24 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Not asking whether Craig is a good choice for Bond, whether he's handsome enough, whether he'll be the Bond of the Fleming novels, whether he looks as though he's been hung, drawn and quartered, etc. Discussion rages about all those matters already.

I'm asking those who've seen quite a bit of Craig's work, especially his "acclaimed" stuff like "Our Friends in the North" and ENDURING LOVE (me, I've only seen Lara Croft 1, LAYER CAKE and a bit of "Archangel"), a question that to me seems to have been bizarrely overlooked by Bond fans since he was announced as the new 007:

Is he one of the best actors around today?

[WhiteKnight2000]

He is considered a very good actor. One of the best, yes probably.

[crheath]

He has the most clout as an actor to play Bond at the time of taking the role. Sure, Connery's a legend, but when he first signed on for Dr. No, he was just an up and coming actor.

[Atticus17F]

He's one of those that doesn't "do acting" at us when he performs. The guy is terrific at his job.

[Loomis]

Yeah, the impression I get is that Craig is very well thought of as a serious dramatic ac-tor by critics and by the industry. Not to play "My Bond's better than your Bond", but I reckon he could act even the mighty Dalton under the table. Those two should have a Shakespeare smackdown or something. My money's on the Craigmeister, although whether he could have taken Dalton in his prime....

Anyone know which performances are considered Craig's best?

[tdalton]

Yeah, the impression I get is that Craig is very well thought of as a serious dramatic ac-tor by critics and by the industry. Not to play "My Bond's better than your Bond", but I reckon he could act even the mighty Dalton under the table. Those two should have a Shakespeare smackdown or something. My money's on the Craigmeister, although whether he could have taken Dalton in his prime....

Anyone know which performances are considered Craig's best?

I would love to see Dalton and Craig in a film together. Maybe they could get Dalton for Le Chiffre and have the two of them square off in the casino. That would be very interesting.

And, to answer your question, yes I do think that Craig is one of the best actors out there today.

[Qwerty]

Maybe they could get Dalton for Le Chiffre and have the two of them square off in the casino.   That would be very interesting.

But probably doubtful in happening.

[tdalton]

[quote name='Qwerty' date='17 October 2005 - 19:21'][quote name='tdalton' date='17 October 2005 - 19:20']Maybe they could get Dalton for Le Chiffre and have the two of them square off in the casino.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Having seen enough to make that sweeping of a statement, Loomsy, but from what I have seen I

[Loomis]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='17 October 2005 - 23:23'][mra]Having seen enough to make that sweeping of a statement, Loomsy, but from what I have seen I

[SHAPE]

I've not seen enough of Daniel Craig to call him one of 'the best actors around today,' however I though he did a great job in Layer Cake.

He was surrounded by a cast doing the standard tough guy/ganster bit, lots of 'tough guy' dialogue. I found most of the rest of the cast were playing standard cookie-cutter parts that I'd seen before. Craig, however, was believable as a man caught up in something he did not really want.

SPOILER: The one scene that really stood out for me was XXXX returning home after killing Jimmy. He loooked, and acted, genuinely distraught, despite the music video direction. I thought of instances where the literary Bond wrestled with the prospect of having to kill in cold blood.

One of the best around? I'm not sure. But certainly very good at his trade.

[DanMan]

Just got done with Layer Cake.... he was awesome in it. Some very Bondian moments.

[SHAPE]

Just got done with Layer Cake.... he was awesome in it. Some very Bondian moments.

Funny you should say that. While watching it, my fiance asked if Layer Cake was nothing more than a sales pitch by Craig -- "look, I can be Bond!"

You're right though. Certain scenes made the man look perfect for the role.

[Scottlee]

I've only seen him in two films.

In Tomb Raider he did not look very good at all, but then the part he was playing was rubbish.

By contrast, Road to Perdition made him look very good, despite his not being on-screen for all that long. The scene where he lies on the couch as the boy hunts for Newman's jacket looked very Bondian.

[Red Renard]

I think he might be the best actor to play Bond.

[marktmurphy]

How happy am I? After so many years of half-baked, lightweight 'actors' getting my favourite two roles, for some reason everyone decides it might be best to get the best they possibly can. And even weirder- the actors agree to it! Wonderful.

Can you guess what my other favourite character is?

[tonymascia1]

I've not seen enough of Daniel Craig to call him one of 'the best actors around today,' however I though he did a great job in Layer Cake.

He was surrounded by a cast doing the standard tough guy/ganster bit, lots of 'tough guy' dialogue.  I found most of the rest of the cast were playing standard cookie-cutter parts that I'd seen before.  Craig, however, was believable as a man caught up in something he did not really want.

SPOILER: The one scene that really stood out for me was XXXX returning home after killing Jimmy.  He loooked, and acted, genuinely distraught, despite the music video direction.  I thought of instances where the literary Bond wrestled with the prospect of having to kill in cold blood.

One of the best around?  I'm not sure.  But certainly very good at his trade.

100% Spot on!

[Blue07]

How happy am I? After so many years of half-baked, lightweight 'actors' getting my favourite two roles, for some reason everyone decides it might be best to get the best they possibly can. And even weirder- the actors agree to it! Wonderful.

Can you guess what my other favourite character is?

Yeah and like the other 'proper actor' in that picture he will walk away at the first chance he gets because he doesn't want to be typcast. Lets hope EON really do have him tied to a three film deal.

[L00 puoq s3wvf]

Craig is a great actor. Everything he is in he is different. Like a young DeNiro.

[marktmurphy]

Yeah and like the other 'proper actor' in that picture he will walk away at the first chance he gets because he doesn't want to be typcast. Lets hope EON really do have him tied to a three film deal.

I don't disagree. Great while he lasted though, wasn't he?

(And Eccleston didn't leave because he was scared of typecasting).

[Blue07]

Yeah and like the other 'proper actor' in that picture he will walk away at the first chance he gets because he doesn't want to be typcast. Lets hope EON really do have him tied to a three film deal.

I don't disagree. Great while he lasted though, wasn't he?

(And Eccleston didn't leave because he was scared of typecasting).

Oh Eccleston was brilliant - I wasn't sure when he was cast but now think it's a shame he isn't in the next series. I hope my similar reservations about Craig are proved unfounded and he amwazes me too. Why did Eccleston leave then?

[marktmurphy]

Why did Eccleston leave then?

In the last couple of days he has said he left because 'he didn't want to get stuck in the role'. That sounds like fear of typecasting, I know, but being stuck in a role suggests that he was tired of the lack of challenge it brought; not from a concern for future roles. He had to jump ship or get trapped in a role he was starting to find unchallenging. There are also hints about stress illness etc. He's not particularly clear on it.
I can see Craig leaving for much the same reason- not because he's scared of being known as James Bond forever (although I'd guess the fame aspect won't be his most favourite) but because he simply wants to do other things and is tired of running about in a dinner suit. Like Eccleston, I'd wager Craig has taken on such an established role for the challenge; but when he proves himself and the challenge disappears, the role itself won't supply enough of a challenge. He'll want something new.

[Blue07]

Why did Eccleston leave then?

In the last couple of days he has said he left because 'he didn't want to get stuck in the role'. That sounds like fear of typecasting, I know, but being stuck in a role suggests that he was tired of the lack of challenge it brought; not from a concern for future roles. He had to jump ship or get trapped in a role he was starting to find unchallenging. There are also hints about stress illness etc. He's not particularly clear on it.
I can see Craig leaving for much the same reason- not because he's scared of being known as James Bond forever (although I'd guess the fame aspect won't be his most favourite) but because he simply wants to do other things and is tired of running about in a dinner suit.

I agree, that is one of the reasons Im not sold on Craig. I get the impression he took a bit of convincing to do it in the first place - you don't agree to do Bond purely on the basis of a good script - and when the whole media circus kicks in I think he will walk and go and do a Pinter play somewhere...or maybe Panto.

[marktmurphy]

I get the impression he took a bit of convincing to do it in the first place

Doesn't that suggest that he's worth getting? And do an actor's personal feelings matter as long as he turns in a good performance?

He'll be grand. Maybe not for long, and maybe personally he'll hate it (although there's no proof of either of those) but he's a professional and that means he'll do it to his best ability. Luckily for us, his best is very, very good indeed.

[Blue07]

I get the impression he took a bit of convincing to do it in the first place

Doesn't that suggest that he's worth getting? And do an actor's personal feelings matter as long as he turns in a good performance?

He'll be grand. Maybe not for long, and maybe personally he'll hate it (although there's no proof of either of those) but he's a professional and that means he'll do it to his best ability. Luckily for us, his best is very, very good indeed.

I hope so mate! I really hope so! Maybe he will grow to love being Bond once he starts filming and he will be keen to do more. And if he's great we will all be happy. As far as i'm concerned EON haven't cast a bad Bond yet so no reason for them to change that now. I will keep the faith.