by Laura)

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13. His taste in music, and how he introduced me to a new favorite. Jeremy mentioned that a copy of The Koln Concert by Keith Jarrett is something he has taken with him when he travels. I like it very much, too. (From Mary)

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14. The first time I saw Jeremy and heard Mr. Knightley say “As an old friend of the family, I had to ask as soon as I got back: Who cried the most at the wedding?” (Submitted by Joan)

Mr. Knightley's entrance, 'Emma'

Ah, yes. Mr. Knightley! Many of us first encountered Jeremy at that moment when he appeared in the doorway in Emma. The role of Jane Austen’s ideal Regency gentleman fit him like a glove; he was the perfect Mr. Knightley: courteous, sweet, funny, and oh, so very handsome. He left quite an impression on us! And this is still one of Jeremy’s best known and most loved roles. More favorite Knightley moments: the archery scene, with his frustrated exclamation “Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!”; the way he squirms when he’s teased by Emma and Mrs. Weston (Gwyneth Paltrow and Greta Scacchi) about his feelings for Jane Fairfax; the “Brother and sister? No, no… indeed, we are not!” line and how he reveals so much by the tone of his voice (Chosen by Marie);

'Indeed we are not ...'

the passion and disappointment in the “Badly done, Emma!” scene; and of course, that wonderful, swoon-worthy proposal where he tells Emma that he rode through the rain to reach her and that “I’d ride through worse than that if I could just hear your voice telling me that I might, at least, have some chance to win you.” “Marry Me”:

What woman could refuse Jeremy’s Mr. Knightley saying, “Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend”? Certainly not me! (The parts not contributed by Joan or Marie are from Laura)

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15. Jeremy’s role as Sir Robert Morton in The Winslow Boy. Seeing him as Sir Robert in David Mamet’s film adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s play was my Eureka! moment as far as Jeremy is concerned. I was aware of his work before seeing him in this film, but up until that point he was another handsome actor who I would enjoy watching. He hadn’t really engaged with me in any special way. Although the performance as a whole is excellent, there is a specific moment where Sir Robert visits the Winslow house and speaks to Catherine after the successful conclusion of the trial. He asks for a whiskey and sits down, temporarily drained and overwhelmed. In that instant, Sir Robert’s humanity is revealed and in that instant, Jeremy as Sir Robert connected with me. As I recall, I felt it physically, almost as a shock. And of course, being so fond of Jeremy’s role in The Winslow Boy was what introduced me to my other favorite actor, Robert Donat. (Submitted by Gill)

As Sir Robert Morton, 'The Winslow Boy'

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16. His first appearance in The Winslow Boy, that’s a great moment, too! (Suggested by Robyn)

Sir Robert Morton is another of Jeremy’s most treasured characters. It is one of his best performances in a film as well. From the moment he appears, taken by surprise by Catherine Winslow (Rebecca Pidgeon) in his office, Jeremy’s Sir Robert is mesmerizing. The interrogation scene that ends with the classic line “The boy is plainly innocent. I accept the brief”; the exchange of lingering looks in Parliament between Catherine, up behind the grille of the Ladies’ Gallery, and Sir Robert down on the floor; the scene where Sir Robert speaks in the House of Commons, with Jeremy’s commanding voice ringing out through the room; and that delicious ending where he gets the last word, “Do you really think so, Miss Winslow? How little you know about men,” delivered with a grin; are all played with understated mastery.

'How little you know about men'

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17. Jeremy’s intense and wonderful performance in Dean Spanley; it touches the innermost part of me!

As Henslowe Fisk, 'Dean Spanley'

The movie is a masterpiece by all involved, but especially Jeremy’s acting enables me a little retreat to an oasis of calm, so to say. I cannot put my finger on it exactly. Is it the emotional facial expression Jeremy lends all the time to Henslowe, or is it his elaboration of a lovely character? I suppose both together. All that worrying about his father’s welfare, the musing about the whys and wherefores, his tenderness for the old housekeeper. And then his modesty, intelligence and humor, all the gentle nuances in his behavior. As an example, I want to describe the scene between Henslowe and his father Horatio when they’re on their way home after the lecture on the transmigration of souls. Fisk Sr. (the wonderful Peter O’Toole) is endlessly going on with his usual nagging and Fisk Jr.is pushing the “chair” and is feeling on edge—you can see it in his beautiful impressive face! And then there is this witty verbal exchange:

Henslowe: Canine flattery is a survival mechanism, according to Darwin.

Horatio: The chap never had a dog is all I can say!

Henslowe: I thought he had a beagle. (Referring to Darwin’s sea journey with the HMS Beagle)

Henslowe’s face at the moment he makes this little joke, utterly unnoticed by his father, is priceless! He’s a man of great humanity and benevolence, that Fisk Jr., isn’t he? A fictional man to fall in love with… And to be quite true, it strikes me that Mr. Jeremy Northam himself possesses quite a bit of good character attributes, too! (Contributed by Martina)

With Peter O'Toole in 'Dean Spanley'

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18. More wonderful moments from Henslowe Fisk, or Fisk Jr., or Young Fisk, as this adored character is variously known in Dean Spanley: the bit when Fisk Jr. tells his Dad to “shush” in the scene at the lecture; it’s just so funny, his expression and tone of desperation! This is my favorite of Jeremy’s films. (Contributed by Marie)

'Shush!'

Then there’s the funny little moment right after the scene in which Henslowe invites the Dean to dinner, offering him a fictional bottle of Tokay as enticement; he tells the cat stuck up in a nearby tree “I wouldn’t call it a lie, Puss. More like a truth deferred, nothing worse.” And don’t forget the sweet scene where Henslowe seeks motherly comfort from Mrs. Brimley; or his frustrated attempt to describe to Wrather the effect the Tokay had on Dean Spanley, “It was if his mind had slipped a cog”—Fisk Jr. is a bit “tiddly” himself during this scene; how moved he is by the end of the Dean’s story and by his father’s emotional response to it; and, finally, the poignant expression we can see in Fisk Jr.’s eyes over his father’s shoulder as the two men embrace.

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19. The enigmatic, quirky Dr. Matt Proctor in Miami Medical. Jeremy’s most recent character is also one of his best loved. Handsome, sexy, funny, compassionate, and great at his job—what’s not to love about Proctor? It was great seeing Jeremy in a contemporary setting and getting a chance to do some comedy as well. Because of the way the series ended—cancelled before it even had time to gain momentum—we were left with a lot of unanswered questions about the good doctor. But, then again, maybe that’s just the way MT-1’s resident Mystery Man would want it to be!

As Dr Matt Proctor, 'Miami Medical'

Some of our favorite DocProc moments: The duck-feather medicine hat scene with Tuck, riding his bike in a circle to help him solve a medical problem, and sitting on the roof wearing his scrubs and sunglasses. (Submitted by Gammie) I love the scene in Calle Cubana where he’s eating Pollo Versailles for breakfast and the one where he is introduced to Dr. Zambrano’s father—the original Dr. Zambrano—in Like a Hurricane. “So you’re the Englishman who took my little girl’s job?” “Well, that’s one way of describing my rather awkward ascent.” (Chosen by Joan) In the Golden Hour episode, a young mother dies and Dr. Proctor sees the father with his small child in his arms; Jeremy plays this scene with infinite sadness because Proctor’s medical skill was all in vain. That was great acting! (From Mary)

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20. His ability to embody the quality of stealthiness, which he displays in several of his characters. This dictionary entry for the term perfectly describes Wigram in Enigma: Marked by or acting with quiet, caution, and secrecy intended to avoid notice. Jeremy also conveys this characteristic of quiet, deliberate secretiveness in his portrayal of Balcombe in Glorious 39. (Suggested by Joan) “Suspicions” from Enigma:

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21. All those dark scenes in The Net where Jack Devlin is stalking Angela—in the car, around the amusement pier, and at the street parade outside the convention center. Another stealthy character from Jeremy!

As Jack Devlin, 'The Net' (with Sandra Bullock)

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22. The library scene from Piece of Cake.

Poor Fitz has an embarrassing problem and he decides to ask Intelligence Officer “Skull” Skelton (the excellent Richard Hope) for advice. This quiet moment from the 1988 miniseries shows Jeremy at the beginning of his career, when his acting experience was mostly in stage work. You can see he’s still learning how to act in front of a camera; the subtle changes of expression we now expect from him aren’t quite there yet. But watch the slight shake of his head and the confused expression that flashes over Fitz’s face at 1:50 of this clip. Jeremy shows us in the space of a millisecond that Fitz has never heard of Foyle’s, the book shop Skull is recommending. There’s a hint of the brilliance to come. And he’s thoroughly adorable to boot! (Chosen by Laura)

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23. Jeremy’s last scene in Enigma. I’ve always been a film buff and I’ve watched a good many movies. In times past I used even to visit the Berlin Film Festival. But very rarely was I touched by a movie in such a way as I was by Enigma. The second to last scene, at the pond, with Jeremy as Wigram and Dougray Scott as Tom Jericho, when Wigram says, “Oh I will, …I will” and then he disappears very slowly from view…that was when I got goose bumps! It was so well played, very great art! (Contributed by Mary)

As Wigram, 'Enigma'

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24. Jeremy, as Peter Warlock, playing the piano with Lily Buxton in Voices from a Locked Room. Until that point in the story, Lily (Tushka Bergen) is pretty freaked-out by Peter, but hearing the piece of music he’s written for her, and playing it with him, changes things. It’s a very intimate moment, with their hands together on the keyboard as they sit side by side. And when the music ends he looks adoringly at her from underneath his unruly mop of hair and says, “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever known.” Jeremy is great in this movie as both Peter and Philip, but this scene is amazing!

As Peter Warlock, 'Voices' (with Tushka Bergen)

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25. His reading of The Silver Chair. Can you imagine my great delight when I discovered that my favorite actor is also a fantastic performer of audiobooks? That was a most welcome opportunity to do what my poor English teacher (I’m a German) was always recommending: “Learning by Listening”. So I started with The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis. Although since then Charles Ryder, Joe McGrath, George Orwell, James Wormold, Jack Miller, etc. have been my alternating tutors, it was Puddleglum in that first book who immediately won my heart! Jeremy did a marvelous job, lending his voice to a multitude of characters. He put life into every single creature and gave each one a fully realized range of emotions. Listening to Jeremy always means great fun and joy, means to dream and witness the story; he’s truly performing. This is a real talent Mr. Northam is sharing with us listeners! (Contributed by Martina) An excerpt from Chapter 7: Puddleglum gets drunk at the castle of the Giants of Harthang:

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26. The way he became Dean Martin in Martin and Lewis. This feat is especially impressive to me because of how extremely recognizable Dean Martin’s face and voice are to most Americans. Without any prosthetics or makeup to help him physically resemble Martin, Jeremy was able to embody the cool, sexy essence of the man. He captured Dino’s mannerisms, voice, facial expressions, and above all, attitude, so well that Jerry Lewis himself gave the performance his stamp of approval. (From Laura)

As Dean Martin, 'Martin and Lewis'

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27. The speech by Sir Robert Chiltern to Parliament in An Ideal Husband(from the American Rhetoric site). Follow the link for the transcript and an audio clip of the speech. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechanidealhusband.html (Chosen by Joan)

As Sir Robert Chiltern, 'An Ideal Husband'

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28. Two memorable scenes from Cypher. There’s a moment early on in the movie when Morgan Sullivan’s doing dishes in the kitchen with an apron on. His wife is in a power suit. He shyly and so proudly states he’ll be working as an “independent contractor.” It’s so touching. You have the sense that he’s trying to assert himself and is excited thinking about being a corporate spy, working at something new and maybe even dangerous. I just love that scene! It’s so small it’s easy to miss, but Jeremy turns it into a gem. The scene makes me think of the lengthy interview that was included in the Region 2 DVD. I remember Jeremy saying at one point in it, “Something has happened to [Morgan] in his life, we’re not quite sure what, that has made him such a meek soul….” He said it with such compassion. He felt that the character had been shaped and influenced by events in his life—which seems obvious, I know, but I think a lot of actors would just say, “I play a nerd.” (From Ansie)

Later on there’s another gem of a scene in which Morgan wakens in his hotel room to find Rita Foster (Lucy Liu) there to give him instructions. He asks if he can see her again. When she flatly tells him this isn’t possible, Morgan says “I’m never getting out of this, am I?” The hopelessness in his voice and on his face is very affecting, and it seems to touch Rita too, because it leads to their kiss.

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29. The way he was able to do so much with just a few scenes in Creation. Jeremy’s Reverend Innes has relatively little screen time, yet he’s not a two-dimensional character. You get a real sense of his inner struggle between his beliefs and his friendship with Charles Darwin. The scene in the garden with the two men sitting together on a bench is especially well done.

As Rev. Innes, 'Creation' (with Paul Bettany)

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30. The passage in Our Man in Havana where Jim Wormold goes into the American bank—Jeremy’s reading of this scene from the audiobook is priceless! Excerpt from Our Man in Havana:

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31. His entrance as Walter Hagen in Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius. I absolutely love this performance by Jeremy. When Hagen appears, stretched out in the back of his red convertible, still wearing last night’s tux and with a lipstick kiss on his cheek, I can’t help but smile.

As Walter Hagen, 'Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius'

He then proceeds to make everyone wait while he grooms himself (“Genius deserves patience, my friend”), and touches up his chauffeur/caddy for money (“I’m afraid I’m a trifle soft in the treasury”). Next he introduces himself to Bobby, who tells him, “I know who you are. How do you do?” His priceless response is “Better than most, son. Better than most!” Jeremy gets all the best lines in the movie, and he delivers them flawlessly. Hagen could have come off as an arrogant jerk, but in Jeremy’s capable hands he’s an incorrigible scamp you can’t help but like. I cannot resist wicked “Sir” Walter’s mischievous charm! (Chosen by Laura)

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32. Jeremy’s wonderful, intimate, witty reading of “The Aspern Papers,” by one of his own favorites, Henry James. I am completely in love with it. My absolute favorite part, in danger of being worn out from repeat listenings, is the scene where our unscrupulous narrator thinks he’ll take a little look in Miss Bordereau’s “secretary” to see if he can discover (and steal) the elusive Aspern Papers, only to find that the spectral old lady is not asleep, but standing watching him, fully aware of what he is after. For the first time, he sees the old lady’s famed, extraordinary eyes … “she hissed out passionately, furiously, ‘Ah, you publishing scoundrel!’” Jeremy’s voice, barely above a whisper, makes my pulse race and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It’s unforgettable. (From Gill)

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33 Three scenes from his brilliant performance as Sir Thomas More in The Tudors. Jeremy was magnificent in this role, doing justice to a complex historical figure’s legacy. However, these three scenes from the second season are worth particular notice. As in most of Jeremy’s scenes in The Tudors, some of the lines he speaks in each one are the actual words of Thomas More.

First, the visit to More by Bishop Tunstall (Gordon Sterne), who is on a fact-finding mission for King Henry. Jeremy’s every gesture, every expression has a purpose here; nothing is extraneous. “They shall Never Deflower Me”:

A conversation in the Tower between More and Thomas Cromwell. James Frain matches Jeremy note for note; the scene only gets better with repeated viewings. “Cromwell vs. More”:

And the trial scene. Jeremy’s sparse use of anger makes it much more effective when it eventually comes. Watch his face especially at 5:40-6:10 in this clip, as More is condemned to death. “The Trial of Thomas More”:

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34. The luncheon scene from The Statement, in which Jeremy does a wonderful turn at slicing the fish, and his Col. Roux comments that the woman behind him is staring because “it’s the first time she’s seen me in uniform”;

As Col. Roux, 'The Statement'

as well as the sexual tension that simmers just below the surface between Roux and Judge Livi (Tilda Swinton), especially in the overnight problem-solving session (“So, Colonel, we finally get to sleep together.” “I never thought you’d ask.”) and that positively erotic deleted scene where they pass a cigarette back and forth. (Contributed by Joan)

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35. Jeremy’s reading of “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats. Listening to him read this poem, one of my favorites, I can almost hear the nightingale singing his heart out “in full-throated ease.” Jeremy is a gifted poetry reader; his interpretations have given me new insight into poems both well-known and unfamiliar. (Picked by Laura)

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36. These favorite moments from The Misadventures of Margaret, in which Jeremy plays Edward Nathan, the English Lit. professor of your dreams: The way Edward looks at Margaret (Parker Posey) with love and pride when she’s accepting her award and the “lonely” scene where he’s walking around the empty apartment before he decides to join Margaret in France. So sweet! (Chosen by Gammie)

As Edward Nathan, 'Misadventures of Margaret'

And two scenes that show the influence of the 1937 screwball comedy, The Awful Truth, on Misadventures’ screenwriter/director Brian Skeet: at the beginning of the film, the snappy dialogue in the limo and the physical comedy of Edward putting Margaret over his shoulder and carrying her to the elevator come straight from the 1930s. “You’re aging,” Margaret tells her husband of seven years. “You’re helping,” he replies without missing a beat. One of Jeremy’s lines, “Ah, to have used up the best years in a young woman’s life…,” is almost word-for-word the same as one Cary Grant says in The Awful Truth. (From Gammie and Joan) The reconciliation at the end echoes the one in the earlier movie as well, although the Misadventures scene is sweeter. Edward, in dressing gown and bare feet, comes into Margaret’s room and tells her “All I know is that seven years ago, I took a teaching job at City [College] solely to be with you, and somewhere along the line I seem to have forgotten that. I don’t care what’s happened. I’m still in love with you.” (Suggested by Joan; Laura contributed the connection to The Awful Truth) The Reconciliation:

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37. That bittersweet last scene in Possession. Taken directly from A.S. Byatt’s novel, this scene lets the audience in on a secret that none of the characters know: Randolph Henry Ash knew he had a daughter. Jeremy plays the meeting between the two with his usual subtle brilliance. The expression on his face as Ash waves goodbye to the little girl is breathtaking—and heartbreaking!

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38. The way he mixes humor and gravity in his reading of George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London. Sue Arnold, the audiobooks reviewer for the Guardian said of Jeremy’s reading, “It takes a wise, albeit worthy reader to appreciate that this sort of writing—stark, shocking and often hilarious (washing-up in Paris and being a tramp in London have their funny moments), needs no embellishment.” (Guardian, 12 Feb 2010) Listen to this excerpt for a very funny moment indeed!

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39. Jeremy’s scenes with Ally Walker and William H. Macy in Happy, Texas. We know he has great chemistry with his leading ladies, so it’s no surprise Jeremy and Ally Walker are great together. “Like Some Straight Guy Is Ever Gonna Say That”:

But who knew he’d be so funny and sweet with a guy? The scene where they dance together is a classic, of course, but I also like the comedic interplay between the two men in the scene that sets up their date, where Harry and Chappy go rabbit hunting. Watching these two wonderful actors together is a joy. Harry could have done a lot worse than end up with Chappy! (Chosen by Laura) “If You Were Gay”:

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40. How good he is at love scenes. This must be a nightmare for many actors. There you are, stripped bare (sometimes literally) and you have to kiss someone you may or may not like in a passionate, intimate and convincing way whilst a film crew intrudes to film your every writhing. There’s absolutely no fooling the camera, it reveals all with merciless candor, and yet I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched films and TV dramas and groaned (or laughed!) as the actors fob us off by kissing each other’s chins and generate such lame chemistry that you feel they really must loathe each other, the artifice is revealed and the mood ruined. Not Jeremy. In keeping with his perfectionist attitude to the rest of his work, he is a fabulous film kisser. I could wax lyrical at greater length but perhaps a film clip will allow you to be the best judge! All I’ll add is my grateful thanks to him! (Contributed by Gill) Jeremy and Jennifer Ehle setting the screen on fire in Possession:

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41. He is absolutely the best at on-screen kissing! I remember, at one of the sites dedicated to Jeremy, a discussion of how he should give lessons to another (unnamed here) actor. There was no shortage of volunteers to help with the demonstration! (Chosen by Robyn) He got to kiss two leading ladies in The Golden Bowl, Kate Beckinsale and Uma Thurman, but it’s the ones with Uma’s Charlotte that are the real scorchers.

As Prince Amerigo, 'the Golden Bowl' (with Uma Thurman)

With Uma Thurman

And then there’s this kiss from Carrington, with Emma Thompson.

As Beacus Penrose, 'Carrington' (with Emma Thompson)

Even this sweet one between Mr. Knightley and his Emma has some passion to it.

As Mr. Knightley, 'Emma' (with Gwyneth Paltrow)

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42. Those smoldering kisses between Lily and Philip in Voices from a Locked Room, like the one at the piano, when Lily first visits Philip’s apartment, and the one on the train going to his mother’s house, when he proposes to her. (Suggested by Gammie)

As Philip Hesteltine, 'Voices from a Locked Room' (with Tushka Bergen)

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43. The way Jeremy uses his hands. The best example I can think of is when Randolph Henry Ash unlaces Christabel’s corset in Possession. Is there a more seductive moment on screen? (Chosen by Robyn)

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44. That wonderfully expressive face that conveys so much of a character’s inner life to the audience. Happy, Texas director Mark Illsley said he thought Jeremy “was the kind of actor who could do really small things really beautifully.” Jeremy Northam is not a scenery chewer. Oh, he can command the “big” moments with the best of them, but where he really excels is in the kind of scene I’ve taken to calling his How Does He Do That? moments. These are scenes where Jeremy uses the subtlest changes of facial expression to communicate volumes about his character’s mental and emotional state. There are many of these remarkable moments I could use as examples. Think of Mr. Knightley’s jealousy of Frank Churchill in the recital scene in Emma. Or, from The Tudors, Sir Thomas More’s despair when his daughter Margaret visits him in the Tower and begs him to take the Oath of Supremacy.

As Thomas More, 'The Tudors'

Or Matt Proctor’s anger and disgust as he listens to his patient Carla’s boyfriend explain why he can’t handle her paralysis in Miami Medical. None of these characters needs to state how he feels because the look on the man’s face has already said all we need to know. I’m in awe of Jeremy’s ability to portray so much so quietly. (Contributed by Laura)

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45. The irresistible Northam Smile! Look at it—it pierces you to the heart!

And he smiles a lot, that man. There is a saying: “A Smile is worth 1000 Words”; only too true in his case is all I can say. And Jeremy has mastered all the nuances of smiling: dangerous, secretive, heartfelt, dreamy, waggish, dashing, tender, knowing, naughty, shy…that list of adjectives could be continued as you like.

There is the little, hinted smirk—a barely visible, more one-sided twist of the corner of the mouth, accompanied by the proverbial twinkle of the eyes, along the lines of “If you could read my mind just now”.

Or that big grin, however the lips are tightly closed, as if somebody is perhaps afraid to show too much zeal? The easy laugh is only allowed to the eyes… “No, not a single syllable will leave my mouth!”

And then the gentle, calm smile, which shows the luscious but manly lips to their best advantage (ahem), with a stare into the distance, or you can call it a cutaway view, as if he wants to say:

I exist as I am, that is enough,

If no other in the world be aware I sit content,

And if each and all be aware I sit content.

One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself,

And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years,

I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness, I can wait.

―Walt Whitman, from “Song of Myself”

(Recited by Jeremy himself in The Misadventures of Margaret) (Contributed by Martina)

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46. All these great smiles:

As Anthony Jordan, 'A Village Affair'

As Edward Nathan, 'Misadventures of Margaret'

As Mr. Knightley, 'Emma'

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47. And all the Northam Smiles in this wonderful video by Princessamerigo. “When Jeremy Smiles”:

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48. His beautiful, silky voice. Even when reading various characters in his audiobook performances, his gorgeous resonant voice shines through! As adaptable as his voice is, it always sounds great. (suggested by Gammie) Here’s an excerpt from “For Special Services” by John Gardner.

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49. His wonderful and rich singing voice. As Ivor Novello in Gosford Park, Jeremy so delighted us when he performed several of Novello’s songs that we perk up our ears whenever a Northam character breaks into song—usually for just a few short bars—like Miami Medical’s Dr. Matt Proctor singing “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover,” or the Rev. Innes leading the congregation in “All Things Bright and Beautiful” in Creation. In Gosford Park, Jeremy handles the jaunty humorous tunes and the serious love songs equally well. And his interpretation of “The Land of Might-Have-Been” is achingly beautiful. (Submitted by Ansie) “The Land of Might-Have-Been”, from the Gosford Park OST:

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50. Because he looks like this!

We love him for his intelligence, his prodigious talent, and the warmth and humor he displays in interviews, but there’s no denying that Jeremy is one beautiful, sexy man. Fifty is going to look fabulous on him!

Thank you for all the wonderful entertainment you’ve given audiences over the years, Jeremy! We eagerly anticipate seeing you next year on television in White Heat and in your return to the stage in Hay Fever.

We wish you a Very Happy 50th Birthday today. May happiness, love, good health, and many choice roles be yours for at least another fifty years!

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Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this special birthday post, and extra special thanks to Laura for having the idea and for curating it so beautifully.

If you’d like to send personal birthday wishes to Jeremy, you can do so at our Just Giving page.

Kevin Bacon

The game was based on the “six degrees of separation” idea that you can connect any two people on the planet through five or fewer acquaintances using their relationships to one another (family, friends, neighbors, classmates, work colleagues, etc). Each relationship is a “degree.” In Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon the relationship is simply that the two people appeared together in a movie.

The game was extremely popular in the ‘90s and the concept has remained a fixture in pop culture. There are a book, a board game, and several web sites devoted to “6D of KB.” Bacon himself spoofed the idea in a Visa commercial several years ago. A recent article about a favorite actress of mine, Laura Linney, referred to the game as a measure of how prolific and varied her career has been. The article emphasized this by saying you would only need three or four degrees in her case, not six. (“The Age of Laura Linney,” by Frank Bruni, New York Times Magazine, 7/28/10)

Six Degrees of Jeremy Northam was born when I began trying to link the stars of every movie I saw with the inimitable Mr. N. Somewhat to my surprise, I found I could often do it in a lot less than six degrees. Now, I should confess that I’m not very good at either this game or the one with Kevin Bacon. The problem is that I don’t see a lot of movies these days and very few of those I do see are big blockbusters. So, I’m sure most of you will be much better at Six Degrees of Jeremy Northam than I am!

As Sir Thomas More

In spite of this handicap, I have concluded that Jeremy’s magic number is two. That such a small number of degrees can connect him to many actors stops being surprising when you consider he’s worked in all three acting media (movies, theater and TV), on both sides of the Atlantic, and in a wide variety of genres—despite having appeared in so many “wing collar” period dramas that the poor man seems to feel are the bane of his existence. Rather, it makes sense that an actor who has often said he looks for different kinds of roles and dreads being typecast would have worked with a great number of people. A close connection to so many of his fellow actors is only to be expected from an actor gifted enough to play both Dean Martin and Sir Thomas More, a devilish hit man as well as an upright gendarme, one of Jane Austen’s most beloved heroes and the borderline-psychotic commander of an American army base, and both a nebbishy hen-pecked husband and a sexy, helicopter- and sailboat-piloting spy. Especially since, as we all well know, the last two contrasting characters are actually in the same movie! *

Jeremy in 'Cypher'

Some basic rules of Six Degrees of Jeremy Northam (arbitrarily determined by yours truly):

1)     Any of JN’s costars in movies, TV shows or the theater are eligible. (The original game uses movies only.)

2)     The “target” actor should be roughly a contemporary of JN. (I’ll leave trying to connect JN to stars of yesteryear such as Charles Laughton and Rita Hayworth to the more advanced players.)

3)     Neither targets nor “link” actors need still be living.

In 'Three Sisters' with Vanessa, Lynn and Jemma Redgrave

4)     Directors can be used to make connections, but only under dire circumstances. (Using Steven Spielberg as a link feels like cheating somehow.)

5)     In keeping with Jeremy’s sensibilities about separating his personal life from his professional life, in 6D of JN only professional relationships are used. You can link Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, for example, only because they have acted together in several films, most recently The Woodsman (2004), and not because they are married. But, if Corin Redgrave never worked with either of his actor sisters, Vanessa and Lynn, or with his daughter, Jemma, then you can’t use their family relationship to connect them. (If that were indeed the case, JN could link him to the other members of his family: he and JN appeared in Enigma together and JN was in a production of Chekov’s The Three Sisters with the three female Redgraves.)

With Kate Beckinsale in 'The Golden Bowl'

Here’s an example of how a game of 6D of JN goes. I saw a wonderful, quirky little film a few weeks ago called The Maiden Heist (2009). Its stars are Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman and William H. Macy. Macy’s easy: he and Jeremy co-starred in Happy, Texas. Freeman took a moment’s thought before I remembered he and Northam were both in Amistad. So, 1 Degree of Jeremy Northam for each of those terrific actors. As for Christopher Walken, he required a bit more pondering. Then I remembered his turn as a crazed remote control salesman in the Adam Sandler movie Click (2005). Kate Beckinsale played Sandler’s wife in that movie, and we know Beckinsale was in The Golden Bowl with Jeremy. Walken to Beckinsale to Northam: 2 degrees. And there you have it!

With Toni Collette in 'Emma'

After successfully linking Jeremy with many of the actors in the movies I watched, I then started thinking up Big Hollywood Names and trying to connect him with them. Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, and George Clooney were the first four off the top of my head. I thought I was picking someone worlds away from Jeremy with Bruce Willis, until I had a “Duh!” moment: Bruce was in The Sixth Sense (1999) with Toni Collette who was in Emma with Jeremy! As for Julia Roberts, I remembered how Duplicity (2009) had disappointed me. I had so wanted the pairing of Roberts and Clive Owen in it to be an electric one. Oh well, at least the film gave me a connection to Jeremy! (Owen and Northam were in Gosford Park together, just in case you’re having a temporary brain freeze.) Jack Nicholson starred in The Bucket List (2007) with Morgan Freeman, and we’ve already seen how Freeman links to Jeremy. George Clooney was in Michael Clayton (2007) with Tilda Swinton, who starred with Jeremy in The Statement. That makes 2 Degrees of Jeremy Northam for each of those four big Hollywood hitters. Pretty impressive, Jer!

With Tilda Swinton in 'The Statement'

Two actors who take three degrees to get to Jeremy: First, Heath Ledger was in Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Anne Hathaway who was in Becoming Jane (2007) with Helen McCrory (she played gothic novelist Ann Radcliffe), who was in a 2004 staging of the Harold Pinter play Old Times with Jeremy. And then there’s Will Smith—this one took me a while! Smith was in a movie called Hancock (2008) with Charlize Theron, who was in The Cider House Rules (1999) with Michael Caine, who of course starred in The Statement with Jeremy.

As I pulled actors’ names from things I read, saw or heard I sometimes made 6D of JN more complicated than it needed to be. I was wending my way towards Harry Connick, Jr through Northam costar Ewan McGregor (Emma) via Renee Zellweger (McGregor and Zellweger were in Miss Potter, 2006), who was in a romantic comedy from last year called New in Town with HC,Jr, when I realized the shorter route was to just go through Sandra Bullock (The Net); she starred in Hope Floats (1998) with HC,Jr.

Sometimes a very small Northam role reaps big rewards. Those scorching seduction scenes with Emma Thompson in Carrington were the source I drew from to connect Jeremy to Queen Latifah (Stranger Than Fiction, 2006), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Junior, 1994), Denzel Washington (Much Ado About Nothing, 1993), and the above-mentioned Laura Linney (Love Actually, 2003). Thompson’s versatility links Jeremy to the wide array of her costars.

Now, if it takes you more than three degrees to get to any actor in the British Isles, you’re just not trying! In fact, with actors from this part of the world there’s often more than one route to get to Jeremy. For instance, Irishman Gabriel Byrne. He was in a film called Dark Obsession in 1990. Douglas Hodge and Judy Parfitt were both in that movie, so you can get to Jeremy through A Fatal Inversion or Dean Spanley. How about Keira Knightley? You can use either Romola Garai, her costar in Atonement (2007), who was in Glorious 39 with Jeremy, or the trusty Emma Thompson again to reach him through Carrington, she and Knightley were in Love Actually together. And Colin Firth, who will likely receive his second consecutive Academy Award nomination come January. Two of my favorite Northam costars have also starred opposite Firth: Jennifer Ehle was in both Possession and the mini-series Pride & Prejudice (1995), and Julianne Moore was in An Ideal Husband and last year’s A Single Man. All roads may have once led to Rome; nowadays they seem to lead to Jeremy Northam.

With Judy Parfitt in 'Dean Spanley'

And Mr. Bacon himself? Easy peasy, folks! Jeremy starred (as we know) in Happy, Texas with William H. Macy, who played a District Attorney in a film called Murder in the First (1995) which starred, ta da!, Kevin Bacon.

I’ll leave you with three to try on your own: link Jeremy to Johnny Depp, Mikhail Barishnikov and Steve Martin. In each case, it should take only two degrees to get you there.

*Just in case there are some Jeremy newbies reading this, here are the characters I referred to and the films they come from, in order: Dean Martin in Martin and Lewis, Sir Thomas More in The Tudors, Jack Devlin in The Net, Col. Roux in The Statement, Mr. Knightley in Emma, Lane Woolwrap in Guy X, and Morgan Sullivan and Sebastian Rooks in Cypher.

I used information from the Wikipedia entries for both Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and the six degrees of separation concept. Both are worth checking out if you’re so inclined:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation

There’s a site called Cinema FreeNet Movie Connector (http://www.cinfn.com), which will provide links between actors—and also directors and producers if you need them. Just type in your “source” and your “target” and voila! However, there is one huge drawback to this site: it isn’t current. It seems to have been last updated in 2003 and doesn’t list any JN film after The Golden Bowl! That’s a full ten years of Northamness missing! But if you find yourself awake at 3am wondering how to connect Jeremy to someone, you might find your answer there.

Please note that I omitted the dates of Jeremy’s movies and TV programs. It was getting too cumbersome to include them with all the other movie names and dates. Here’s the link to his IMDb listing for any Northam information you haven’t already committed to memory:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000562/

Finally, my thanks to Joan for bringing the Laura Linney article to my attention.

by LauraP

Ed. Thanks to Debra, Skippy and Joan for images.

So, get me. I’m reading Henry James! Last weekend was Labor Day Weekend, the American holiday that signals the end of summer—but was I reading a romance or a thriller or some other summer brain candy-type book? No. I was making my way through the carefully constructed complex and compound sentences of James’ The Aspern Papers.

Henry James? That's a coincidence...

Being a regular reader of this blog, if I say at this point that I have a confession to make, you can probably guess what it is. I wasn’t actually reading The Aspern Papers. Jeremy Northam was doing the reading and I was just following along in my copy of the novella. Gill, the founder of the Jer Blog who kindly lets me contribute my thoughts here, had been waxing rhapsodic to me for a few weeks about Jeremy’s reading of Henry James’ work. Her recent post about it may have sent you dashing off to SilkSoundbooks for your own copy of Jeremy’s Aspern Papers.

But Labor Day, and its associations of beaches and cookouts and one last grasp at fun before we go back to the Everyday Grind, juxtaposed with reading one of the most challenging writers in the English language, got me thinking. How many intellectual pursuits have I undertaken because the name Jeremy Northam was attached to it in some way?

I remembered a thread at Jeremy Northam Chat a while back where we were discussing how his involvement in a project has led us to expand our knowledge of a related subject—the time period one of his movies was set in, a literary work he did an audio version of, an historical figure he played. As I started to make a list of them all, I noticed he’s been the motivation behind quite a few of my more “cerebral” activities in recent years. More than I realized.

Now, I’m a fairly intelligent, well-educated person. I read a great deal—and not just romances and thrillers! I do tackle intellectual projects of my own volition. For example, my interest in gardening with native plants has led me to read works on botany, entomology and ecology. I’ve amassed quite a lot of knowledge about the native plants of my region and the benefits of using those natives instead of exotic imported plants in gardens.

But that’s only one puny thing on my side of the scale; the other side of the scale is completely overbalanced by a heap of Jeremy-motivated items. And here I thought I was an intellectual. Turns out it was Jeremy all along. The guy’s a regular one-man Enlightenment! I’ve taken to calling him my “Intellectualizer.”

Intellectualizer? I like it!

So, here are the mind-improving pursuits I’ve embarked on in the name of Northam:

Some are subjects I was already interested in, where Jeremy came along and spurred me to further reading. I was already a Jane Austenite when the movie Emma and his Mr. Knightley changed my life forever and I’d read Possession before his R.H. Ash swept me off my feet. I’d visited Brideshead Revisited and was already well versed in the Romantic poets when Jeremy’s superlative readings made me feel I’d only skimmed the surface of Waugh’s novel or Keats’ and Shelley’s poetic works.

As RH Ash in Possession

Others are things only Jeremy could tempt me to try. I’d dismissed Graham Greene after agonizing over The Power and the Glory in high school, so only rave reviews of his audiobook by some of you got me to listen to Our Man in Havana. (What an absolute delight that is, too. Don’t miss it!) A similar traumatic experience with W. Somerset Maugham and Of Human Bondage didn’t stop me from seeking out The Moon and Sixpence at the mere mention of Jeremy’s name being attached to a film version of the novel. That project seems to have died and gone to Development Limbo, but I enjoyed reading the book and trying to decide which character he would have played.

With Jeremy’s charming help, I have gamely tackled writers with the reputation for being inaccessible. The aforementioned Mr. James’ Golden Bowl was easier to plow through with Prince Amerigo to lead the way, and a CD of breathtaking readings brought to life the unique rhythms and vocabulary of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poetry for me. There do seem to be limitations to Jeremy’s power, I’m sorry to say. After two tries I still haven’t been able to get through Tristram Shandy. I’m so ashamed. Can you forgive me, Jer?

As Sir Thomas More in The Tudors

Jeremy’s gifted portrayals of Sir Thomas More in The Tudors and Rev. John Innes in Creation sent me scurrying to the library for biographies of More and Charles Darwin to learn more about these fascinating men. By the way, I love the confession by Paul Bettany, who played Darwin in Creation, that he read Darwin’s On the Origin of Species mostly because he knew interviewers on the movie’s press tour would be sure to ask him if he had. Now there’s motivation for you!

And then there are the little bits of Jeremy-related information that cling to my brain as if superglued there. No, I don’t mean the man’s birthday or his shoe size; the former is common knowledge around here and the latter is largely irrelevant. I mean things like what Brugada Syndrome is. When a relative was diagnosed with Brugada this summer, I knew a bit about it because of the Golden Hour episode of Miami Medical. My father was all ready to tell me about this rare condition no one’s ever heard of. He was dumbfounded that I had heard of it. Thank you, Dr. Proctor.

And at a cookout this past weekend—I didn’t spend the whole time closeted away with Henry James—the subject of Scotland came up. One of my relatives was trying to describe the unique bunkers at St. Andrews golf course. I could help him out because I so adore Jeremy’s wicked Walter Hagen that I’ve seen (parts of) Bobby Jones: Strokes of Genius at least a dozen times. My family has decided that I know the weirdest collection of facts imaginable. I’m not about to tell them the common thread is a British actor born December 1, 1961.

In case you’re wondering, there IS one subject Jeremy won’t be motivating me to pursue. Math. I’m allergic to all higher forms of mathematics, a complete math idiot. You couldn’t get me to solve an algebraic equation for X if it were written on his bare chest. Well…maybe if he asked me nicely, I might give it a try. Wait a minute! What am I saying? If Jeremy Northam is standing in front of me shirtless, the very last thing I’m going to be thinking about is math!

After all, woman doesn’t live by intellect alone.

by LauraP

This week, we’re choosing between Possession, The Misadventures of Margaret, and Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius. Here’s a little information about each to help you make up your mind…

Possession (dir. Neil LaBute, 2002) is adapted from AS Byatt’s best selling, Man Booker prize-winning, novel. It follows two couples: a pair of academics from the present who stumble upon a possible connection between the other couple, two Victorian poets. Jeremy and Jennifer Ehle are wonderfully passionate and charismatic as the Victorians, a frosty Gwyneth Paltrow and a slightly miscast Aaron Eckhart are the modern academics. Paltrow and Eckhart follow the clues and uncover the details of the Victorians’ secret affair, whilst embarking upon a relationship of their own. Of necessity, Byatt’s dense and elaborate novel is simplified for the screen, but this is not to the movie’s detriment, on the whole.

Jeremy as poet Randolph Henry Ash in Possession

Here’s what director Neil LaBute had to say about Jeremy’s performance in Possession:

Jeremy made such an excellent Ash I just felt that they (JN and Jennifer Ehle)…just conveyed the weight of the times, the Victorian era and I believed them as writers and as people who were challenged by their lives and the choices that they made.
He (Jeremy) is one of those actors who has such a melodious voice. He reminds me of Richard Burton in a number of ways. He’s such a fine actor and a deeply moving one. Particularly in this part he is so warm and great.
He was really adept at creating the spirit of this guy without even having the other actor to work with. He was just very moving. When we went to shoot this (the final scene when Ash meets the daughter) I think it was a big culmination for his character as well and he really showed the weight of what had happened from the first time he met Christabel until this moment with the way he dealt with this little girl.

JennyTheNipper recently reviewed Possession for us, if you’d like to know more: Jenny’s Possession review.

The Misadventures of Margaret (dir. Brian Skeet, 1998) is another literary adaptation. Based on Cathleen Schine’s novel, Rameau’s Niece, it tells the story of novelist Margaret Nathan (Parker Posey). Margaret is married to Englishman Edward (Jeremy), who is a university lecturer and likes to quote poetry. Margaret has written one successful book, and while attempting to write a steamy follow up, she suspects Edward of having an affair and contemplates several of her own. She ricochets between her wild, erotic fantasies and the frustrations of her real life.

Jeremy Northam and Parker Posey

The director is obviously attempting to capture some of the style and sophistication of 40′s and 50′s movies, with Margaret looking and sounding like an even more brittle Katherine Hepburn (but sadly lacking her charm). There are classic movie posters plastering the walls of the Nathans’ apartment, and the movie is accompanied by the retro music of St Etienne. Somehow, it doesn’t quite all work, though there are some scenes where the wit and quirky humour hit the spot. There are some seriously mis-judged scenes, but there is still much to be enjoyed (especially if you own the German, uncut version…). Jeremy is utterly charming as Edward Nathan, though you may be left wondering what he sees in Margaret. If you are unable to source a copy of the DVD, the entire movie is on YouTube.

And now we come to Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (dir. Rowdy Herrington, 2004) and we really are firmly into ‘I’m only watching this because Jeremy is in it’ territory. The movie tells the life story of revered golfing legend Bobby Jones (a bland Jim Caviezel). Jones overcomes many obstacles in his struggles to reach the top of his game, but never relinquishes his amateur status (unlike money-grabbing peer and rival Walter Hagen, who is played with relish by Jeremy) and retires at only 28 years old. Jones later founded the Augusta National, and sadly succumbed to syringomyelia.

The movie is made with too much reverence, and Caviezel plays Jones with too little charm (whilst sporting one of the most atrocious wigs seen in film). But, but, but Jeremy’s performance as Hagen, golf’s bad boy, is a delight! Think Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk, plus a golf club. Hagen is the movie’s one redeeming feature, I’m afraid. And I quite like golf!

Scott Tobias of The AV Club says:

As the film closes with a grueling succession of golf highlights, with no one tournament distinguished from the next, Jones’ unimpeachable decency does nothing to raise the dramatic stakes. To judge from Stroke Of Genius, he was great husband, a great sportsman, a great champion, and a spectacular bore.

I’m aware that I haven’t really recommended Bobby Jones, but there will be some of you who will enjoy it, and if you haven’t seen it before, it’s worth catching Jeremy’s performance.

But don’t take my word for it, live dangerously, try something new and make up your own mind! Here’s where to vote:  Vote for Jeremy Northam Night’s movie for this week.

by henrysmummy2003