982 replies to this topic

[ACE]

I have a hunch that the producers may be looking at Goran Visnjic to play Le Chiffre.

I agree Pussfeller. And while you're right that he's not the character from the novel, he seems the right sort of actor (age and physicality and level of stardom) Eon might choose.

ACE

[bryonalston]

I would love to see Visnjic as Le Chiffre (or any character for that matter.) I don't care if Le Chiffre is short, tall, or has 5 legs and purple skin, as long as the actor makes for a good villain, that's fine and dandy.

The only problem I see with Visnjic playing Le Chiffre is that Visnjic is too Bondian. Now with Martin Campbell directing, and the villain being sort of a villain version of James Bond, people might think that CR is a mere rehash of GE. But who cares really? As long as Visnjic does a good job in whichever role he gets.

[Skin 17]

I think a good bond villain should be considerably older than Bond but assure himself of some superior intellect.

[Pussfeller]

At this point, I would like to see an older, more paternal Bond villain, but for all we know, Le Chiffre would just be a minor villain, a "first among henchmen", like Brad Whittaker in The Living Daylights. A while ago, a CBner said that the book would have to be expanded upon to fill a whole movie, and I agree. Le Chiffre would either have to be expanded with it, or turned into a secondary villain who is killed earlier in the film. If he were given an older, more Goldfinger-like boss, I think it would work well.

[bryonalston]

At this point, I would like to see an older, more paternal Bond villain,  but for all we know, Le Chiffre would just be a minor villain, a "first among henchmen", like Brad Whittaker in The Living Daylights. A while ago, a CBner said that the book would have to be expanded upon to fill a whole movie, and I agree. Le Chiffre would either have to be expanded with it, or turned into a secondary villain who is killed earlier in the film. If he were given an older, more Goldfinger-like boss, I think it would work well.

There's a 90% chance that Le Chiffre will be killed off during the torture scene like in the book, and Bond will end up going after the organization that Le Chiffre is (was) part of. I would count on there being a main villain that heads the SPECTRE-like organization. Knowing P&W, they will probably keep the movie realistic during the first two-thirds, then the villain's plan will be completely OTT (since you can't just have a villain who needs to win money at a casino.)

[Loeffelholz]

Rumored Bond Final Four Contender (?!?!?) Ewan Stewart seems a perfect Le Chiffre, whether he is a minor villian early on or the main bad guy at the end. A solid, yet not over-exposed actor who will not over-shadow a new 007.

[bryonalston]

Stewart has no place in a Bond film unless he plays a very small part. The person who plays Le Chiffre should be recognizable by the general public, but isn't too famous. The clearly best choices are people who are "back-burner actors," or people who are famous for being supporting characters. Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy are perfect candidates. They're well known, but won't overshadow Clive Owen or Goran Visnjic when they're cast and they'll do a great job. If you don't believe me, watch "Fargo." Both of their characters, though extremely different, scream "LE CHIFFRE!!!" a lot more than some balding fathead like Ewan Stewart. I'd rather be forced to see a Max Zorin/Mayday sex tape with my eyes taped open than watch Stewart's ugly face on screen for one second.

[Max Zorin]

Steve Buscemi was actually my choice for LeChiffre. Good pick, bryonalston.

[bryonalston]

Thanks. I just feel that he has the right screen presence for a villain as slimy and odd as Le Chiffre. I would have gone with Bill Macy if he wasn't typecast as a loser (which Le Chiffre is, but Macy isn't threatening enough. The general audience would know right off the bat that Bond would easily defeat him. Buscemi seems to be more of a match.) Buscemi is perfect, since he's a recognizable enough name, but isn't so famous that he'll overshadow the Bond actor or the actor playing his boss.

[JCH]

Thanks. I just feel that he has the right screen presence for a villain as slimy and odd as Le Chiffre. I would have gone with Bill Macy if he wasn't typecast as a loser (which Le Chiffre is, but Macy isn't threatening enough. The general audience would know right off the bat that Bond would easily defeat him. Buscemi seems to be more of a match.) Buscemi is perfect, since he's a recognizable enough name, but isn't so famous that he'll overshadow the Bond actor or the actor playing his boss.

I like Buscemi a lot too. But I wonder if he wouldn't be a bit too weak looking to be a convincing badguy. If you're going for slimy and odd, how about Crispin Glover?

[bryonalston]

If Glover didn't play creepy and odd in Charlies Angels, I would agree, but I feel that he doesn't seem like main-villain or even supporting villain material. He'd be a good henchman though (it's in his genes. )

[FLEMINGFAN]

Jean Reno would make an interesting Le Chiffre.

[bryonalston]

Reno seems better suited for a more dynamic character, such as Rene Mathis or Le Chiffre's "Blofeld" (superior villain)

[JCH]

If Glover didn't play creepy and odd in Charlies Angels, I would agree, but I feel that he doesn't seem like main-villain or even supporting villain material. He'd be a good henchman though (it's in his genes. )

Hmm...I forgot about that. Maybe that's why I saw him in that type of role so naturally - he's done it before! Oh well.

Edited by JCH, 27 July 2005 - 02:30 AM.

[bryonalston]

I think that sometime in the future, not necessarily for CR, either Andy Garcia or Benicio Del Toro (in a triumphant return) should play villains. Andy Garcia is a natural choice, since he looks very threatening and creepy. In fact, I think that he would do a good job as Le Chiffre if Le Chiffre was promoted to a main, more powerful villain, since Le Chiffre should be threatening, but kind of scared for his life. Del Toro needs no introduction.

[Max Zorin]

Thanks. I just feel that he has the right screen presence for a villain as slimy and odd as Le Chiffre. I would have gone with Bill Macy if he wasn't typecast as a loser (which Le Chiffre is, but Macy isn't threatening enough. The general audience would know right off the bat that Bond would easily defeat him. Buscemi seems to be more of a match.) Buscemi is perfect, since he's a recognizable enough name, but isn't so famous that he'll overshadow the Bond actor or the actor playing his boss.

That's a good point. I'd never really thought about the character of LeChiffre when choosing Buscemi. I just liked him cuz he looked a bit like Peter Lorre (well, the eyes, anyways.)

But yeah, that's exactly how LeChiffre should be played. A slimy, weak little man who's in way over his head. Now I'm starting to warm up to the idea of Macy as LeChiffre! Just combine his characters from Fargo and The Cooler, and you get the idea.

[tdalton]

Thanks. I just feel that he has the right screen presence for a villain as slimy and odd as Le Chiffre. I would have gone with Bill Macy if he wasn't typecast as a loser (which Le Chiffre is, but Macy isn't threatening enough. The general audience would know right off the bat that Bond would easily defeat him. Buscemi seems to be more of a match.) Buscemi is perfect, since he's a recognizable enough name, but isn't so famous that he'll overshadow the Bond actor or the actor playing his boss.

I think that there are two actors who would make excellent Le Chiffres: Jack Nicholson and Bob Hoskins. Hoskins has really grown on me since someone mentioned him on another message board, and I think that he is my number one choice at the moment with Nicholson coming in a close second.

[bryonalston]

Nicholson would be great as any villain, but I must agree with Max Zorin that the villain should be portrayed as being way over his head. After all. that's what Le Chiffre basically was: he thought that he could steal from an organization like SMERSH and get away with it. If it had been SPECTRE instead of SMERSH, he probably would have fled Europe, hoping that they wouldn't catch up to him. I think that all of these strong, imposing actors like Nicholson, Daniel Day Lewis and Jeremy Irons are just the opposite of what Le Chiffre should be. Le Chiffre shouldn't strike fear into the hearts of Bond and the audience, but should be pathetic and insecure about himself (especially in the torture scene.) Buscemi and Macy are as far from Bond as you can get and that's the point. Night and Day.

[tdalton]

Nicholson would be great as any villain, but I must agree with Max Zorin that the villain should be portrayed as being way over his head. After all. that's what Le Chiffre basically was: he thought that he could steal from an organization like SMERSH and get away with it. If it had been SPECTRE instead of SMERSH, he probably would have fled Europe, hoping that they wouldn't catch up to him. I think that all of these strong, imposing actors like Nicholson, Daniel Day Lewis and Jeremy Irons are just the opposite of what Le Chiffre should be. Le Chiffre shouldn't strike fear into the hearts of Bond and the audience, but should be pathetic and insecure about himself (especially in the torture scene.) Buscemi and Macy are as far from Bond as you can get and that's the point. Night and Day.

Good point, but I'm sure that they're going to change the Le Chiffre character to make him stronger since they hardly ever follow the book anyway. If they make him stronger, I say go with Nicholson. If they keep him the same as in the novel, I think that they couldn't go wrong with Macy, but I think that Bob Hoskins could also play that character well.

[bryonalston]

I would say yes with Nicholson, but every other time he's played a villain character, he's always cursed like a sailor. Do you think that his Le Chiffre would be effective without using the F-bomb dozens of times in the movie?

[Max Zorin]

The problem with Nicholson is that he's JACK NICHOLSON and when he's on screen that's all you see. Take a look at his Joker. There's more Nicholson than Napier in there. He's a fantastic actor, sure, and a great villain, yeah...but he's also an icon now. And no matter who he plays he always seems to be playing Jack.

Bob Hoskins, on the other hand...THAT I like.

[tdalton]

The problem with Nicholson is that he's JACK NICHOLSON and when he's on screen that's all you see. Take a look at his Joker. There's more Nicholson than Napier in there. He's a fantastic actor, sure, and a great villain, yeah...but he's also an icon now. And no matter who he plays he always seems to be playing Jack.

Bob Hoskins, on the other hand...THAT I like.

My main reason for liking Nicholson for the role is that, for some reason, I pictured him while reading the torture sequence in the novel. That sequence seems like something that Nicholson would do really well and very convincingly. Plus, the Le Chiffre character is somewhat different from his usual villainous roles, so perhaps having Nicholson playing the part a bit differently would make it more interesting.

But, as I said, I think that Bob Hoskins has really grown on me as far as a potential Le Chiffre. Someone mentioned him to me a couple of days ago, and I had never really thought about Hoskins for it mainly because I had forgotten about him since it's been a while since he's done any work that caught my attention. I think that he could play Le Chiffre in both the ways that have been discussed here. He could play him as a supervillain type, like Nicholson would probably play him as, or he could go the route that someone like Macy or Buscemi would play him. I doubt there would be much expectation surrounding what type of performance he would turn in because it's just been so long since he's done any mainstream work that the vast majority of filmgoers would have seen him in to have any real expectations about how he woudl approach any particular role.

Edited by tdalton, 29 July 2005 - 02:40 AM.

[Max Zorin]

Perhaps if Nicholson played it differently than he usually plays his villains, it could be interesting. Really explore the character, and accentuate his age to show weakness, much like he did in About Schmidt.

[tdalton]

Perhaps if Nicholson played it differently than he usually plays his villains, it could be interesting. Really explore the character, and accentuate his age to show weakness, much like he did in About Schmidt.

That's kind of what I was thinking when I thought about him. He's done some good work lately that's been different from what he usually does, but we know that he can turn on the intensity when he has to (which I would think that he would have to do during the torture sequence).

[Leon]

There's only one man in my mind who could possibly play Le Chiffre, and that is because he is absolutely 100% perfect. Gerard Depardieu not only matches Flemings description but he has supreme physical/dominating presence oozing off him, is very scary and unnusual looking (a must for a great villain)...oh and he's one of the finest actors in the world, he's actually French and is not hugely well known in the same way Jack Nicholson etc are:





Il est parfait.

Edited by Leon, 29 July 2005 - 11:35 PM.

[Agent 76]

There's only one man in my mind who could possibly play Le Chiffre, and that is because he is absolutely 100% perfect. Gerard Depardieu not only matches Flemings description but he has supreme physical/dominating presence oozing off him, is very scary and unnusual looking (a must for a great villain)...oh and he's one of the finest actors in the world, he's actually French and is not hugely well known in the same way Jack Nicholson etc are:





Il est parfait.

Certainement!

[bryonalston]

I thought that Le Chiffre was supposed to be short. It's been a while since I've read CR, but I guess I just have Peter Lorre on the brain. Gerard is a giant, exactly the opposite of what Le Chiffre should be. Le Chiffre should be a weakling; either old and paternal (Jack Nicholson) or a short, slimy man (Steve Buscemi) or simply a weak coward (William H. Macy.) Gerard might be able to play a henchman or some other villain of some kind, but I think that he's wrong for Le Chiffre.

[Leon]

Nope, Le Chiffre is a big man, and also a rough, nasty and often disgusting:

"...taking in the wide expanse of white face, surmounted by the short abrupt cliff of reddish-brown hair, the unsmiling wet, red mouth and the impressive width of the shoulders, loosely draped in a massively cut jacket"

"Le Chiffre, with the silence and economy of movement of a big fish, came through the opening in the brass rail..."


He is supposed to be a huge character, dominating and aggressive...a rude frenchman on steroids if you like ...he also has the dirty habbit of breathing in benzadrine at the tables.

Oh and please, Gerard Depardieu as a henchman? That is totally dissrespectful, he is an outstanding actor. And having big names like Nicholson in a Bond film is not good, they would not be the character either, it would just be Jack Nicholson.

Edited by Leon, 30 July 2005 - 12:36 AM.

[bryonalston]

The Jack Nicholson issue has been disputed and justified above. And besides, my pick for Le Chiffre is Steve Buscemi, not Jack Nicholson. Even though Gerard would be an inspired character for a Bond film, I simply cannot see him as Le Chiffre. Sorry, but I can't.

[Leon]

Well frankly if you want random natiuonalities to play a French villain then I don't see why everyone is complaining about a Croatian Bond.