Hi!

[Fal-gal]

Hi, fellow Mark Appeciators!

I am happy that he has such loyal fans like you guys. Why? Because he is so under-acknowledged (is that even a word?) by Hollywood. I can't speak for Britain, but it seems he is well-respected there but still not garnering the credit he so richly deserves for being the best actor out there. By best I mean that if he is acting (and he MUST be because he is so different in every role and he looks like such a soft-spoken gentleman off-camera, when he is such an intense and charismatic presence on-screen), then I have never been able to catch him at it. Even when he speaks Mr. Knightly's formal lines, he made me believe he really WAS the definitive Knightly (and that's saying a lot because I love Jeremy Northam too).

Anyhow, I am appalled that he is never given the credit he deserves. He stole Stardust and Body of Lies from anyone else who was in them, yet he does not appear on the posters for either, nor the DVD covers. He doesn't even appear on the DVD cover of RocknRolla and I know Guy Ritchie values him because he has him on the DVD director's commentary with him. So what gives?

Here's my feeling. Although he was so wonderful in all those movies, none of them was really a box office hit so his spectacular performances went unnoticed because no one went to see them.

Such a shame...but his time will come.

Anyhow, pleased to meet you all.

Fal

[TheBlondeKB]

Welcome Fal!

WOW! A "real" new member. I'm very excited!

We couldn't agree more with your assessment of Mark. He disappears into whatever character he plays.

Pull up a seat on the comfy couch with the rest of us. Looking forward to getting to know you.

~KB

[Fal-gal]

Thanks, KB!

I really feel he's on the cusp of celebrity. I know he says in all his interviews that he enjoys playing the bad guys, but I'm sure he would appreciate being the hero as well.

I can't think of one one character he couldn't play. I can close my eyes and see him in the classics...as a Midsummer Night's Dream's Oberon (think Septimus), as Jane Eyre's Rochester (with those beautiful and intense eyes and the passion just below the surface), as King Arthur (think Wictrid but in a good way).

I can see him playing any part that either Alan Rickman (can't you just picture him in Truly, Madly, Deeply as the ghost who comes back to comfort his girlfriend or as Snape in Harry Potter?) or Sean Bean plays.

As a matter of fact, I think he is very similar to Sean. Sean Bean played all sorts of villains in England in movies like Clarissa and Lorna Doone, and then found his inner hero and channeled his intense screen presence into the character of Richard Sharpe and became a bonafide romantic leading man. I see that for Mark...he is so beautiful and has such a screen presence. He just has to find his Sharpe.

Funny thing, though, Sean Bean STILL is typecast as the baddie in American films.

Anyhow, I will be encouraging people to see Mark's movies. I don't know how any red-blooded woman could resist his charms as Hani Salaam or as George Knightly. And even though I loved him as Archie in Rocknrolla, I could not understand half of what he (or anyone else) was saying in the movie until I activated the subtitles on the DVD. But I loved HOW he said it and what a dashing figure he cut in that long overcoat.

And like you, when he said "Come give us a cuddle" I was gone, gone, gone. LOL

[TheBlondeKB]

What excellent tastes you have "my dear". Bean and Rickman are FAVs around here as well.

[ThatRandomGirl]

Wow!!!
Hi Fal! Welcome Aboard!

[FlashFookersSqueeze]

Okay, how the hell did I miss this thread? I'm here every freakin' day!

In what role did you first discover Mark? For me it was "The Jury." While he wasn't exactly a "baddie" - tortured, jealous, probably suffering from PTSD, definitely selfish- but not an outright villain- and I realize we're not "supposed" to like him, his performance is so nuanced, (again, as you've pointed out, it's all in the eyes) that he is definitely one of the reasons I watch that mini-series again and again.

I also have to agree with your assessment of his range. I don't believe there's anything he "can't" do, but I do think that right now, he is not looking for that "big Hollywood break." He likes being able to bring whatever a particular role needs, "get in and get out" so to speak (I'm paraphrasing something he's said) and then go home. His children are still young and I think it's important to him to be around for them. (Given his own background, I'd say that's understandable.) And having said all that, I could have totally misinterpreted the situation!

In any case, WELCOME FAL-GAL! You are in the company of some very liked-minded individuals, when it comes to the talent and charms of Mr. Strong. It is indeed a pleasure to welcome a fellow traveler, especially one so willing to spread the word!

-FlashFookersSqueeze (aka FFS)

[Fal-gal]

Thanks, so much, FFS!

Nice to meet you as well. Are you British? Because I don't think we have access to the Jury here in the States. I know that I am extremely disappointed that I can't get a DVD in a USA format for The Long Firm. I have watched what I could on YouTube (isn't YouTube wonderful??) but the first episode is not there, plus I have access to a computer only at work, and I really can't do too much non-work related viewing.

That's why I post when I first get to the office in the morning. I check my messages, then answer what I can...then straight to my work for the day.

I loved him as Harry Starks... again very courtly even though he had sociopathic tendencies. Is that wrong of me?? Anyhow, I hope he gets more popular so this tape does become available here.

Thanks again for the welcome!

Fal

[Fal-gal]

FSS, I forgot to answer your question about how I discovered Mark:

I went to see Robin Hood with my sister a couple of months ago. I thought I'd love it, but I actually hated it. I am a traditionalist and didn't like what Ridley did with the story. Not that I am against an interesting twist on a classic, but this story wasn't that..for me anyway. Plus I thought it was too dirty and graphic.

In short there was nothing that kept my interest ...except there was something very familiar and attractive to me about the very cool Godfrey. Plus I liked the elegant way he carried himself. When he said the line about using French when it suited him, I knew that had heard the deep and mellifluous voice of this man before...but where?

The next day i was channel surfing and happened upon a scene between Leo DiCaprio and a very attractive Arab gentleman. I stopped because THAT VOICE rang a bell again. I called my sister and asked her to turn the channel on and tell me if she though it was the same guy from Robin Hood. She said it looked like him.

The next night I watched the whole movie and I fell deeply in awe. I haven't had a movie star crush in quite some time, so discovering Mark has been such fun. Plus... I like who he seems to be off-screen as well. That's nice. There's not enough "nice" around if you ask me.

Oh, and one more thing...I realized that I remembered him from an episode of Sharpe a long time ago. I had a distinct memory of Sean Bean pushing him down a well. As it turns out, I have all the Sharpe series, and I watched the episode, and there he was. He was a little heavier, but still with that regal bearing and deep magnificent voice.

So Sean Bean (have always loved him as many of you do as well) and Mark Strong are sort of intertwined in my mind, and in reality too since they have been in Sharpe and Henry VII together.

Did I bore you with this long story? Sorry!

[Fal-gal]

Oh, and hi, RandomGirl! I almost missed your shout-out to me. My apologies.

Thanks for the welcome. You all seem like such nice bunch here.

[FlashFookersSqueeze]

Thanks, so much, FFS!

Nice to meet you as well. Are you British? Because I don't think we have access to the Jury here in the States. I know that I am extremely disappointed that I can't get a DVD in a USA format for The Long Firm. I have watched what I could on YouTube (isn't YouTube wonderful??) but the first episode is not there, plus I have access to a computer only at work, and I really can't do too much non-work related viewing.

That's why I post when I first get to the office in the morning. I check my messages, then answer what I can...then straight to my work for the day.

I loved him as Harry Starks... again very courtly even though he had sociopathic tendencies. Is that wrong of me?? Anyhow, I hope he gets more popular so this tape does become available here.

Thanks again for the welcome!

Fal

I'm not British (except in my soul LOL) and you can get The Jury here! I got it from Amazon about 4 yrs ago and they've redone the packaging (about 3x I think!) here's a link.

I'm dying to see The Long Firm as well, I just read the book (and am currently reading the next in Jake Arnott's series of London crime novels "He Kills Coppers"-Starks supposedly makes an appearance in this one and in the next "True Crime.") I suppose I'll eventually break down and watch it on youtube. I suppose I'll end up seeing "To End All Wars" and "Our Friends in the North" on youtube as well. *sigh* I hope you're able to catch up with more of his work, but I'm glad you've gotten to see the 1996 BBC version of Emma. Mark Strong is now the definitive Mr. Knightley as far as I'm concerned. I know a lot of ppl are surprised to find him so good as a romantic lead when all they know are his "villains."

And yes, I quite agree with you, he seems like a genuinely "nice guy," which along with his immense talent, mellifluous voice and incredibly warm topaz eyes, makes him sexy as hell!



-FFS

[Fal-gal]

Really?

I will promptly go to Amazon then and look for "The Jury." Maybe I thought that since it was an early Mark movie, he wasn't in it too much. But I will definitely buy it on your say so. Thanks, FFS!

I am trying to space out my viewing of his movies, so I am ordering them one at a time. I saw Henry VIII last weekend, and boy, was he an intense and delicious villain or what? That scene between him and Emily Blunt was pretty lascivious. And I watched the entire director's commentary of RocknRolla. Now that was wonderful. Just Guy Ritchie and Mark chatting while watching the movie. Have you seen it?

I now have "Kick-Ass" on order at its release in August, so that will be next up. Can't wait for Mark and the red shirt.

Oh, and I so agree with you about Mark's Mr. Knightley. I thought the kiss between George and Emma was lovely and tender. I happen to think Mark's kissing is tops. He doesn't do enough of it if you ask me!

And run to YouTube to watch "The Long Firm." He really is spectacular in that. And the 40s/50s clothes suit his long and slender figure to a T.

[FlashFookersSqueeze]

I agree, Mark's Norfolk was a highlight of "Henry VIII," which is saying something since I thought the whole thing was fantastic. And yes, I have see "RocknRolla" many many many many times. Archy is another favorite around here (points to siggy at bottom of post).

Mark's part in "The Jury" is small, but it's pivotal and the whole thing is so good, with an incredible ensemble cast, that I still watch it at least once a year.