HEY... JUDE? UDE? JJ Feild F “We spend all our time worrying about what other people think, but I think we need to go ‘Fuck off!’ to everybody.” Portrait by Sam Christmas
o there’s this quote. And it’s about the guy sitting
films, because if that huge whopper came along now, it wouldn’t faze me
opposite. It could be complimentary. Not sure. “What
– I’d love it and I’d embrace it.”
is it?” he asks. It’s from a review of Last Orders,
Though born in the States, JJ is a British passport holder, and his
the film in which he played the younger version of
accent still bears the traces of a London upbringing. He’s well placed to
Michael Caine. It’s a description: ‘JJ Feild is like Jude
assess the state of the UK film scene, especially with how it compares to
Law’s less gorgeous but equally magnetic younger brother’. Does that
Hollywood. “America is very gung-ho and brash,” he reckons. “I did one
sum up his unique appeal?
movie where they were trying to get everybody to do jumping jacks and
“I’ve got a better one,” he says. “I was meeting the heads at 20th Century Fox to ‘discuss a movie’ – I didn’t even know what that meant, normally you just beg and do auditions. But one of the chief execs at
press ups every morning, and all the English actors just stood at the back smoking cigarettes.” What of UK film, though? Everyone seems to be full of optimism at
Fox goes, ‘Yeah, you know who you remind me of? You’re like a younger,
the moment, what’s his take? “I think we do make good films,” he says,
goofier version of Jude Law’.” But that’s pretty cool, right? You could be a
“but we need to start branching out more. I’d like to see the British film
younger, goofier version of, say, Rick Moranis. “I’m just hoping Jude Law’s
industry tackling world issues. We spend all our time worrying about what
going to do a film with a goofy younger brother,” he laughs.
other people think, but I think we need to go ‘Fuck off!’ to everybody. It’d
JJ Feild is… well… just who the hell is JJ Feild? “In the States I’ve had people say I’ve got the biggest CV of any ‘unknown’ actor they’ve
be nice to see some totally leftfield new stuff.” He puts the problem down to the difficulties of distribution – “Our
ever seen,” he admits. After Last Orders in 2001 came a supporting
cinemas are rammed full of foreign crap because we’re flooded by the
role opposite Harrison Ford in 2002’s lacklustre K19: The Widowmaker,
American distributors. I think we should be promoting British film in a
followed by a string of costume dramas on UK television.
much braver way.”
But that’s not the whole story. The last three years have seen
What about BAFTA? Isn’t it their job to get out there and support
constant experimentation, a sort of avant-garde period making the kind
new British film? If so, why were people like Cillian Murphy up for the
of films that even he hasn’t seen yet. There’s been a multimedia trilogy
Rising Star Award this year (hello, BAFTA, 2002 would like its nominee
for maverick director Peter Greenaway, a Dogme film in Borneo, and
back, please), and why are the awards themselves so insufferably
soon he’s off to China and Argentina to shoot a manga adaptation.
smug? There’s a pause (“I’m trying very hard not to slag off my
Controversial Israeli drama O, Jerusalem is out in the States come May.
colleagues and never work again!”) but JJ thinks he has the answer:
JJ Feild has been seriously busy, but doesn’t he worry that doing
“Have you ever been to the Scottish BAFTAs? Every table has a bottle
these sorts of films might have been a mistake? You don’t see Jude Law
of whisky on it, and they heckle if they don’t like whoever wins. They’re
arseing around in a jungle without make-up and lighting. “I think maybe
ruthless. It means that the people who are voting are too nervous to
the commercial side looks differently at you,” he admits, “but you learn
give political awards.” More simmering awards season violence?
your craft. I certainly feel that there’s a reason for doing those smaller
Sounds good to us. MB
043