artyartie: (potc-beckettwithpainting)
artyartie ([personal profile] artyartie) wrote2007-06-11 06:58 pm

you know, i make *excellent* potatoes

*clears her throat* I have something of an embarrassing confession to make - something I discovered after watching At World's End. You can probably guess by the icon.



My name is Artyartie, and I have a Mr. Collins complex.

The first time I watched 'Rome,' I was pleasantly confuzzled for a few seconds. My brain let out a squee at just seeing Cicero, and then abruptly went "wait, wait, that's Mr. Collins! But he's kind of adorkably cute!" And then I flailied in an angry classicist sort of way when Pompey cut off his oratory.

So what do you do when you have a newfound enthusiasm for an actor? Go out and find other works they've been in of course - and besides P&P (which I want to rewatch for the Ehle and Firth goodness, of course, but now for the extras with cast interviews with the other actors, including David Bamber), there is sadly little available on Region 1 DVDs. There was Privates on Parade, a well-done tragi-comedy with John Cleese, and one especially delightful surprise - the 2001 Merchant of Venice, a taping of a performance we caught in January 2000, which was far and away one of the best plays we saw during that trip to London. Right now, I'm waiting for my converted version of My Night with Reg, which won him the Olivier award, and I have an episode of 'Mile High' he guest-starred in in my Netflix cue.

Like I said, I have a complex.

After watching the 2005 P&P, I enjoyed the 'new Mr. Collins' but he didn't exactly linger in my thoughts. He was younger, cuter, albeit in a socially awkward way, and much less painful to watch than the 'old Mr. Collins.' (Complex and all, David Bamber was so very, very cringeworthy in the role - and is not the least bit appealing in that role. At all.) I didn't even realize it was Tom Hollander in Bedrooms and Hallways, though I was watching it more for James Purefoy and Kevin McKidd being utterly adorable and hot.

And then came At World's End. (And yes, during 'Dead Man's Chest,' I went "hey, that's the new Mr. Collins!")

After rolling my eyes at the pirates, calling for 'freedom' and other drivel we hear in every epic movie, I found myself strangely attracted to Lord Beckett. He was arrogant, proud, focused solely on making a profit and gaining conquest of the sea, and he was so damn sexy while doing it. He had an immaculate dress sense, a cool demeanor, and he swatted Norrington on the ass with his cane. That and he had the best death scene in the movie, ever.

So today, what did I do after I finished my thesis reading? Looked for any Collins!fic on the net, as I've had the urge to write some 2005!Collinses fic - like I said above, 1995!Collinses fic would just be disturbing and after watching AWE, I think all Charlotte needs to spice up her marriage is to give her husband some Adam Smith.

So, I know that's way more than anyone needed to know, but there you go. If nothing else, it should provide some welcome amusement for your Monday!

[identity profile] aoife-hime.livejournal.com 2007-06-12 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Have you seen Wives and Daughters? It's another British period miniseries and the 1999 version includes Tom Hollander in the cast ^_^ You might enjoy it - I ended up watching the entire thing in one day, myself.

[identity profile] artyartie.livejournal.com 2007-06-13 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't seen that yet, but I may have to add that to my Netflix queue! I was reading on a P&P board that people who had seen him in Wives and Daughters that is was strange seeing him as Mr. Collins - it is a role that tends to follow you around!

[identity profile] aoife-hime.livejournal.com 2007-06-13 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh it was strange, mostly because the characters are completely opposite, speaking in terms of personality. And I agree - the Mr. Collins role definitely does follow one around!

[identity profile] spacemonkey-27.livejournal.com 2007-06-12 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I find myself strangely attracted to Tom Hollander too. I came across a movie the other night called 'Picadilly Jim'. I realized that the reason why I recognized the title is because Tobias Menzies had a small role in it, but 10 minutes after I started watching who pops up...Tom Hollander...with a bushy beard and American accent.
The movie's completely ridiculous, but worth it just to see those two. :)

[identity profile] spacemonkey-27.livejournal.com 2007-06-13 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
Oh and I just had to make sure you saw this.

[identity profile] artyartie.livejournal.com 2007-06-13 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Eee! He is so lovely - though on some entertainment news today, they were covering the London premiere, and they mispronounced his last name. Grrr! But I did get to hear his absolutely delicious voice - oh, if only he was doing a play next fall!

[identity profile] spacemonkey-27.livejournal.com 2007-06-13 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
I hate it when they mispronounce his name. You'd think the journalist would take the time to get it right.

I love his voice and his accent. So deep and dreamy.