155 replies to this topic

[tdalton]

I hope this is true. He can make the type of villain that I would love to see in Bondmovies again. A small cameo can be enough to build up expectations for Craig's third film.

And... he would be a great Blofeld, if they go in that direction.

Agreed. I had always been against Blofeld and SPECTRE returning to the franchise, but if Al Pacino were the actor playing Blofeld, then I'd have to reconsider my stance on that and give it a chance.

[EyesOnly]

Does this really surprise many since EON tried to get Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron for the role of Vesper? I believe this is true...wasn't this confirmed sometime ago? Anyway, having Pacino as the main villain is interesting. I don't know if this is true or not as it certainly doesn't jive with EON's track record of casting Hollywood legends. Personally I would rather them hire J

Edited by EyesOnly, 14 February 2008 - 03:37 AM.

[Bondian]

[quote name='Shrublands' post='837670' date='13 February 2008 - 16:04'][quote name='Bondian' post='837663' date='13 February 2008 - 15:59']Could be 'Dirty Den' from 'Eastenders'. [/quote]

In the last few moments he will appear from the shadows and say

[K1Bond007]

Al Pacino is a great actor, but this whole thing has to be bogus. He doesn't fit at all. He's too cliche and EON Productions has been anything but that lately. Look at Daniel Craig, Jeffrey Wright, Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jesper Christiansen, Giancarlo Giannini, and everyone they've so far cast in QoS and then tell me how going off and casting Al Pacino somehow fits. I don't think so. Not at all.

This is a bogus rumor. I can't even believe this to be even remotely true at this point in Bond history. I'll be completely shocked if it is.

[The Dove]

Bollocks!! I really hope this is ISN'T anything more than a rumor!! LOL As much as I like Pacino, I just can't picture him in a Bond film.. "Mr. Bond.. SAY HELLO TO MY LIL FRIEND!!! "

Now if we had someone like Alan Rickman, in a sort of Hans Gruber type role as the head of the mysterious organization,...that would be cool!!

[Jackanaples]

I think it very unlikely this is true. This is the type of stunt casting they would have pulled back in the Brosnan days. I like Pacino but unless directed very carefully he could be very distracting here.

I wonder if the reveal of who's the head of the organization is supposed to be a surprise. That would change my thinking on the matter a lot.

Ultimately though, I don't see them going for a big name over a someone who can turn in a great performance. The surprise for the audience should never be one of "Oh my god, it's that famous movie star behind everything!" The shock (if there is one) should mirror Bond's own surprise of discovery, otherwise it's dramatic power would rest on a gimmick and be nearly worthless.

Edited by Jackanaples, 14 February 2008 - 05:04 AM.

[Skudor]

Perhaps it is all true, but you'll never actually know... he'll be the faceless "Blofeld" (which is who it is, regardlesss of actual name) of From Russia With Love and Thunderball. So, yes it might be Pacino but you'd never see him (and he'd be non-credited, like Edward Norton in Kingdom of Heaven). That I could live with. Al Pacino's face in a Bond film (or Jack Nicholson or Antony Hopkins or Roger Moore as Moneypenny... all the same to me).

[tdalton]

Perhaps it is all true, but you'll never actually know... he'll be the faceless "Blofeld" (which is who it is, regardlesss of actual name) of From Russia With Love and Thunderball. So, yes it might be Pacino but you'd never see him (and he'd be non-credited, like Edward Norton in Kingdom of Heaven). That I could live with. Al Pacino's face in a Bond film (or Jack Nicholson or Antony Hopkins or Roger Moore as Moneypenny... all the same to me).

I think that it would work very well to have Pacino be the faceless leader of the organization, like Blofeld in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. As long as they didn't have a scene like Bond walking into a room at the end of the film with a man sitting in a chair, his back to Bond, and then have it spin around to reveal Al Pacino sitting there. That would be a bit over-the-top and would highlight the cameo more than necessary. But, if Pacino were to have an understated role in QoS that set up for a more substantial role in Bond 23, then I think that it would work quite well and could be taken very seriously and could be taken as more than just having a big name for the sake of having a big name.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Perhaps it is all true, but you'll never actually know... he'll be the faceless "Blofeld" (which is who it is, regardlesss of actual name) of From Russia With Love and Thunderball. So, yes it might be Pacino but you'd never see him (and he'd be non-credited, like Edward Norton in Kingdom of Heaven). That I could live with. Al Pacino's face in a Bond film (or Jack Nicholson or Antony Hopkins or Roger Moore as Moneypenny... all the same to me).

I think that it would work very well to have Pacino be the faceless leader of the organization, like Blofeld in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. As long as they didn't have a scene like Bond walking into a room at the end of the film with a man sitting in a chair, his back to Bond, and then have it spin around to reveal Al Pacino sitting there. That would be a bit over-the-top and would highlight the cameo more than necessary. But, if Pacino were to have an understated role in QoS that set up for a more substantial role in Bond 23, then I think that it would work quite well and could be taken very seriously and could be taken as more than just having a big name for the sake of having a big name.

I agree, tdalton. Your suggestion for using Al Pacino is the way to go.

Having said that, the casting of Pacino divides me. A part of me likes it, but I'm also worried about his reputation overshadowing the role.

As for previous suggestions of Al Pacino's name being a cover for another big name star, I think that is a distinct possibility. I have to say the name of Gene Hackman really excited me as did the other nominations of Michael Gambon, Anthony Hopkins, Jurgen Prochnow, and Alan Rickman (I can't wait for him to be a Bond villain). Might I suggest a couple of more possibilities? Figuring that the head of the organization is an older, father figure type, how about Bob Hoskins, Jeremy Irons, Ben Kingsley, John Malkovich, or Malcolm McDowell?

[Lounge Lizard]

If the Big Man were to be an American actor, I'd prefer a powerful character actor with a lower profile than Pacino. Someone like... Frank Langella! His 'Boris Balkan' in Polanski's The Ninth Gate was very creepy, brilliantly understated, and still maliciously funny. I'd love to see him as a Bond baddie.

[bogard]

Link here.

It's all just rumours of course, but it could be the best thing to happen to the Bond series for a very long time. Unless he's phoning it in of course, like he did in Ocean's 13.

[bond_azoozbond]

Link here.

It's all just rumours of course, but it could be the best thing to happen to the Bond series for a very long time. Unless he's phoning it in of course, like he did in Ocean's 13.

Mmmmmmmmm the worst thing I think .

[Lounge Lizard]

This is just a repeat of the AICN rumor, with link attached. Where does it say that 'Al Pacino IS Ernst Stavro Blofeld'?

[Colossus]

No one was better than Al Pacino in the 70s/80s. Nicholson came close, Scorsese held DeNiro's hand. Pacino was a force of nature, no matter the quality of some of his films you couldn't find one bad or mediocre performance in there.

That said here's hoping he'll dissapear into this role like he did back then and we get the 70s/80s Pacino (chameleon guy) instead of the 90s-era Pacino (shouty guy) BTW he's doing some good work again like Merchant of Venice and thet Salvador Dali biopic, so this Bond villain role could be part of that renaissance for him!

Edited by Colossus, 14 February 2008 - 09:28 AM.

[Zorin Industries]

If the Big Man were to be an American actor, I'd prefer a powerful character actor with a lower profile than Pacino. Someone like... Frank Langella! His 'Boris Balkan' in Polanski's The Ninth Gate was very creepy, brilliantly understated, and still maliciously funny. I'd love to see him as a Bond baddie.

Yes, good call there with Frank Langella...

Rip Torn?

John Lithgow?

John Malkovich?

[stromberg]

Topics merged

[Lounge Lizard]

That said here's hoping he'll dissapear into this role like he did back then and we get the 70s/80s Pacino (chameleon guy) instead of the 90s-era Pacino (shouty guy) BTW he's doing some good work again like Merchant of Venice and thet Salvador Dali biopic, so this Bond villain role could be part of that renaissance for him!

Agreed, though he'd still be Little Big Al, no matter how subdued he manages to be.

By the way, I don't dislike Pacino's performance in Ocean's Thirteen, as many posters here do. Sure he was in it for the fun and the money, but isn't that the point of the whole Ocean cycle? I thought he blended in very well.

No one was better than Al Pacino in the 70s/80s. Nicholson came close, Scorsese held DeNiro's hand.

Bit off topic, but that last part about Scorsese and De Niro I don't agree with. Two insecure geniuses holding each other's hand, both of them helping the other to articulate his talent and vision.

[Eddie Burns]

Pacino of the 70/80's - I'm all for it

Pacino of the 90's - erm...no

Overall i'm not a fan of the idea. Mainly because it will take away any anticipation for the character. I doubt Pacino will raise his game considering he hasn't done so for anything (inc. Merchant of Venice) for over 15 years now. Pacino used to act with his eyes, thats what amazed me about him. His eyes were so expressive without being obvious . He was speaking with his audience through his eyes. Very few actors have been able to do that though I see a little of that in Craig.

Speaking of which, I think Anthony Hopkins would make the best ever villian ever ever ever ever in a Bond film. If we're going to go down that route he'd be my choice. I just saw Fracture the other night and was amazed at how the old man still got it

[David Schofield]

Sadly, I just don't see little Al as a Blofeld-type (or even Blofeld himself...) villain. He's hardly intimidating, is he, in any film, unless he starts effing, beeing and ceeing - and I can't image EON letting him do that, can you?

So it ends up a bit of a caricature. Big chair. Little guy. Pleasance in YOLT. Or Doctor Evil

[Shrublands]

Is Al Pacino playing the head of the organisation?

I really don

[Marketto007]

In my case Pacino would pretty much overshadow Craig in my eyes. I mean, the man's a legend!

I tought the same thing, cast this kind of actor, it's very dangerous for the series.

xxx

[dee-bee-five]

At least that ripe old slab of ham, Anthony Hopkins, doesn't seem to be in the frame this time round. Let's be thankful for small mercies.

[Shrublands]

At least that ripe old slab of ham, Anthony Hopkins, doesn't seem to be in the frame this time round. Let's be thankful for small mercies.

Yes, at least we have that to hang onto.

Did you see the old fool making a spectacle of himself on the BAFTAs?
Directly competing with Dicky Attenborough as to who could come across as the biggest windbag of the night.

I think Hopkins took the prize by a hair of his new elder-statesman-of-British-acting, "old hams are us!" whiskers.

[a_crook]

I for one think this could work... let's give credit where it's due. To this point all that the production teams have done is make aruguably the best Bond to date and revitalize the franchise. If this is true I'm sure they have a good reason and a well thought out plan behind introducing and using a big star like Pacino.
Pacino is one of my favorite actors, but I never thought of him being a Bond villan. However I do think he could do it. Esp. would this be interesting in that as the MAIN BOSS he automatically carries a great deal of weight and buildup because of who he is. I do not think he would overshadow DC... come on he's still James Bond, the guy we came to watch.

[Single-O-Seven]

If the Big Man were to be an American actor, I'd prefer a powerful character actor with a lower profile than Pacino. Someone like... Frank Langella! His 'Boris Balkan' in Polanski's The Ninth Gate was very creepy, brilliantly understated, and still maliciously funny. I'd love to see him as a Bond baddie.

Yes, good call there with Frank Langella...

Don't forget his role as Skeletor opposite Dolph Lundgren's He-Man in Masters of the Universe. Absolutely inspired.

[dee-bee-five]

At least that ripe old slab of ham, Anthony Hopkins, doesn't seem to be in the frame this time round. Let's be thankful for small mercies.

Yes, at least we have that to hang onto.

Did you see the old fool making a spectacle of himself on the BAFTAs?
Directly competing with Dicky Attenborough as to who could come across as the biggest windbag of the night.

I think Hopkins took the prize by a hair of his new elder-statesman-of-British-acting, "old hams are us!" whiskers.

Indeed; it's the kind of theatrical performance that stuffy critics and members of BAFTA and the Academy mistake for great acting. Whereas the truth is, you'll see better acting from most cast members in any run-of-the-mill episode of Coronation Street or Hollyoakes.

[Jim]

Whereas the truth is, you'll see better acting from most cast members in any run-of-the-mill episode of Coronation Street or Hollyoakes.

There's something quote brilliant in the notion that the Big Boss behind all of "this" is "The Cast of Hollyoaks". It pleases me hugely, and is more plausible than some old past-it shouty Pacino thing.

[dee-bee-five]

Whereas the truth is, you'll see better acting from most cast members in any run-of-the-mill episode of Coronation Street or Hollyoakes.

There's something quote brilliant in the notion that the Big Boss behind all of "this" is "The Cast of Hollyoaks". It pleases me hugely, and is more plausible than some old past-it shouty Pacino thing.

Or Hilda Ogden. They never did kill her off you know...

[Jim]

Whereas the truth is, you'll see better acting from most cast members in any run-of-the-mill episode of Coronation Street or Hollyoakes.

There's something quote brilliant in the notion that the Big Boss behind all of "this" is "The Cast of Hollyoaks". It pleases me hugely, and is more plausible than some old past-it shouty Pacino thing.

Or Hilda Ogden. They never did kill her off you know...

It's Dr Legge.

[Shrublands]

Whereas the truth is, you'll see better acting from most cast members in any run-of-the-mill episode of Coronation Street or Hollyoakes.

There's something quote brilliant in the notion that the Big Boss behind all of "this" is "The Cast of Hollyoaks". It pleases me hugely, and is more plausible than some old past-it shouty Pacino thing.

Or Hilda Ogden. They never did kill her off you know...

They never killed off Any Walker or Ena Sharples for that matter, if we see a sinister figure, face in the shadows, but wearing a hair net or curlers it's Ena or Hilda for certain.