| July 1, 2001
Firth Frenzy: A Confession
Oh, bugger.
I've done it again. What, you ask? Oh, dear... well, last
night I went to see the film Bridget Jones's Diary. This comes on the heels of a
(completely unrelated) re-watching of the 1995 BBC 6-hour version of Pride and
Prejudice last weekend. Can you guess what's happened?
I've reawakened my ridiculous, consuming, doomed crush on
Colin Firth.
 It's been awhile since I had it this bad. Maybe
not since 1995, after Pride and Prejudice was first shown on A&E in the US.
That's six years, people. Six years. I certainly didn't expect to find myself back in this
same spot again now, so much older and wiser am I. And I guess I kind of believed (or
maybe just hoped) that the first time around, I was using Colin Firth as a harmless escape
from my fun-filled existence as a PhD candidate. Goodness knows I needed a new obsession
every once in awhile to keep me from falling off the edge of sanity back then.
It's really not my fault. Not really. This relapse was
caused by a combination of many things, and it snuck up on me completely unexpectedly. I
re-read Pride and Prejudice a few weeks ago because I'd been discussing it with
Alicia. It's my favorite novel, but I hadn't read it in oh, at least a year. So I read it
again. But that wasn't enough. When I finished the book last Saturday afternoon, I felt I
simply must watch my videos of Pride and Prejudice. I couldn't resist,
so I sat down that evening and started. I didn't get to bed until 1:30 AM, thinking I'd
had my Darcy fix for this year.
Then I started thinking about Bridget Jones's Diary.
Of course I knew Colin Firth was playing one of the love interests, but somehow I didn't
connect my burning desire to see the film with that fact. Nevertheless, during the last
week I fixed in my head that I needed to see this new movie. Soon. So
this weekend I was brooking no opposition from anyone. Friday night I said to Marty,
"Maybe we should go to the movies." But we ended up shopping for bathroom
fixtures and watching the early 4th of July fireworks from the parking lot of Dairy Queen.
All very enjoyable, but no Bridget Jones.
So yesterday I was on a mission. I planned to go to that
movie last night even if I had to go alone. Our friend Bill called in the afternoon to ask
if we'd like to go to a movie. "I want to see Bridget Jones's Diary," I
said to Bill and Marty. "I think Artificial Intelligence is out now,"
Marty replied. "I want to see Bridget Jones's Diary," I said. "See
if Bill wants to go. I hear men like this movie too."
End of discussion.
So, we went. Did the men like it? Yes. There was enough
comedy (and enough attention paid to women's panties) to keep them entertained for the
whole 134 minutes. Did I like it? Yes. Did I get to see Colin Firth playing another
socially-inadept-yet-deeply-feeling British toff? Yes, I did. Have I been dreaming ever
since of running my fingers through that thick, wavy hair? Yes, I have. Have I been
fantasizing about his smoothly shaved chin and his dark, brooding eyes? Well, I think that
pretty much goes without saying.
And the movie was good, too. It was made by the same folks
who did Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Hugh Grant was in
it, just as he was in those other movies. However, for my money, it was better than either
of those. Partly because Hugh Grant played a charming sleaze, rather than a charming nice
guy. He is so much better suited to being the charming sleaze (I wonder why). But the main
reason this movie was better than Notting Hill or Four Weddings? I'll
give you one guess: his initials are C.F.
I can't explain exactly what it is about Colin Firth that
makes me feel this way, but I've known I was in trouble for awhile. Ever since I first saw
the latest Pride and Prejudice movie in 1995, I haven't been able to read my
favorite book without visualizing Colin Firth in the role of Mr. Darcy. I am talking about
a book I first read in 1980, over 20 years ago. I read this book many, many times
before I ever heard of Colin Firth. I'd seen an earlier BBC adaptation of the
book, years ago, when I was reading it for the very first time, and that Mr.
Darcy had not muscled his way into my consciousness the way Colin Firth's did.
(Incidentally, I actually own this earlier version on videotape, and still it hasn't made
the same impression as the 1995 one.)
Now I've reached the point when I'm reading the book where
I miss the scenes that were added just for the BBC version. Darcy in his bath at
Rosings, watching Elizabeth play with his dog out on the lawn. All those
Darcy-as-sportsman scenes, you know. Darcy shooting, swimming, fencing, riding, playing
billiards. It's very telling that I now actually see those scenes as part of Darcy's
character, despite their not being part of the book itself. Blasphemy!
But honestly, I think part of the power of Colin Firth for
me is the love I have felt for Darcy for all these years. Since I first read the book at
the age of 11, I fantasized about Mr. Darcy as my ideal of romantic manliness. I realize
admitting this exposes me somewhat, and maybe suggests a hint of masochism in my
personality. (But just think if I had said Heathcliff!) Darcy has always been, and
remains, one of the most powerful romantic characters of my literary acquantaince. He's
cold, but passionate. Proud, but feeling. He is ideal. So for Colin Firth to
burst onto the scene and play him so well made it very, very difficult for me to
resist him. He just tapped right into all that passion and desire I had for Mr. Darcy. I
feel so used.
As for Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary, well,
the character is actually based on Mr. Darcy, more specifically on Colin Firth playing Mr.
Darcy, so it's like the ultimate meta-Darcy. I can tell already that I am going to have to
see this movie a few more times. So many scenes just made me whimper. The awful reindeer
jumper! The scene where he tells her that he likes her just the way she is! When he helps
her with dinner on her birthday! And that fight scene with Daniel Cleaver! And oh, god,
the kiss:
Bridget Jones: Wait a minute. Nice men
don't kiss like that.
Mark Darcy: Oh yes they fucking do.
Well, this obsession is nothing to worry about. It'll pass.
Again. I just need to watch a bunch of Colin Firth movies and visit a bunch of Colin Firth
websites, feed it for awhile and then let it drift away as I put my energy into something
new. I'm in no danger of wanting to meet Colin Firth or even (saints forbid!) write him a
fan letter. He just makes a very nice addition to my mental furniture, however temporary.
And I won't think about the fact that Colin Firth
is playing Hamlet on the stage in London next January through March. I am not going to buy
tickets. No, I'm not.
Some Colin Firth Links
Colin Firth was chosen as one of People's 50 most beautiful
people in 2001. See the pictures and read about him here. He seems
like a perfectly nice man with a lovely wife and a new baby.
- The
Bucket
A site dedicated to Colin Firth and his latest projects. Very up-to-date, with lots of
Bridget Jones articles and information on his upcoming film, The Importance of Being
Earnest.
- The Afirthionado
Not as up-to-date, but a stylish site with an impossible-to-resist name.
- Friends of Firth
Scrapbook
Pictures of Colin Firth as well as the latest news and information, like the phone number
to buy tickets to Hamlet in London. Not that I need it!
- Firth Frenzy
A very nice collection of Colin Firth links, with information about most of his roles.
And I think that is quite enough. |
