I do actually love this bit of Bond prep, finding and watching the directors, and lator actors, previous credits to try and get an idea what they’ll likly do. Watching Blade Runner 2049 now - thought i’d start with that one given the other Bond alumni in it (all from the Craig era admittedly)
6 Likes
An ancillary question is whether the Craig Bond films were produced at a time when such a Bond escapade was desired/would turn a profit.
Agreed. But are two-dimensional screen heroes in fashion now? Gleiberman asks a good question about whether “the cutthroat charisma of Bond’s retro macho mystique” is dated or timeless (he comes down on the side of timelessness). Pre-Craig Bonds brought their own version of charisma to the formula (which helped smooth over the assassin aspects), while Craig Bond injected psychology (possibly as a substitute for charm/charisma), since movie audiences had become accustomed to/desirous of more than two-dimensional protagonists.
SP tried to tweak the formula by placing Bond at the center, and accounted for his lack of psychology by saying: “He is a state-sanctioned assassin, who kills on order, and without remorse/hesitation. Charisma optional.” The series finally gave viewers the bluntest of blunt instruments, but still a cohort of fans was unhappy.
I wonder if the charismatic assassin of the earlier films can be revived more than five decades later, or if the world has changed too much to make it viable. If it cannot, and psychological Bond is a non-starter, what are other options?
6 Likes
I would add the qualification that various iterations of Bond have endured.
3 Likes
The more serious takes on Bond emphasise he’s an assassin. I’d like them to emphasise the spy part more. Sneaking around Palmyra and Carver’s print press, surveilling targets and the like. This could help distinguish against the one man army portrayals - while not sacrificing Bond’s lethality when required.
I think a Moore styled Bond is possible, but it may require gradual steps to get there. 007 First Light’s reveal trailer still has Craig era energy but Bond comes off more jokey and light, owing a lot to his youth. It’s whether or not creatives want the world Bond inhabits to match that type of demeanour.
Amazon may test the waters with tone while generally retaining what has been a safe and successful formula with Craig. It’s possible we’ll have two different styles contrasting against one another in game and film, which could be short or long term based on audience reception.
As for casting the lead, one of the beauties of OHMSS is the ability to have a quality James Bond experience even if James Bond himself isn’t exactly to your liking. Denis is a solid director and I’m sure he’ll have an equally capable team around him.
7 Likes
Rewatching the movies at the beginning of this year made me realize how many assumptions about the Bond actors have been cemented in the reviewers‘ minds and by repetition have become the default position for audiences.
However, my impression was that the character never changed. Only the actors, reflecting the views of the times these films were made in, were encouraged to emphasize certain traits of the character - sometimes less, sometimes more.
The widely held and repeated opinion that Craig was the only one who brought out the psychology of Bond is, in my mind, wrong.
CraigBond was shown with a Mother figure as his superior - but so was Brosnan. CraigBond was shown suffering the death of a woman he loved - but so were Lazenby, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan.
CraigBond was shown disregarding his orders in order to fulfill the mission‘s objective - something all previous Bonds did.
He was the only one who got a family and sacrificed himself for them - that’s the only way his portrayal differed from the rest.
Everything about these traits is about nuances.
Does really anybody think that there was no darkness contained in ConneryBond? Moore got many more moments to show his „armour“ getting deep scratches. He just held it together as soon as he could.
Lazenby showed the anger, Dalton in addition to anger showed the pain and the sourness, Brosnan showed all of that, too, coated in suaveness, willing to get the job done as a state sanctioned assassin as well. (Not overtly struggling with it made him more of a RobotBond than Craig who constantly was doubting his status.)
So the real question for me is: what nuance is going to be brought out more this time?
I fear it will be the young Bond‘s struggle with authority, having to find himself, and finally embracing the surrogate family he is surrounded with.
In other words: the usual overdone and therefore boring character arc of most tv shows targeted at young adults.
11 Likes
That’s a very fine analysis you have made here. I think you’re right.
2 Likes
Assassin-lite? It was how it was played in the beginning, and maybe it is time for a revival.
It will definitely be a Villeneuve film, and capable of being appreciated as such. What will be interesting is seeing what Bond iteration fits into such a film (as well as what iterations of villain and nefarious plan that requires stopping).
There was darkness, but it never became the engine of the narrative as it did with CraigBond.
Exactly. Once again, the dark psychology did not become the engine of the narrative.
CraigBond gave an alternative view, where “holding it together” was not possible. ConneryBond’s and MooreBond’s ability to be unaffected by the darkness was as much a fantasy element as space lasers and undersea cities.
4 Likes
Im actually encouraged by the choice of final 5. The 3 (Villeneuve, Wright and J.Nolan) i know the work of aren’t exactly quiet people in terms of their opinions, so if Villeneuve won amongst them, he must have a good take.
6 Likes
I think he’s a genuine Bond fan, certainly that’s what comes across and he must have something in his head of how he wants to do Bond. Tone will be key and I think his Bond will be established and capable. It will look beautiful though.
9 Likes
While I would have preferred a Bond film with much more levity and humour (really don’t think that Villeneuve suddenly will show that after his other films never did) I am looking forward to a visually impressive experience.
6 Likes
A bit of reasoned/reasonable meditation on what tone Villeneuve may aim for with BOND 26. The gist of it is, the tone may not necessarily become lighter, given the success of the last few decades.
Personally, I’m undecided whether that’s a given with Villeneuve - but it might easily be what market research would come up with, no doubt supported by impressive power point presentation and target segment polling. Could be.
3 Likes
I‘m sure his Bond film will look great, explore the character and keep the series a serious award contender.
But since his sense of humour has not been part of his films so far I doubt he suddenly wants to make Bond funny now.
3 Likes
Guess it depends on the writer on how much humour is in it. Despite what Collider claims, Craig’s films are not consistent in tone. Neither have the rest apart from the obvious exception.
But, hey! Why actually research something you’re paid for?
1 Like
I wonder how much of that lack of humour is due to Villeneuve and how much to the themes of his films? Of course it’s Villeneuve choosing his themes, so if they rarely feature a lighter element, as drug wars, android ethics and the Dune narrative are wont to do, that, too, would be a matter of choice. Currently it’s hard to imagine any director just going into this gig with the aim to deliver an unpretentious popcorn flick like they used to.
2 Likes