251 replies to this topic

[MarcAngeDraco]

Eva Green

Looks like some solid casting all around!!

[luciusgore]

Green is gorgeous. But I don't know how great an actress she is. Not that charismatic in my book but certainly better than Xmas Jones.

[Fro]

Eva Green

Looks like some solid casting all around!!

More than solid... the most acclaimed cast as far as awards they've put together since "From Russia With Love".

[ACE]

Some interesting names there - Giancarlo Giannini, Tobias Menzies, etc. It looks like a good mix of international actors.

Easy on the above the line costs, too!

[Judo chop]

A black, heavier-set Felix, huh?

I've become so accustomed to having such a variety of people playing the role of Felix throughout the series, I have no problem welcoming this guy into the fold. The character of Felix to me, more than any other repeating Bond character, is ever-changing.

[Lounge Lizard]

Interesting... Giannini's character name is listed as plain 'Mathis' here. Can we now safely dismiss the whole 'Massus' thing?

[dinovelvet]

Ivana Milicevic as Valenka

Let's not ignore this gratuitous babe casting

I distinctly remember her from an episode of Seinfeld where she played the wife of a bad Russian tennis player who was offered to Jerry as an apology

Couldn't post imdb pics here, so take a look for yerself :

http://www.imdb.com/.....icevic, Ivana

[luciusgore]

I actually prefer Berry and Yeoh type casting. Better/stronger actresses. Just casting babes is a little weak. I don't think Green is a phenomenal actress. Not as good as De France. Not even as good at McAdams. She LOOKS great, an incredible model. But I suspect McAdams turned the producers down.

[tdalton]

But I suspect McAdams turned the producers down.

I wouldn't be surprised if she did, but I'm fine with the casting of Eva Green. I'm kind of glad that they didn't go for the big A-list actress.

[Scottlee]

I actually prefer Berry and Yeoh type casting.

I thought Berry's acting was attrocious in DAD, just as it was Swordfish. (I really don't get the big fuss about her). I've always liked the casting of unknown women in Bond films because more often than not they turn in honest, driven performances. Many of the most memorable Bond woman have had either short acting careers or careers where Bond was their first big picture.... Andress, Bianchi, and I could go on and on. I'm hoping Eva Green will fall into this category. I'm glad I haven't heard of her. I'm glad she's not arriving at Pinewood on the back of playing Rose in Titanic 2 : The Blockbuster! I'm glad she doesn't have a string of Oscars and an inflated ego. She's still an up-and-comer with things to prove in CR and that's the way I like it. That's where my confidence comes from she'll do great.

[Royal Dalton]

Some interesting names there - Giancarlo Giannini, Tobias Menzies, etc. It looks like a good mix of international actors.

Easy on the above the line costs, too!

I'm sure that had nothing at all to do with it.

[MarcAngeDraco]

I thought Berry's acting was atrocious in DAD

I'm with you on that for sure...

[Loomis]

Yup. As tdalton said, they did extremely well to land him. Like its been said of Daniel Craig, he doesn't need Bond, so its a real casting coup landing an in-demand character actor who will be a perfect match with Craig IMHO.

Green sounds like a real casting coup, too. As with Craig, she was clearly a rising star on her way up to great things when Eon nabbed her (just as I hadn't heard of Craig before LAYER CAKE and the Bond rumours of early last year, I hadn't heard of Green until the recent Vesper rumours, but anyone who lands a leading role in a Bertolucci film must be pretty darn talented, with plenty of screen presence). Seems Green is a serious and acclaimed actor who's really going places, like Craig. And also like Wright. Never heard of him either, but he also appears to be very much on his way up in the biz, with some real critical kudos under his belt.

I liked Giancarlo Giannini in HANNIBAL. Again, a very respected actor, and I gather he's a huge star in Italy, working with great directors like Visconti and Lina Wertmuller.

If CASINO ROYALE is attracting people like this (and Craig), then maybe, just maybe, the script really and truly is as terrific as "they" say.

[crashdrive]

I have to say that I couldn't be more pleased with the casting of Casino Royale.
Mads looks terrific. Finally they cast an actor who looks plain creepy, not a normal looking guy acting creepy.
Eva Green was a force of nature in The Dreamers and I hope she will shine in Casino. She was wasted in Kingdom of Heaven, due to Fox insisting on a more audience friendly running time and thus throwing away a lot of her scenes.
Jeffrey Wright has been one of my favorite actors for years (he's amazing in Shaft). Casting him as Felix gives the series some much needed colour (let's face it, Fleming was a racist, so no wonder he didn't create any coloured allies). Let's hope Wright will be a regular throughout the series.
Giancarlo Giannini is also a terrific actor, eventhough I'm not quite sure why they didn't cast a French actor (or isn't Mathis French anymore in the current draft?).
Tobias Menzies looks great for the part of M's assistent Villiers (very reminscent of Gabriel Mann who played a similar part in the Bourne series).
I even like the casting of the sexy Ivana Milicevic as Le Chiffre's beautifull bodyguard. There doesn't seem to be any weak links unlike the previous outings (Halle Berry, Denise Richards & Teri Hatcher spring to mind). The casting seems to indicate a big step in the right direction. Let's hope Campbell will knock this one out of the park.

[Loomis]

Tobias Menzies, who plays M's aide Villiers, is best known from his role as Brutus in Rome, by the way.

I have yet to see Eva Green in a large role, her part in Kingdom of Heaven wasn't enough for me to judge her Vesper-ability. But she looks like a classy, mysterious beauty nonetheless.

You have to see her in THE DREAMERS...I know I keep going on about that movie, but it realy is great. I'm surprised more people have not seen it.

Well, you're not the first one who suggested I'd watch it either... And being a big fan of Bertolucci's Il Conformista, it is indeed criminal that I haven't seen The Dreamers as yet.

Off-topic, but I hope you've seen THE LAST EMPEROR, Lounge Lizard. One of the best films ever made, IMO. I also like STEALING BEAUTY and BESIEGED. Like all directors, though, he's made some duds, THE SHELTERING SKY for one (I never even went near LITTLE BUDDHA, although to be fair on Bernie's abilities as a filmmaker it was mainly the presence of Keanu Reeves that put me off that one).

Looks like THE DREAMERS is my next DVD purchase.

[The Dove]

Fantastic!! Excellent choices for Vespa and Felix Leiter in my opinion.. Although I haven't seen any other work that Eva Green and Jeffery Wright have done, I believe they'll be outstanding in their roles! Nice to see another African-American cast as Felix! Bernie Casey was one of the few things I actually liked about Never Say Never Again. Double thumbs up to EON!!!

[Loomis]

Tobias Menzies looks great for the part of M's assistent Villiers (very reminscent of Gabriel Mann who played a similar part in the Bourne series).

The casting of CASINO ROYALE seems as though it was done by the Bourne folks rather than Eon (this is a great compliment towards Eon, although I'm aware it sounds a backhanded one). Talented character actors and future stars - just look at all the actors and actresses in IDENTITY and SUPREMACY who've since made it big. No "public favourites" like Cleese and Coltrane, no "eternal villains" like Carlyle and Pryce, and no "US-friendly stars" like Berry and Denise Richards this time round. Good. As someone has said on this thread, it's a "cool" cast (but, more importantly, a very high quality one too). Excellent work.

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

Interesting... Giannini's character name is listed as plain 'Mathis' here. Can we now safely dismiss the whole 'Massus' thing?

I think the Massus character is Mathis in Stax's report. I think his source was accurate and reliable but possibly 2nd or third in line to get the info. Ever play the game telephone? The name Mathis could easily be misheard as Massus. Same with the little error with Demtrios as Demtrius..

On the original topic. I like the choices. Green is fantastic and Wright is an inspired choice. I also like the casting of Giannini. He reminds me a bit of Jean Reno and is also a great actor. So far so good!

[DLibrasnow]

I actually prefer Berry and Yeoh type casting. Better/stronger actresses. Just casting babes is a little weak. I don't think Green is a phenomenal actress. Not as good as De France. Not even as good at McAdams. She LOOKS great, an incredible model. But I suspect McAdams turned the producers down.

Absolutely not...I am tired of big name stars.

And Green is a phenomenal actress. Which movie did you see her in in which you were not blown away with how good she was?!

[ACE]

Until the Brosnan films, Bond traditionally did not have big stars. Perhaps the starriest pre-Brosnan film was AVTAK.

They had good solid, international casts.

Like Casino Royale.

This is merely in keeping with the Bond tradition.

[Lounge Lizard]

Off-topic, but I hope you've seen THE LAST EMPEROR, Lounge Lizard. One of the best films ever made, IMO. I also like STEALING BEAUTY and BESIEGED. Like all directors, though, he's made some duds, THE SHELTERING SKY for one (I never even went near LITTLE BUDDHA, although to be fair on Bernie's abilities as a filmmaker it was mainly the presence of Keanu Reeves that put me off that one).

Off topic once more, yes, I have seen The Last Emperor, which is indeed epic cinema at its best (as well as a score by Sakamoto and David Byrne!), and I've also seen Little Buddha and the Liv Tyler flick, which are both... rather sweet. The Sheltering Sky is slow and it leaves you completely numb, despite it dealing out a few blows; but I have a soft spot for the film nonetheless. Malkovich and Debra Winger are superb, it's genuinely erotic (kind of goes without saying, considering the director), it uses its locations exquisitely. Moves like a dream.

Well, off to bed now. All this good news has been keeping me awake for far too long. Over and out.

[Loomis]

I actually prefer Berry and Yeoh type casting. Better/stronger actresses. Just casting babes is a little weak. I don't think Green is a phenomenal actress. Not as good as De France. Not even as good at McAdams. She LOOKS great, an incredible model. But I suspect McAdams turned the producers down.

Absolutely not...I am tired of big name stars.

And Green is a phenomenal actress. Which movie did you see her in in which you were not blown away with how good she was?!

I thought Yeoh and Berry both did great work on their Bond flicks (the best leading ladies of the Brosnan era), but, bluntly, CASINO ROYALE demands higher quality of performances rather than star power. It's a Haggis script and the most "prestigious" Bond film ever, the last chance they'll ever have to make something truly worthwhile out of original Fleming material, not just another multiplex actionfest. It's not TOMORROW NEVER DIES ANOTHER KILL 2. Heck, if that were the case they wouldn't have been able to land as acclaimed and happening an actor as Craig. Also, big names (like, say, Thandie Newton as Vesper and Anthony Hopkins as Le Chiffre) would take the focus off Craig, who's only just being launched as the new 007.

[Pussfeller]

So what does everyone think of Jeffrey Wright? Here's a few pictures:









I was surprised at first, but I'm starting to think it was an inspired choice. He has an intense look, and seems to be a bit of a chameleon, judging by his roles.

[Loomis]

Off-topic, but I hope you've seen THE LAST EMPEROR, Lounge Lizard. One of the best films ever made, IMO. I also like STEALING BEAUTY and BESIEGED. Like all directors, though, he's made some duds, THE SHELTERING SKY for one (I never even went near LITTLE BUDDHA, although to be fair on Bernie's abilities as a filmmaker it was mainly the presence of Keanu Reeves that put me off that one).

Off topic once more, yes, I have seen The Last Emperor, which is indeed epic cinema at its best (as well as a score by Sakamoto and David Byrne!), and I've also seen Little Buddha and the Liv Tyler flick, which are both... rather sweet. The Sheltering Sky is slow and it leaves you completely numb, despite it dealing out a few blows; but I have a soft spot for the film nonetheless. Malkovich and Debra Winger are superb, it's genuinely erotic (kind of goes without saying, considering the director), it uses its locations exquisitely. Moves like a dream.

Well, off to bed now. All this good news has been keeping me awake for far too long. Over and out.

I love the score for THE LAST EMPEROR. One of the greatest soundtracks ever.

I really want to like THE SHELTERING SKY (heck, I'd like to like all his films, nay, all films - how great would that be? ), but on the two occasions I've sat down to it I've just found it a bore. Maybe I should persevere.

Re: the Mathis issue, I can't imagine the name being changed to Massus. What would be the point? And not when they've done so many other great things to be faithful to the book. I mean, it wasn't so long ago that some of us suspected that the name Le Chiffre would be changed and that Leiter would be turned into a Jack Wade-esque new character. "Massus" is a case of Chinese whispers, I reckon.

[mario007]

I think both Green and Wright are perfect choices for the roles! Congradulations to EON and Sony!!! This announcement was definetly worth the wait.

Jeffery Wright is an amazing actor and would do Felix justice. Hope he has a three picuture contract.

This will be the best bond film since the living daylights!!!

Novemeber can not come soon enough!!!

[Loomis]

This will be the best bond film since the living daylights!!!

It looks as though it has the potential to be the best one ever. Or is that a foolish statement?

[rafterman]

I'm so amazed and pleased by this. This movie sounds so old school Bond. Except for Dench, everything seems to be about interesting, non big name actors. Thank God they're done casting hot at the moment types like Berry. After the script review and the cast list I'm anticipating a very interesting Bond film. And everyone really should see The Dreamers. Eva is great in it.

[Byron]

This will be the best bond film since the living daylights!!!

It looks as though it has the potential to be the best one ever. Or is that a foolish statement?

Not really. I hope its in the same league as the first 4 connery's, OHMSS and TLD.

[The Dove]

Something funny just occured to me. Eva Green is 25.. I'm going to be 28 in less than a month. She will be the first major Bond girl cast, who is younger than me! Well I think that Rosamund Pike is a couple of years younger too.. Now I know what Roger Moore meant when he said on E! channel's Bond Girls episode, " I was starting to worry. Bond girls would have to become Bond Old Age Pensioners to match up with me!" lol.. Well I haven't quite got to Moore's age, but still it feels weird!!

[Loomis]

After the script review and the cast list I'm anticipating a very interesting Bond film.

If DIE ANOTHER DAY was BATMAN & ROBIN (I don't think it was, personally, but I know that many do), CASINO ROYALE will be BATMAN BEGINS* (at least) in terms of quality.

Hey, November, get over here!

*Again, I don't share the majority view on this one - I don't think it's the masterpiece most people make it out to be, but the Batman franchise analogy seems apt.