Tag Archives: Anthony Minghella

Secondary Character Saturday: Alan Rickman: Jamie (Truly Madly Deeply)

[Image courtesy MGM]

[Image courtesy MGM]

Who: Jamie Howe

 

From: Truly Madly Deeply

 

Once upon a time there were two people in love, their names were Nina and Jamie. They were even happy enough to be able to live happily ever after, (not often the case) and then Jamie died. Nina is left with a house full of rats and handymen, a job teaching foreigners English and an ache that fills the night sky. [IMDb]

 

You’ll have to wait until the 25 mark before he enters the movie properly, but it is worth the wait.

 

Stevenson and Rickman as Nina and Jamie in Truly Madly Deeply [Image courtesy: MGM]

Stevenson and Rickman as Nina and Jamie in Truly Madly Deeply [Image courtesy: MGM]

Written and Directed by: Anthony Minghella

 

Produced: 1990

 

Cover of "Truly Madly Deeply"

 

Pros: unconditional love, plays a mean cello, comes back from the dead to comfort his soul mate, handsome, fun.

 

Cons: annoying, cold (literally), selfish

 

Most Shining Moment: Since I think about 5 other people on the planet have seen this gem I wont spoil it. But I will say the real shining moment comes at the end. My favorite moment (probably my favorite Rickman moment of all film) is when he plucks at the cello and sings The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More.

 

Sing it, Jamie baby. [Image courtesy: MGM]

Sing it, Jamie baby. [Image courtesy: MGM]

Least Shining Moment: Letting his dead mates invade the flat so they can watch videos.

 

Warning: Juliette Stevenson brings some really raw emotion to this movie and the sound is uneven. So when she wails (or sings) it can be really loud and bit annoying. But, God bless her, she gives her performance 1000 %.

 

Why Rickman is so good: This is one of the few Alan Rickman roles where he’s playing an “everyday guy” (albeit a dead one). His performance is incredibly natural and believable and it is fun to watch him be so at ease with his co-star Juliette Stevenson. It’s nice to see him be happy too. Jamie is not a perfect boyfriend by any means (even when you take out the ghost thing), and Rickman hits all the varied notes of a real person in a real relationship with his nuanced performance.

 

[Image courtesy: MGM]

[Image courtesy: MGM]

I’m not sure why this movie isn’t more readily (or cheaply) available. It did very well with the critics and has a strong 72% Tomatorating / 82% Audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But I challenge you to find it at your local library (hint: not going to happen.) Amazon has it, but it’s $72! But, dear readers, fear not… I found it for you on Youtube …

 

 

Now once you watch it I’m sure you will all raise your voices and demand they re-release it at a reasonable price and buy the DVD so the proper parties get paid for their efforts. Yes?

 

[Image courtesy: MGM]

[Image courtesy: MGM]

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So we’ve got ONE MORE Saturday in March, that means one more chance to celebrate Alan Rickman. Which movie role shall we feature? Get back to me and let me know which Rickman YOU think I should write about.

 

  • Comic Rickman?

 

  • Galaxy Quest

    Galaxy Quest

  • Villian Rickman?
  • hans_tal

    Die Hard

  • Robin Hood Prince of Theives

    Robin Hood Prince of Theives

  • Sensitive Rickman?
  • snow-cake
  • An Awfully Big Adventure

    An Awfully Big Adventure

 

 

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