537 replies to this topic

[Xenia_Onatopp]

Goran is hot and would have no objection with him being James. But what about that hard accent? Can he pull off being British?

[Seannery]

Goran is hot and would have no objection with him being James. But what about that hard accent?  Can he pull off being British?

I think the accent is what kills him and what he just doesn't have the equipment to achieve.

[sean c.]

I think that Visnjic is talented enough to get rid of his accent. He made some progress in the last years. As you know, people from southeastern europe usually have a very hard accent whereas for example germans or french have a more subtile soft accent. In my opinion it is harder for someone in germany or france, spain to get the "native phonics" out of the english language.
In the case of visnjic we have an unique case: listening to him you hear that he not a "clean" american or Briton, but you have no clue where he comes from if you only depend on his accent: he does not sound like a russian or a german, also he doesn`t sound like someone from the balcans (I mean just compare him to Groan Ivanisevic-this is english accent from the balkans;-) )

So starting from where Visnjic is now concerning his accent, I think that it shouldnt`t be a problem for him to make the next and last remaining steps to sound like a Brit.

Concerning the ER-contract? Somehow they depended on Goran as a main character from the first beginings of his appearance. Maybe the ER-fans know about it: every new character in ER is first introduced very slowly because the producer want to absorb the reactions of the fans.When the character proves to be popular he ramains in the show and is "developed". the fans of ER know, that there always had been some introductions of new characters that disappeared very fast. In the case of visnjic there was a unique situation and the producers seemed to be very convinced of "Luka Kovac". Only in the first episodes of his appearance he got so much "space" and focus for his role that even Noah Wyle (Carter) became angry by saying: "he is just a new and fresh face but everything seems to be about "goran here, goran there".."

Now, there is no one left from the "old" team in ER-I think that the producers of ER could cause some problems (wasn`t it the same with brosnan and "remington steele"?) because Visnjic is the last remaining star in ER,but there is always a way to get him out of his running contract

[Qwerty]

Welcome to CBn.

[Stephenson]

Honestly, aside from the accent (which I do think would be a problem no matter how much speech training he recieved) it is his involvement with television that worries me. If you look at the number of immediately successful transitions actors from tv have made to the big screen in the last 10 years you can basically count them on one hand. I think Clooney would be an excellent example here: his career did a nosedive when he made his tranisition to films and it has taken him years to build a reputation as someone who is "good enough" for movies.

I do think the public treats a tv star differently than a movie star, simply because they get to see a tv star for free every week. It takes a bit to convince them that it is worth paying $8-$10 to see the same actors on the weekend as well. They simply don't generate the same sense of excitement.

Bond needs a "movie star" (or least someone who has the potential to be one right from the start), and as good as Goran is, I think the public would still see him as a tv star and not James Bond. He would need some time to distance himself from his role on ER IMO if the transition was to be successful. The same was true for Moore and Brosnan.

[007 Agent]

The issue is not that Goran Visnjic is a bad actor but that it disrespectful to Ian Fleming's creation to cast a Croatian as Bond. Plus, it doesn't say much about the standard of British actors if people want a Croatian as Bond, Martin Campbell included.

Call me bigoted, but I think Bond should be played by a Brit, not a Croatian. Let's have some respect for Fleming's Bond and find someone from England, Scotland, Wales.

[Turn]

Maybe they could just get George Baker to dub him for most of the film.

[sean c.]

There are really interesting aspects which are analysed here on this topic.
qwery, there is something in your arguments which is absolutely correct. But again, an opposite effect could also result. If you have an approved Movie Star which plays Bond, wouldn`t you be saturated with this movie star because you know him from so many different movies and characters he played?
I think that it would not be clear how the audience would react either on an afirmed TV or Movie Star. My opinion is that Visnjic is a good "middle way": ok, he is the Star of the most popular TV show, but the broad audience does not know him from many other movies (there are only a few cineasts who watched welcome to sarajevo) although I have to admit that "Electra" was "crap"-shame on you goran to take part on this project:-)

So Visnjic could fit well into some kind of middleway concerning your argument.
But again, there are always different views,each of them being logical.
I`d suggest: let`s give him a chance, I`m sure that he would surprise all of us- beside the fact, that visnjic probably has all women on his side;-)

[sean c.]

007, this does not sound fair towards actors from other nations, but I know what you mean. It is about the tradition that could be broken, isn`t this the point that you fear?

Again, I do not think that you need a Briton to play a Briton unless you find someone who is credible enough for the role. In my opinion Visnjic is credible enough to play that part. I really do not see any british actor in moment who could fit into the role. In addition to that, fans from outside Britain are vey open to the idea to cast a non-Briton for the role. The last two days I visited some forums in italy and france-they are excited about visnjic aS bond-so, it does not seem to be an important factor there that Visnjic is not from Great Britain. I think that the producers must take all fans into account-if the majority has nothing against visnjic, so take him. It would be bad to take a british actor just because he is british, and then to fail with the movie

[007 Agent]

"007, this does not sound fair towards actors from other nations, but I know what you mean. It is about the tradition that could be broken, isn`t this the point that you fear?



Again, I do not think that you need a Briton to play a Briton unless you find someone who is credible enough for the role. In my opinion Visnjic is credible enough to play that part. I really do not see any british actor in moment who could fit into the role. In addition to that, fans from outside Britain are vey open to the idea to cast a non-Briton for the role. The last two days I visited some forums in italy and france-they are excited about visnjic aS bond-so, it does not seem to be an important factor there that Visnjic is not from Great Britain. I think that the producers must take all fans into account-if the majority has nothing against visnjic, so take him. It would be bad to take a british actor just because he is british, and then to fail with the movie "

I really do not see any british actor in moment who could fit into the role.

Well this comes back to the point I have wittered on for months and months and months. I doubt there is an ideal British actor out there at the moment that could fit into the role so why doesn't Eon consider complete unknowns in the Lazenby mould? Now before people say, "but you can't have a non-actor as Bond" - well, all it takes is someone with some acting ability and he could work. Besides, if Eon is serious about considering Goran Visnjic then why not consider a Lazenby type. I can't see how the box office will be better with Mr Visnjic rather than some Lazenby type whom possesses acting ability. At least the Lazenby type will have an advantage of speaking English as his native language.

I really don't know why people are so hung up on a complete unknown - people go to see Bond, not just the actor and OHMSS was a success, it didn't flop. As long as Casino Royale makes a profit long term that's the main thing. I can't see the problem with finding some guy, say, six foot tall, strong handsome face, right age and coach him to act like Bond. I know I've said this before but what the hell, I'll say it again:

Eon should forget all the actors on the list, everyone, and have a more open casting approach. Sort of 'Bond Idol' - open up the search. It's possible they'll find a decent candidate that way.

Look at it another way; every actor making a career at acting was once not an actor - they just had ambition so why not look at the search like that? An unknown with the ambition to be Bond. Eon has nothing to lose by delaying the film a few months, go for a 2007 release (which is the most logical release date) and open up the search. Look at ex-models and people in general. People who think they have the Bond-look, the Bond-charm - anyone who thinks they can act the part if given the opportunity. As I say, I don't see the big deal approaching it like that. Sure, it could end up with no realistic candidate but it could yield a result. All it takes is for one or two candidates with the right look, right height and some credible acting ability and we have serious Bond candidates. An unknown could work. It could have worked for Lazenby had he stuck with the role so it could work now.

Edited by 007 Agent, 01 June 2005 - 09:07 PM.

[sean c.]

I share your view, but only to one half;-)

If they are considering a well known actor, they should take Visnjic.
If they are considering a british actor, they should not take anyone of the names which are mentioned for months-just someone who fits into the bond image, even if this person is totally unknown.

I think that Visnjic will be the selected-I am sure that it is not accidental to bring his name so close to the beginning of the movie shooting. They want to prepare the public for Visnjic, so they have introduced him. You can also see it from Visnjic himself who does not want to give any comments on this "rumour". Visnjic met the director Campbell in March for a couple of times and I am sure that now in june everything is already fixed-but they give informations step by step in order to create some successive tension.

[Stephenson]

I share your view, but only to one half;-)

If they are considering a well known actor, they should take Visnjic.
If they are considering a british actor, they should not take anyone of the names which are mentioned for months-just someone who fits into the bond image, even if this person is totally unknown.

I think that Visnjic will be the selected-I am sure that it is not accidental to bring his name so close to the beginning of the movie shooting. They want to prepare the public for Visnjic, so they have introduced him. You can also see it from Visnjic himself who does not want to give any comments on this "rumour". Visnjic met the director Campbell in March for a couple of times and I am sure that now in june everything is already fixed-but they give informations step by step in order to create some successive tension.

Pre-production starts soon; filming doesn't actually start for another 6 months. As for this being an "Eon strategy", the same could be said of a number of other candidates, Craig being a prime example, what with his "dinner with Barbara" quote. I think we have a couple of months to wait before there's an announcement (end of August?) and then I don't think it will be Gorin, mainly because of his tv commitments. ER cannot afford to lose him.

[Bondian]

Goran is hot and would have no objection with him being James. But what about that hard accent?  Can he pull off being British?

Well, if any actors worth his salt, he should be able to pull off a near convincing British accent.

I think that Visnjic is talented enough to get rid of his accent. He made some progress in the last years. As you know, people from southeastern europe usually have a very hard accent whereas for example germans or french have a more subtile soft accent. In my opinion it is harder for someone in germany or france, spain to get the "native phonics" out of the english language.
In the case of visnjic we have an unique case: listening to him you hear that he not a "clean" american or Briton, but you have no clue where he comes from if you only depend on his accent: he does not sound like a russian or a german, also he doesn`t sound like someone from the balcans (I mean just compare him to Groan Ivanisevic-this is english accent from the balkans;-) )

So starting from where Visnjic is now concerning his accent, I think that it shouldnt`t be a problem for him to make the next and last remaining steps to sound like a Brit.

Concerning the ER-contract? Somehow they depended on Goran as a main character from the first beginings of his appearance. Maybe the ER-fans know about it: every new character in ER is first introduced very slowly because the producer want to absorb the reactions of the fans.When the character proves to be popular he ramains in the show and is "developed". the fans of ER know, that there always had been some introductions of new characters that disappeared very fast. In the case of visnjic there was a unique situation and the producers seemed to be very convinced of "Luka Kovac". Only in the first episodes of his appearance he got so much "space" and focus for his role that even Noah Wyle (Carter) became angry by saying: "he is just a new and fresh face but everything seems to be about "goran here, goran there".."

Now, there is no one left from the "old" team in ER-I think that the producers of ER could cause some problems (wasn`t it the same with brosnan and "remington steele"?) because Visnjic is the last remaining star in ER,but there is always a way to get him out of his running contract

I agree. And do we know how long his contract is to last?. Maybe he'd be our Jimmy in Bond 22. That's assuming that EON do not handout any more than 1 picture deal.

Honestly, aside from the accent (which I do think would be a problem no matter how much speech training he recieved) it is his involvement with television that worries me. If you look at the number of immediately successful transitions actors from tv have made to the big screen in the last 10 years you can basically count them on one hand. I think Clooney would be an excellent example here: his career did a nosedive when he made his tranisition to films and it has taken him years to build a reputation as someone who is "good enough" for movies.

I do think the public treats a tv star differently than a movie star, simply because they get to see a tv star for free every week. It takes a bit to convince them that it is worth paying $8-$10 to see the same actors on the weekend as well. They simply don't generate the same sense of excitement.

Bond needs a "movie star" (or least someone who has the potential to be one right from the start), and as good as Goran is, I think the public would still see him as a tv star and not James Bond. He would need some time to distance himself from his role on ER IMO if the transition was to be successful. The same was true for Moore and Brosnan.

Ah, but the modern television technique is very close to film. In fact some series shoot in film, and is staged like film. Going from television to film is not a far cry like it used to be.

The issue is not that Goran Visnjic is a bad actor but that it disrespectful to Ian Fleming's creation to cast a Croatian as Bond. Plus, it doesn't say much about the standard of British actors if people want a Croatian as Bond, Martin Campbell included. 

Call me bigoted, but I think Bond should be played by a Brit, not a Croatian. Let's have some respect for Fleming's Bond and find someone from England, Scotland, Wales. 

It's not a case of having respect for Fleming's Bond, it's casting someone who could portray a Fleming Bond. So far, only Connery and Dalton have touched on this, and I really feel Goran could nail it.

I'm not anti-USA, but how many movies have the Americans made on British forces in the last world war?. Hey, they even make out THEY were in this battle or sub, but there's no mention of the British. So if they can get away with it, what's so wrong in having a chap who could play Bond, sound like a Brit, but just comes from a different country.

So far none of the actors look Swiss and Scottish or whatever Bonds parents were supposed to be.

I say, give this chap or a suitable actor a chance to show how Bond can be played. "Straight-up with a twist!".

Maybe they could just get George Baker to dub him for most of the film.

LOL

007, this does not sound fair towards actors from other nations, but I know what you mean. It is about the tradition that could be broken, isn`t this the point that you fear?

Again, I do not think that you need a Briton to play a Briton unless you find someone who is credible enough for the role. In my opinion Visnjic is credible enough to play that part. I really do not see any british actor in moment who could fit into the role. In addition to that, fans from outside Britain are vey open to the idea to cast a non-Briton for the role. The last two days I visited some forums in italy and france-they are excited about visnjic aS bond-so, it does not seem to be an important factor there that Visnjic is not from Great Britain. I think that the producers must take all fans into account-if the majority has nothing against visnjic, so take him. It would be bad to take a british actor just because he is british, and then to fail with the movie

Ditto

[sean c.]

@ Bondian
superb comment.
There is nothing left for me to add.

I really already can imagine the very tall and darkhaired Goran in an elegant smoking. I can`t help myself, but the whole bond thing around visnjic started much earlier then now. I remember an interview in Vanity Affair 4 years ago, in which Goran was asked if he would like to play Bond because he (the reporter) could imagine him in that role. I hardly doubt that Goran would like to play the part of le chiffre. There are two logical reasons: first, I think Goran wants the Bond-character-if he played now le chiffre, he would lose any chances to play bond in the future,so Goran would be intelligent enough to stay out of the project than to play a villain.
secondly, if they casted Visnjic for le chiffre, they would have announced it.
Someone who distributes such information did not say by accident that goran is been considered for the next bond.
I am not sure but hasn`t the Broccoli-family some roots in croatia? As you know, there are many influential italians who come from croatia (for example the founder of benetton etc.). I wouldn`t be surprised, if not only Campbell, but also Barbara would like Goran to play the role of bond.

[Stephenson]

Honestly, aside from the accent (which I do think would be a problem no matter how much speech training he recieved) it is his involvement with television that worries me. If you look at the number of immediately successful transitions actors from tv have made to the big screen in the last 10 years you can basically count them on one hand. I think Clooney would be an excellent example here: his career did a nosedive when he made his tranisition to films and it has taken him years to build a reputation as someone who is "good enough" for movies.

I do think the public treats a tv star differently than a movie star, simply because they get to see a tv star for free every week. It takes a bit to convince them that it is worth paying $8-$10 to see the same actors on the weekend as well. They simply don't generate the same sense of excitement.

Bond needs a "movie star" (or least someone who has the potential to be one right from the start), and as good as Goran is, I think the public would still see him as a tv star and not James Bond. He would need some time to distance himself from his role on ER IMO if the transition was to be successful. The same was true for Moore and Brosnan.

Ah, but the modern television technique is very close to film. In fact some series shoot in film, and is staged like film. Going from television to film is not a far cry like it used to be.

I wasn't refering to a particular actor's ability to act in a movie or skills that are transferable from tv to movies (I would think it would be a far harder transition to go from tv or movies to stage, or vice versa). I was talking about the audience's perception of a television actor vs a movie actor . Many former tv actors have spoken about this (Clooney being an example), how an audience treats a movie star with a certain amount of reverence, while a tv actor is treated like a good friend who they see in their homes every week. It takes time for a former tv star to gain "movie star" status with the general public. And I think Bond needs an actor that either a) isn't carrying around "tv star" baggage (so a former tv actor who has been out of the frame long enough that the audience is ready to accept him in a new role (ie Brosnan) OR a complete unknown) so he has the potential to become a "movie star" or an established movie actor.

[Xenia_Onatopp]

Just had to add these for the montage from Spartacus (USA network movie):



True, he could get a voice coach. Electra was crap, but at least you got to see him in a sweater. I don't watch ER, and when I do tune in it's rare that he's on because I think he's more of a 2nd star actor on the show.

Oh well, as the world turns and Goran is a-spinnin...

[sean c.]

you do not have the right information-goran is definitely the first star on ER- the reason why you missed to see him in the last season a couple of times was the epic movie "duga mracna nocha" which was done in croatia- a movie about croatian history during world war II; Goran wanted to be part of the project,so he spent some months in Croatia. In the middle of the ER-season he was again as present as before. Hopefully, Goran will miss some episodes of ER in the beginning of 2006; you know what I mean;-)

[Martin Mystery]

It'll be a cold day in hell before Goran bags Bond.

MM

[Seannery]

It'll be a cold day in hell before Goran bags Bond.

MM

MM I think you are correct here and I certainly hope you are. At first I was fairly neutral concerning Goran so I checked out ER, Welcome to Sarajevo and Elecktra. And I was VERY underwhelmed. And it doesn't have to do with his accent or that he's a Croation. It runs deeper than that. Okay he's tall, dark and is I guess good looking though his face is a bit off IMO--can't quite pin it but the looks are a bit soft and a tiny bit goofy. But deeper is his acting and presence on screen either on TV or film. His acting is solid enough but lacking star charisma, dash and forcefulness. His presence is soft and a bit of a blank. I don't like Julian McMahon at all for Bond but even he would be a very tiny bit better than Goran. Next please.

[zencat]

I don't think anyone has to worry about Goran Visnjic becoming James Bond.

[Seannery]

I don't think anyone has to worry about Goran Visnjic becoming James  Bond.

Sounds good to me What do you make of Mi6 saying he's Martin Campbell's favorite?

[Bondian]

Go-ron, get to like this guy.

[Athena007]

Speaking of Goran, has anyone seen "Practical Magic" -- he plays the gross disgusting boyfriend of Nicole Kidman. Blech. I know he's supposed to be gross in that movie... but he doesn't seem like Bond at all. And going on purely looks... the only "bond" thing about him are his eyes -- you can throw the rest away, imo. I certainly don't want to see him step into 007's shoes. And I do believe his accent is a little too strong to be able to eliminate it altogether.

I don't think anyone has to worry about Goran Visnjic becoming James  Bond.

But we have to worry about someone else becoming James Bond.

[spynovelfan]

Have you just heard Adrian Paul's about to be announced, Athena?

[Martin Mystery]

But we have to worry about someone else becoming James Bond.

No need to worry, Athena. It'll be Clive Owen.

MM

Edited by Martin Mystery, 08 June 2005 - 09:02 PM.

[Athena007]

Have you just heard Adrian Paul's about to be announced, Athena?

Aside from internet rumours, no.

But we have to worry about someone else becoming James Bond.

No need to worry, Athena. It'll be Clive Owen.

Oooo, but you see... that worries me.
Though I have to admit not as much as some "candidates".

[Pussycat]

They can announce Adrian Paul any day now as far as I'm concerned.

In fact...he's going to be in London at the end of June ( if he's not already there)!

[Seannery]

Have you just heard Adrian Paul's about to be announced, Athena?

Aside from internet rumours, no.

But we have to worry about someone else becoming James Bond.

No need to worry, Athena. It'll be Clive Owen.

Oooo, but you see... that worries me.
Though I have to admit not as much as some "candidates".

There you go Athena! Clive Owen as Bond worries me too though admittably not as much as Goran or Julian M.

[Lucia00]

I would love to see Goran as Bond.

[Qwerty]

I would love to see Goran as Bond.

Welcome to CBn Lucia00.