Jamie Bell can do just about anything, but what...

It's obvious that Jamie Bell is a very talented actor. He can do just about anything. There's broken, pitiful, endearing Smike in "Nicolas Nickleby." There's tough, get the F out of my way Griffin in "Jumper." He's enigmatic Jimmy in "King Kong," leaving you wanting more of his story. In "The Eagle," it's sad to watch international film star and celebrity Channing Tatum's amatueurish depiction of Marcus left in the dust as Jamie's multi-layered Esca rises far above the material. Jamie has been quoted as not wanting to be type cast by his a star is born turn in "Billy Elliot." That is something he needn't spend much time thinking about. Like all great actors, no one will ever say that they've been able to catch Jamie Bell acting. I've always had the feeling that Jamie Bell does not want to be a famous movie star. It seems like he wants to do his craft, and then have as much of a normal life as he can, which probably accounts for some of his career choices.

In many ways, Jamie Bell's career reminds me of Tom Courtenay's career. After "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner," Tom Courtenay could have been one of the most bankable international actors in the world. He followed it with "Billy Liar," and "Dr.Zhivago" (evolving from Lara's loving idealistic young man Pasha to the chilling Strelnikov whose world had no love). Like "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner," both were very well received by the critics, and the public. Courtenay seemed to have made a choice after "Dr. Zhivago," to work at his craft, and forego celebrity and its entitlements, as Jamie Bell seems to have done. While Jamie Bell is still young enough, I would hope that he does a remake of "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner," with an updated script to reflect the modern world and young men in the justice system. I believe that Jamie Bell could make Colin Smith a signature role of his own, without taking anything away from Tom Courtenay's brilliant depiction of that character.