happy birthday to james.
First, A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMES MCAVOY. ♥
Everyone has their favourite celebrity that they love more than any other, will see perhaps even the worst of films for them, and is just generally happier when there's good news about them or a new role announced or just anything they happen to do. That is James McAvoy for me. It's not just about his looks or his Scottish accent (which are both wonderful, delicious things, don't get me wrong) but I've fallen as hard as I have for him because of who is he (or who I gather he is from how he comes across in interviews or articles and the likes) and what a tremendous actor he is. While, yes, I am biased, I can say with certainty that he's one of the finest actors this world as seen with the dedication and natural ability to perform and perform well. This year's birthday picspam is about that. Five roles that have impressed, won over, completely swept me off my feet, and all that with a cherry on top. I want to celebrate who he is on screen and what makes him transform from James to his characters because there's no doubt about the fact that I first fell in love with him when he was on screen and have fallen even more in love since then on screen.
Bonus Roles: Leto Atreides II in Children of Dune and Brian Jackson in Starter for 10
While these two roles did not rank in my top five, they're certainly not roles or reasons to love him any less. In fact, there's more to love! They're extremely different roles and I love them both, especially Leto because as a fan of the Dune series and knowing how epic and influential it is, I think he handled the role gracefully and with a lot of respect. As for Brian, he was just a joy to watch in that role, being the quirky, underdog of the film who makes his share of mistakes but you have to love anyway.
5. Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Mr. Tumnus is an important role for James McAvoy because it was one of his break-through roles in America. At least it was for me and it ranks in the top five because it was the first time I noticed him. Sure, I had seen him in Wimbledon but next to Paul Bettany as a leading man, I hadn't taken much notice. However, his role as Mr. Tumnus was the role that caused me to go home right after the film and look up the actor and learn all about him and what he'd done (and flail a lot when I realised it was him who had been in Wimbledon) and plan to start seeing his entire filmography. Typically, these crushes will be heightened for a while and then fade. I know I've had my share of those but after five years, James continually impresses me and is constantly that number one celebrity for me. With Mr. Tumnus, as a fan of the Narnia series, I was just utterly charmed by him from the instant he met Lucy. I ached to have him back and was just really struck by how much this character and the actor performing as him made such a strong impression on me. And this is where it all began.
4. Johnny Martin in Penelope
At first this role was in position number three but at the last minute I had to change it. I love him in this film. I remember when stills were first released from the film and I was excitedly surprised by his hair, haha. I don't feel I have a lot to say about this role but I enjoyed it and loved how his character was presented and his dark undertones in the film. I loved his acting with Christina Ricci and was just generally enamoured with him once again, a year after Narnia.
3. Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in The Last King of Scotland
As I said before, this role got switched to third place at the last second but I think I made the right choice. The Last King of Scotland is a film I did initially decide to watch because James was in it and was absolutely blown away by the film itself. This film, in terms of my love of James, is really important. This was a film I saw soon after Narnia, when I was on my path to see as much as I could of his filmography and still very ignorant and naive of who he was and what kind of actor he was and who he'd become for me. This was the role where I went, "Whoa, this boy can act." Because yeah, like any crush, it started off by being charmed, mostly by good looks, and pursued to see if they're really all you've built them up to be in your head. This film and role proved just that to me. Seeing him perform in this film just blew my mind and it still does to this day whenever I see the film (which isn't all that often, to be honest, because the heaviness of the film can only be handled so much). It showed me just what kind of an actor he was and the talent he possesses and got me so excited for future films and what he would bring to them.
2. Robbie Turner in Atonement
Robbie Turner. I think by this time James had established himself as an actor to be reckoned with (thanks to The Last King of Scotland) but this was the role that set him up as a leading man and a heartthrob. While in my mind he was already both of those, it was simply reinforced with this role. I fell just as hard for Robbie as any other fan. It was an incredibly sexy role and very powerful and controversial and a perfect fit for him. I think this is one of his best performances to date and really was able to make an impression on people who perhaps hadn't been fans of him beforehand or knew little about him. It was such a powerful role and one that will always be remembered and respected as one of his best. It certainly always will for me. I'll always get weak in the knees over Robbie Turner. Not to mention he was deemed the best kisser by Keira Knightley thanks to this role.
1. Thomas Lefroy in Becoming Jane
Oh. Oh, Thomas Lefroy. This film, this character. ♥ I know of several people who aren't big fans of this film because of its historical inaccuracies. Now, it happens to be one of my favourite films, despite these flaws. As a fan of Jane Austen, her being my favourite author, I've read several biographies and other books on her (including the one this film was based on) so I know there are mistakes and exaggerations but that honestly doesn't make me love it any less. I feel I can appreciate it as a piece of art rather than be offended by what it's missed or twisted in any way. Not to mention I think they portrayed Jane in a fantastic way and I'm a sucker for a good romance film and this was one certainly has the ability to sweep me off my feet every time.
However, this is not about the film, but about James and his role as Thomas Lefroy, a person who did actually exist in history and was romantically tied to Jane Austen (though he is said as stating his love for her as "boyish" and there's no evidence to suggest that their relationship was ever as deep as the one presented in the film but again, I love a good romance). Despite the exaggerations and what may or may not be true about Lefroy, James played him wonderfully. This role being ranked number one clearly must mean that this role means something more to me than the other roles listed here. Perhaps it's bias for Jane Austen or James in a cravat or James in such a romantic, sweep you off your feet leading role, or all of those, but there's something about his performance as Tom that just gets me every time, whether it be his banter with Jane or his passionate love or, yes, that cravat. I do know that I absolutely adore this role. It makes me long to be in, not necessarily Anne Hathaway's shoes (though I wouldn't mind that), but Jane's because James really transforms into Tom and is so romantic and passionate and witty that you're helpless to do anything but fall for him. And fall I did. It's not as strong as Robbie or Nicholas and not as well-known but it's my favourite because of the sheer joy and love I feel whenever I watch this film. It never lessens with each subsequent viewing, it only gets stronger. I think that's a good sign of a good and influential role. Unless another role turns up that challenges this one, I have a feeling this will remain number for a long time, if not forever. ♥
Everyone has their favourite celebrity that they love more than any other, will see perhaps even the worst of films for them, and is just generally happier when there's good news about them or a new role announced or just anything they happen to do. That is James McAvoy for me. It's not just about his looks or his Scottish accent (which are both wonderful, delicious things, don't get me wrong) but I've fallen as hard as I have for him because of who is he (or who I gather he is from how he comes across in interviews or articles and the likes) and what a tremendous actor he is. While, yes, I am biased, I can say with certainty that he's one of the finest actors this world as seen with the dedication and natural ability to perform and perform well. This year's birthday picspam is about that. Five roles that have impressed, won over, completely swept me off my feet, and all that with a cherry on top. I want to celebrate who he is on screen and what makes him transform from James to his characters because there's no doubt about the fact that I first fell in love with him when he was on screen and have fallen even more in love since then on screen.
Bonus Roles: Leto Atreides II in Children of Dune and Brian Jackson in Starter for 10
While these two roles did not rank in my top five, they're certainly not roles or reasons to love him any less. In fact, there's more to love! They're extremely different roles and I love them both, especially Leto because as a fan of the Dune series and knowing how epic and influential it is, I think he handled the role gracefully and with a lot of respect. As for Brian, he was just a joy to watch in that role, being the quirky, underdog of the film who makes his share of mistakes but you have to love anyway.
5. Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Mr. Tumnus is an important role for James McAvoy because it was one of his break-through roles in America. At least it was for me and it ranks in the top five because it was the first time I noticed him. Sure, I had seen him in Wimbledon but next to Paul Bettany as a leading man, I hadn't taken much notice. However, his role as Mr. Tumnus was the role that caused me to go home right after the film and look up the actor and learn all about him and what he'd done (and flail a lot when I realised it was him who had been in Wimbledon) and plan to start seeing his entire filmography. Typically, these crushes will be heightened for a while and then fade. I know I've had my share of those but after five years, James continually impresses me and is constantly that number one celebrity for me. With Mr. Tumnus, as a fan of the Narnia series, I was just utterly charmed by him from the instant he met Lucy. I ached to have him back and was just really struck by how much this character and the actor performing as him made such a strong impression on me. And this is where it all began.
4. Johnny Martin in Penelope
At first this role was in position number three but at the last minute I had to change it. I love him in this film. I remember when stills were first released from the film and I was excitedly surprised by his hair, haha. I don't feel I have a lot to say about this role but I enjoyed it and loved how his character was presented and his dark undertones in the film. I loved his acting with Christina Ricci and was just generally enamoured with him once again, a year after Narnia.
3. Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in The Last King of Scotland
As I said before, this role got switched to third place at the last second but I think I made the right choice. The Last King of Scotland is a film I did initially decide to watch because James was in it and was absolutely blown away by the film itself. This film, in terms of my love of James, is really important. This was a film I saw soon after Narnia, when I was on my path to see as much as I could of his filmography and still very ignorant and naive of who he was and what kind of actor he was and who he'd become for me. This was the role where I went, "Whoa, this boy can act." Because yeah, like any crush, it started off by being charmed, mostly by good looks, and pursued to see if they're really all you've built them up to be in your head. This film and role proved just that to me. Seeing him perform in this film just blew my mind and it still does to this day whenever I see the film (which isn't all that often, to be honest, because the heaviness of the film can only be handled so much). It showed me just what kind of an actor he was and the talent he possesses and got me so excited for future films and what he would bring to them.
2. Robbie Turner in Atonement
Robbie Turner. I think by this time James had established himself as an actor to be reckoned with (thanks to The Last King of Scotland) but this was the role that set him up as a leading man and a heartthrob. While in my mind he was already both of those, it was simply reinforced with this role. I fell just as hard for Robbie as any other fan. It was an incredibly sexy role and very powerful and controversial and a perfect fit for him. I think this is one of his best performances to date and really was able to make an impression on people who perhaps hadn't been fans of him beforehand or knew little about him. It was such a powerful role and one that will always be remembered and respected as one of his best. It certainly always will for me. I'll always get weak in the knees over Robbie Turner. Not to mention he was deemed the best kisser by Keira Knightley thanks to this role.
1. Thomas Lefroy in Becoming Jane
Oh. Oh, Thomas Lefroy. This film, this character. ♥ I know of several people who aren't big fans of this film because of its historical inaccuracies. Now, it happens to be one of my favourite films, despite these flaws. As a fan of Jane Austen, her being my favourite author, I've read several biographies and other books on her (including the one this film was based on) so I know there are mistakes and exaggerations but that honestly doesn't make me love it any less. I feel I can appreciate it as a piece of art rather than be offended by what it's missed or twisted in any way. Not to mention I think they portrayed Jane in a fantastic way and I'm a sucker for a good romance film and this was one certainly has the ability to sweep me off my feet every time.
However, this is not about the film, but about James and his role as Thomas Lefroy, a person who did actually exist in history and was romantically tied to Jane Austen (though he is said as stating his love for her as "boyish" and there's no evidence to suggest that their relationship was ever as deep as the one presented in the film but again, I love a good romance). Despite the exaggerations and what may or may not be true about Lefroy, James played him wonderfully. This role being ranked number one clearly must mean that this role means something more to me than the other roles listed here. Perhaps it's bias for Jane Austen or James in a cravat or James in such a romantic, sweep you off your feet leading role, or all of those, but there's something about his performance as Tom that just gets me every time, whether it be his banter with Jane or his passionate love or, yes, that cravat. I do know that I absolutely adore this role. It makes me long to be in, not necessarily Anne Hathaway's shoes (though I wouldn't mind that), but Jane's because James really transforms into Tom and is so romantic and passionate and witty that you're helpless to do anything but fall for him. And fall I did. It's not as strong as Robbie or Nicholas and not as well-known but it's my favourite because of the sheer joy and love I feel whenever I watch this film. It never lessens with each subsequent viewing, it only gets stronger. I think that's a good sign of a good and influential role. Unless another role turns up that challenges this one, I have a feeling this will remain number for a long time, if not forever. ♥