137 replies to this topic

[marktmurphy]

Bizarrely, Brosnan has been given an honoury OBE for 'bringing style to the UK' i.e. for no reason at all. They mentioned some charity work also.

This is one of the stranger honours to be given out- I geniunely can't work out why he's got it- talk about being famous for being famous.

He is to be presented with it in Dublin soon.

http://www.ananova.c.../sm_799812.html

[Jim]

Originally posted by marktmurphy
Bizarrely, Brosnan has been given an honoury OBE for 'bringing style to the UK' i.e. for no reason at all. They mentioned some charity work also.

This is one of the stranger honours to be given out- I geniunely can't work out why he's got it- talk about being famous for being famous.

Hide - not only are those comments amusingly explosive, but it's genuinely advisable to right-minded folk to duck before the Brosnazis ascend amongst us with their propoganda about how he's nice to animals 'n' stuff.

I'm sure he's a lovely man, whatever it is he does.

Can a Knighthood be far off? (Well, yes, because he isn't British - perhaps he could be one of our funny little foreign pets though, like that Geldof man or that Spielberg cove)

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Jim

I'm sure he's a lovely man, whatever it is he does.

OBE, schmOBE. Every man and his dog's got one. Robert Carlyle's got one (I think).

According to Jack Straw, Brosnan has "worked very hard behind the scenes in supporting an array of charitable causes. This award celebrates a truly remarkable achievement."

Amazing what one can do for charidee when one is a multimillionaire celebrity.

[dennisbolt]

From Associated Press: After four missions on her majesty's secret service, Brosnan is getting some recognition from Queen Elizabeth II. Brosnan, star of the last four James Bond films, will be made an honorary OBE or officer of the Order of the British Empire- honorary, because the 50-year-old actor is Irish. The award will be presented by the British ambassador in Dublin, Stewart Eldon, on Saturday, July 19,2003.

[Xenobia]

I'm sorry you all feel Mr. Brosnan isn't worthy of an OBE. Luckily, other minds think other wise.

Congratulations Pierce.

-- Xenobia

[marktmurphy]

But really, what's he done to deserve the Order of the British Empire?

[License To Kill]

Don't you all remember when the Beatles received MBEs.. They gave them back

[Jim]

Before we get too carried away here, do note that this honour isn';t actually one doled out by the Royal Household - although, granted, those are largely political anyway - but by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a bunch of civil servants basically, that has a number to shove out each year, and gets its power to do so from an entirely different source than those bunged out at deserving Britons.

Ergo, this is not really an OBE as an honour delivered by the sovereign and couldn't be, because he isn't a subject of that sovereign. It is an honour delivered by an administrative body. It shares the name but that's pretty much it.

Given the amount of foreign cannon fodder the British government has in its time shoved at enemy guns, bodies gone unrewarded, it's a bit superficial to bung something like this at some bloke who appears in some films and isn't averse to the odd tree. If he wasn't playing James Bond, do you really think he would have got it?

But still, he's in exalted company. The same people gave Nicolai Caecescu an honourary knighthood.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Xenobia

I'm sorry you all feel Mr. Brosnan isn't worthy of an OBE.  

Not only do I feel that he is unworthy of an OBE, I find the fact that he has been awarded one quite nauseating.

To those who have, more shall be given.

[Jim]

There is the rancid stench of "congratulations on being famous/being rich/being famous and rich/giving us someone famous and rich to give this thing to so we look awfully groovy (vote Labour)" about this - where's the real achievement for the British Empire, then? This sort of award - for which some have died - isn't some sort of razmatazz prize to be doled out to people who are recognisable copy for the tabloid crazed - what has he actually, personally, contributed to the British Empire and its success? It rhymes with Duck Ball.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Jim

what has he actually, personally, contributed to the British Empire and its success? It rhymes with Duck Ball.  

Well, hey, at least the UK (and its handful of dependent territories) can shine in the reflected glory of a son of Eire turned (I believe) American citizen, who has made a multimillion-dollar fortune (a tiny fraction of which he has been lovely enough to donate to charidee - *cough* tax writeoff *cough*) while acting (I know you'll contest that, Jim) in Hollywood films.

Splendid.

[Jim]

Gosh, aren't we blessed. Hasn't he made Britain shine! Without him, we are obviously simply some grotty little pimple at the poo-chute of the universe.

You'll note that real OBEs etc are awarded for "Services...".

This trinket appears to have been awarded for "making Britain look stylish". That's a really good reason, isn't it? Even the meagre lustre of the Foreign and Commonwealth Awards would appear to have been trivialised by this knee-jerk populism.

It's about as credible as giving one to Idi Amin. Oh, no - they did that too.

[Xenobia]

Actually Loomis, after giving it some thought, Pierce Brosnan has decided to remain a Irish citizen. He has not taken the US citizenship test, and will not take it any time in the near future.

-- Xenobia

[zencat]

Originally posted by Jim
This trinket appears to have been awarded for "making Britain look stylish". That's a really good reason, isn't it? Even the meagre lustre of the Foreign and Commonwealth Awards would appear to have been trivialised by this knee-jerk populism.

Hasn't Pierce has worked for something like the past 10 years on rasing money for women's cancer research and awareness, etc., in both the US and UK? This could have something to do with it.

[Dunph]

I think you two are just being awkward for awkward's sake, sure Brosnan's been rewarded well, very well, for his successes, but his life hasn't been a bed of roses. He doesn't do bad with his services to acting and his charitable efforts. I'm by no means a purveyor of all things Brosnan, but credit where credit's due.

Pierce has set up a charity in light of Cassandra's (his previous wife's) tragic death from cancer, he's a UNICEF ambassador and he does great services for potential actors, knowing what we have to go through to get noticed in the world, such as leading a workshop in Fleadh, Ireland.

I can think of many less deserving people for the award. David Beckham anyone?

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

his life hasn't been a bed of roses.  

He's not the only person in the world to have lost a loved one.

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

He doesn't do bad with his services to acting and his charitable efforts.  

Sorry, what services to acting? Well, I suppose using his position to give genuinely talented young actors a leg up, if he does indeed do that, may be counted as a service to acting, but I wonder what exactly his own work has contributed to the craft of thesping. As for his charitable efforts, I'm sure they're wonderful, but I'm also certain that many of us would be only too happy to "give something back" if we were as obscenely loaded as Brosnan. Besides, isn't the warm glow of inner satisfaction (along with the good PR) that he gets from his charidee work its own reward? Why does he need an OBE?

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

Pierce has set up a charity in light of Cassandra's (his previous wife's) tragic death from cancer, he's a UNICEF ambassador...

Does he stand on street corners rattling a collection box? Does he type his own charity-related correspondence and lick the envelopes and stamps? Or do most of his duties in this field involve lending his name and turning up to occasional functions attended by "the great and the good"? Fine, it's better than staying at home and snorting coke, but there are surely many thousands of unsung "little people" out there who do much more arduous and time-consuming work for charity. However, they will never be feted because they are not glamorous Hollywood stars.

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

I can think of many less deserving people for the award. David Beckham anyone?  

I wouldn't have given Beckham an OBE either. Or Roger Moore a knighthood, come to that.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Loomis
Does he stand on street corners rattling a collection box? Does he type his own charity-related correspondence and lick the envelopes and stamps?

Yes, I heard he does this between Bonds.

[Loomis]

Oh? Now that you mention it, there's a charity worker with a clipboard I've seen a few times in Covent Garden who's the spitting image of Brosnan. I assumed he couldn't possibly be the real Broz, but now I realize he must be, especially as he tends to wear a DIE ANOTHER DAY crew jacket (Lee Tamahori must have been kind enough to give it to him). I'll go up to him tomorrow and ask him to confirm whether BOND 21 will indeed be released next year.

[Dr. Tynan]

My Aunt has recently been awarded an MBE for services to her local community.

[Dunph]

He's not the only person in the world to have lost a loved one.

And I'm not inferring that he is. Have you taken the time to read his biography, Loomis? You'll find it's more than just 'losing a loved one' that he's had to go through, fair enough he is obscenely rich now, but at least he's a high profile figure that does things with his profile.

Yeah, I'm sure he could do a hell of a lot more, and I'd hardly expect him to run a charity single-handedly, but once his career dies down (as has Roger Moore's), I'd put a fair amount of money that he ups the ante charity-work wise.

And, as Dr Tynan has highlighted, occasionally the non-feted members of society too receive well deserved accolades for the work they do. Pass our congratulations on to her, Tynan!

[Dr. Tynan]

Thanks Paul

[thuffner]

Wow. Congrats Mr. Brosnan. I didn't think he would get any 'awards' from England because he is an American citizen now...

[mccartney007]

Originally posted by License To Kill
Don't you all remember when the Beatles received MBEs.. They gave them back

Actually, only John gave his back.

[mccartney007]

Why doesn't Brosnan deserve an OBE? He's done a lot of work for charities (cancer research, UNICEF) AND he's a big part of the reason Britain has a successful film industry (whether you want to believe it or not). The Pierce Brosnan James Bond films have generated a lot of money and interest in the UK. Just because you don't like him as an actor doesn't mean he doesn't deserve an OBE. It's not like he asked for the honor anyway...

[zencat]

I'm with you, mccartney007. I have no idea why there is such hostility here toward the idea of Pierce getting an OBE. I think it's great.

[Xenobia]

Doc Tynan...congrats to your aunt on her MBE! That must be a wonderful honor for her and for your family!

-- Xenobia

[Genrewriter]

I say congrats to both!

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by Xenobia
I'm sorry you all feel Mr. Brosnan isn't worthy of an OBE.  Luckily, other minds think other wise.

Congratulations Pierce.

-- Xenobia

you are so right xen, we will keep the brosnan faith:)

[Jim]

Originally posted by mccartney007
Why doesn't Brosnan deserve an OBE?  He's done a lot of work for charities (cancer research, UNICEF) AND he's a big part of the reason Britain has a successful film industry (whether you want to believe it or not).  The Pierce Brosnan James Bond films have generated a lot of money and interest in the UK.  Just because you don't like him as an actor doesn't mean he doesn't deserve an OBE.  It's not like he asked for the honor anyway...

It's nothing to do with the individual, whose existence is of no importance, it's whether he deserves the award.

Those stating that he deserves this honour haven't made out much of a case on the specific criteria for this bauble being granted; the argument appears to run "he's done a lot for charity" - not of itself a qualifying crtierion.

The criteria, in a nutshell, for these Foreign and Commonwealth Awards, are that Johnny Foreigner has improved Britain and British interests. The charitable work criterion for the Foreign and Commonwealth Awards only - note that word - only works to award people raising charitable funds specifically - and that word is important, sorry to burst bubbles - within Britain and its dominions. Has he done this? (it works the other way for British people raising money worldwide - hence Roger Moore's knighthood). The Foreign and Commonwealth crtierion are for contribution to British interests. So - face it - mentioning his worldwide charitable works as part of the justification for the gong won't wash because they couldn't be part of the grounds for giving him the Foreign and Commnwealth award in the first place. it's just to sweeten the bitter pill of an honour being given to him because some scratchy old spinster of a civil servant in the Foreign Office thinks he's good looking. Might as well give it to his orthodontist, his personal trainer, his hairderesser and his plastic surgeon.

Frankly, giving him an award on the justification - partly - that he has given Britain "style" - a subjective concept- trivialises the award, renders him even more superficial (and is thereby very dangerous if he's craving gravitas) and appears to be on the basis that he looks nice, or he once wore a lovely suit. The other danger is that he is being used as a populist tool of a government more obsessed with appearance than substance (which sums up the BrosnanBond pretty well) and has mistaken Pierce Brosnan for James Bond. Nobody appears to want to address the question whether he would have got this had he not been James Bond.

And if you think Britain has a successful film industry - it has successful craftsmen, but there's no industrial output. Britain had a notable film industry in the 1950s, when Mr Brosnan was six years old. I'm sure he was influential. The James Bond series is British in the sense that Bill Clinton is British - has connections to the nation, but not actually anything very much to do with it, on the whole.

So if you think he "deserves" it, try to stop licking his face and consider whether one should only deserve something if one makes the grade. He hasn't made the grade, hasn't met the rubric - ergo, he doesn't "deserve" it.

But he does have a lovely face, doesn't he? Ooh, give him an award and defecate over all those who are working damned hard and yet go unrecognised.

And please stop stating he deserves it because you think he does, because emotionally you think it right. He deserves it if he has come up to scratch on the reasosn to deserve it - and looking pretty really isn't one of them.

[flares]

Very good Jim