37 replies to this topic

[SecretAgentFan]

Let me explain myself before I´m getting flamed.

I am looking forward to SKYFALL very much. I like Sam Mendes. I like the high profile cast and crew.

But...

... has EON put itself into a corner now? Will a return to workman-like directors and only a high profile villain be considered by the press as a step back, a disappointment, a back to business as usual?

In other words: will future Bond films have to top this kind of prestige by employing only auteurs and first class actors?

And will that make the Bond films less fun?

Somehow I would welcome pure entertainment...

[Simon]

Who's to say they will 'go back'?

How many solid directors exist in the world?

How many films can possibly get made between now and the end of your (anyone's) existence?

If the answer to the second question is greater than that to the third question, I think we need not worry about running out of directors and 'going back'.

It's an answer, although not necessarily the right one.

[Col. Sun]

In truth Eon are simply upping the stakes to compete in the 21st century film world and market.

The days of more workman-like directors are over, reserved for tv at best now.

The financial stakes are so high now for big budget movies and the competition is serious, so Eon are responding to that,
and so far, with CR and even QOS both performing very well at the box office and thereafter on dvd, VOD, tv etc., they
seem to be making the right moves.

Skyfall is continuing that trend, and, looking at their cast and creative talent and top crew, they are upping the ante even more than before.

[univex]

My views exactly Col. And that´s why I respect them so much as producers, even when, in my eyes, they fail, like in 2002. They are safe and ballsy at the same time, and that´s not an easy philosophy to follow in life.

[Zorin Industries]

The casting thinking at Eon House and within the Broccoli camp is to cast decent actors. Some actors will no doubt be insisted upon by the money men (I can name some but won't) but it is Eon's product - they can choose who they want to crew and cast their films with. The earliest and perhaps biggest casting decision they made was going with a young B-list (at best) actor called Sean Connery. I think they proved their casting savvy from the outset. And in the case of Barbara Broccoli, she is hot when it comes to recognising acting talent. Fiennes, Wishaw, Bardem, McCrory, Dench and Craig are in SKYFALL because they are very good actors. Yes, Sam Mendes brings some clout with him.... but so will the next Bond director who may not be instantly familiar to wider audiences but still brings his or her own acting cache.

And look at it this way... Honor Blackman, Ursula Andress, Britt Ekland, Telly Savalas, Diana Rigg, Donald Pleasance, Jill Bennet, Topol, Louis Jourdan, Christopher Lee, Christopher Walken, Judi Dench, Michael Madsen, Jonathan Pryce, Teri Hatcher, Robbie Coltrane, Grace Jones, Jack Lord... these films have always brought in big(ger) names to pepper the often Euro-minded actors. Non-Western actors (Javier Bardem is a perfect example, as is his wife Ms Cruz) are making names for themselves so appear like A-list marquee names when cast in a Bond film. It is also worth noting here that the supposedly lesser known likes of Curt Jurgens, Gabrielle Ferzetti, Adolfo Celi and Gert Frobe were actually big and established names in their home countries and beyond.

[univex]

Zorin! Long time no see. Why haven´t you been more active in the SF threads/forum? BTW, I agree with your post on all acounts. Cheers!

[Pussfeller]

In what sense is Javier Bardem a "non-western" actor?

[The Shark]

Think he means Western as in non-Anglo.

[marktmurphy]

People will be seeing this because it's a Bond film, not because it's a Mendes film.

Eon can do whatever they like (within reason, obviously), people will still see the next movie.

[Jim]

^{Do any real people remember who directs an individual Bond film? My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that they don't, really.}

[Matt_13]

Yeah most normal people don't really care about the director unless it's someone they instantly recognize like Spielberg. We don't know what Mendes is cooking up yet either. It could turn out to be the most fun Bond we've seen in years. Let's wait and see. Oh, and I'd be totally fine with high profile directors working on Bond. Seems to be the thing to do now in the action genre, and if Ghost Protocol's Brad Bird is any indication of what a creative talent can bring to a veteran franchise, things are looking quite good, indeed.

[Dustin]

^{Do any real people remember who directs an individual Bond film? My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that they don't, really.}

Good point. No, most people just see a Bond film, regardless if it's directed by Young or Tamahori or Mendes. People would go see it if it was directed by Mickey Mouse. They don't remember them as Forster's QOS or Glen's TLD the way they talk about Spielberg's JAWS or Lucas's STAR WARS.

To address the topic: no, I don't see a quality or auteur problem coming up with SF. Not as long as it delivers in the entertainment branch. That's the make or brake department of a Bond film and will be the criterion any Bond film has to measure up against, be they directed by renown directors or newcomers, relatively speaking.

[Zorin Industries]

^{Do any real people remember who directs an individual Bond film? My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that they don't, really.}

Exactly.

[Vauxhall]

I think it can only be a good sign. Top class actors and directors becoming involved in the Bond franchise can only lead to others wanting to follow in their steps. If critically-acclaimed figures such as Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Sam Mendes are part of a legacy, then that ideally should give it the credibility to attract similar stars down the road.

[univex]

Exactly.

Also, I hope Mendes stays if all goes well with this one.

Edited by univex, 05 January 2012 - 07:44 PM.

[Odd Jobbies]

Will a return to workman-like directors and only a high profile villain?

Hope not!

will future Bond films have to top this kind of prestige by employing only auteurs and first class actors?

Hope so!

[genuinefelixleiter]

Prestige and upping the production value with highly experienced talent should only bring about a better Bond to the screen. Oh troubled ones, allay your fears. It appears that Broccoli and Wilson have their thinking caps on firmly. The erratic era of the Brosnan films, (no disrespect or disparagement meant to Pierce) was nullified with Casino Royale. Clearly the producers realized that to have any meaningful continuation of the series, it required not only an overhaul but a drastic change in the productions themselves, from the bottom up! This is a good thing, IMO. Casino Royale both rejuvenated the series and raised the bar.
Judge not by QOS which as we all know had suffered grievously due a writers strike, etc.
Let's put our trust in Craig and Mendes. Who we've been told are great fans of Bond and the series. However, I do agree that If they "f" up this one, it may be a long while until we get to see another. I for one have great hope.

Your brother in Langley

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

Let me explain myself before I´m getting flamed.

I am looking forward to SKYFALL very much. I like Sam Mendes. I like the high profile cast and crew.

But...

... has EON put itself into a corner now? Will a return to workman-like directors and only a high profile villain be considered by the press as a step back, a disappointment, a back to business as usual?

In other words: will future Bond films have to top this kind of prestige by employing only auteurs and first class actors?

And will that make the Bond films less fun?

Somehow I would welcome pure entertainment...

Perhaps, you're right, and this is in fact a dangerous trend, but I think the only real obstacle to deliver pure entertainment with these conditions of work, is to hire directors that almost call (or should I say scream) themselves auteurs, trying way too hard to make movies just like they supposed arthouse cinema should look like- i. e. Marc Forster with QOS-.

[Skudor]

One film does not a trend make - sure there's been a trend towards a much clearer focus on script, directing and acting talent but I suspect roles will be filled by those suitable for them. In this case the cast is very much local to England (Bardem and Marlohe the notable exceptions). Future films may call for more less known non-Brit-American talent (which is often a mixed blessing of being being 'new' the larger audience but sometimes I feel the acting suffers through the accents).

Anyway, Bond is infinitely re-inventable and recyclable - the time of the TSWLM and Moonraker type spectacles will come.

[Royal Dalton]

Mendes is a workman-like director, as far as I'm concerned. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

However, he clearly has an enormous amount of enthusiasm for this film, and for the James Bond series in general, and that can only be a good thing.

[Captain Tightpants]

In other words: will future Bond films have to top this kind of prestige by employing only auteurs and first class actors?

Is that really such a bad thing, though? I know everyone reckons that Babs won't rest until she has an Oscar in her hands for a Bond film, but audiences vote with their feet. Not every film is going to be introspective and brooding.

[TQB]

In truth Eon are simply upping the stakes to compete in the 21st century film world and market.

The days of more workman-like directors are over, reserved for tv at best now.

The financial stakes are so high now for big budget movies and the competition is serious, so Eon are responding to that,
and so far, with CR and even QOS both performing very well at the box office and thereafter on dvd, VOD, tv etc., they
seem to be making the right moves.

Skyfall is continuing that trend, and, looking at their cast and creative talent and top crew, they are upping the ante even more than before.

i agree with this but I feel like if Skyfall is as successful as the hype is... well it just makes it that much harder to top next time around.

[Pussfeller]

Yeah, you should always aim to disappoint. That's why it was so easy to make a Bond film after LTK.

[SecretAgentFan]

I am very happy to see that confidence is king here in all your replies. I admit I was playing a bit devil´s advocate here, thinking that the majority would feel very critical about SKYFALL´s caché - but I am positively surprised about the lack of negativity.

[Skudor]

The negativity will kick in soon enough - about two hour or so after the first screening.

Although, just by saying that I'm being negative, aren't I.

...

It'll all be jolly good - and all the fanwankery will start in earnest once people have had their first showing.

[Dustin]

Well, I suppose it could be a real problem once the primary aim wasn't to entertain any more. But I don't see why or how this should be, after all that's what pays the bills of all involved. So I don't see a real danger of a cul-de-sac by all the talent SF seems crammed with.

[SecretAgentFan]

That might be true. But let´s dwell on all the good will now.

[Miles Miservy]

Who's to say they will 'go back'?

How many solid directors exist in the world?

How many films can possibly get made between now and the end of your (anyone's) existence?

If the answer to the second question is greater than that to the third question, I think we need not worry about running out of directors and 'going back'.

It's an answer, although not necessarily the right one.

I feel the 007 franchise has and always will "evolve", not go back. Sometimes different directors attempt different directions and it works ( like Martin Campbell) and other times, not so much... (Lee Tamahori). One thing is for certain, were the producers not to branch out & try new things (or new directorial talent), they run the risk of getting irrevovocably stale (My sincere apologies, John Glen).

Let's see what Sam Mendes brings to the screen before everyone freaks and screams, "There goes the Franchise!" I for one am looking forward to it. In all candor, I am not thrilled with the title but that won't prevent me from the film's opening. I do not expect to be disappointed (Then again, I'd said the same thing about DAD).

Edited by Miles Miservy, 06 January 2012 - 08:05 PM.

[00Twelve]

All I can say on the subject is that EON will continue to seek the best and most appropriate talent they can find, and will continue to learn by doing.

Jeez, that sounded like a press statement.

[Pussfeller]

As long as Eon remains an international leader in proactive innovation technology, trailblazing stylish new frontiers in the timeless pursuit of excellence, I'll be happy.