If you're not a loyal follower of all things musical theatre, chances are you haven't heard the name Jeremy Jordan. His most recent film, The Last Five Years, is likely to reach a small enough viewership that many may continue living life not knowing who he is. But if you have an appreciation for natural (unbelievable) talent, presence and (bonus!) good looks, I'm here to encourage you to Google this guy because I know you won't regret it.
The Last Five Years is a 2002 off-Broadway musical written by Jason Robert Brown. This month, Richard LaGravenese released his film adaptation, starring Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick. It is the story of Jamie and Cathy, two young artists who fall in love, get married, and fall apart. The story is told from reverse perspectives. Cathy begins the show at the end of their relationship and Jamie at the beginning. As with any work of art that has a small (but mighty!) following, there will inevitably be moviegoers who find it boring, confusing, and not worth the watch. Truthfully, I'd love nothing more than to campaign for a story that I ardently adore. But instead, I'd like to advertise its male star and explain why he should be acknowledged for his endlessly impressive work.
Anna Kendrick is quickly becoming a household name. In The Last Five Years, her sensitive attention to making the character of Cathy come to life gives us even more reason to love her. Between this and the much-anticipated release of Pitch Perfect 2, Anna doesn't need much more endorsement.
Let's look instead at Jeremy Jordan, a 30-year-old singing, dancing, acting extraordinaire. His talent is undeniable. But what's truly special is Jordan's ability to tap into a character and immerse himself in that person with no inhibitions. This is especially true with Jamie in L5Y. Jamie is a writer who writes a best-selling novel by the age of 23. He's experiencing the invigoration that comes from success at a young age while his wife is experiencing the rejection that comes from being an aspiring actress. Eventually Jamie is unfaithful and they slowly fall apart, along with all of his efforts to console his sinking wife. Jamie's personality, actions, and arc provide all the makings for a character that's anything but sympathetic. But somehow, Jeremy Jordan's Jamie invokes irresistible sympathy through a genuine charm and display of love. I was completely mesmerized by his connection to the character, which made me feel equally connected as a viewer.
Before seeing this film, I was a Jeremy Jordan fangirl. Now, my level of fangirldom is through the roof. If you like music or love or break-ups or even just uniquely-composed films, I encourage you to see The Last Five Years. Or at the very least, look up any of Jeremy Jordan's performances on YouTube. ("It's All Coming Back to Me Now" is a classic and may inspire some swooning or rofl.)
My biggest hope is that this film will bring about more film and television gigs for Jordan because he is an artist whose work deserves to be shared with the most widespread audience possible.
