328 replies to this topic

[kevrichardson]

CrashDrive with all due respect . That line of thought is what breeds inerta . Mick Jackson is a very talented A-list director . With a impressive resume . 60 years of age does not mean one does not have fresh ideas . If that's the case most CEO's would be under 40 . "Ehen you 60's of year or older , it's a lot harder to be responible for a muti-million dollar film like Bond". who said so ? This can not be EON/DANJAQ outlook towards hiring directors . Armstrong is a Favorite of mine ,yet i understand that he will not be hired . What was the reason Jackson got replace by Mimi Leder (why i god's name is she listed in the first place) . John McTieran syffer form a mythical cult following based on Die Hard . I feel that he would be totally wrong for a Bond film .

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
CrashDrive with all due respect . That line of thought is what breeds inerta . What was the reason Jackson got replace by Mimi Leder (why i god's name is she listed in the first place).

Well, like I've said before, I'm basing all this on past precedent. And with that in mind, he's not one of the most likely candidates. Personally, I still feel there is a chance he could get it (he's still on my Bond 21 directors list). He's a good director (although I don't agree he's that talented).
And why Jackson was replaced with Mimi Leder (I'm as surprised as you), Armstrong or McTiernan; ask Zencat. He made the poll. I think Jacksons chances are much higher than either of these directors. Then again, I also think directors like Peter Medak, Bruce Beresford & Simon Wincer have a better chance.

[kevrichardson]

Bruce Beresford ,SimonWincer( ? never heard of him) , ditto Peter Medak . I think i have become tired of all of the excuse that have been given as to the quailification for a Bond Director . Background in Action films not withstand for . But to discount some one based on age . Is foolishness !!! (I do hope that some one fron EON is a member of this Website) . If age is considered a point for not working in Hollywood/Film industry . Then what about men like Hitchcock , John Ford , Raoul Walsh . All great Director's who continued into their later years . Mick Jackson "talent" is not the question here. He does have a impressvie body of work . Notwithstanding my music video comment on the film "The Bodyguard" . He demostatrated as understanding of the required balance in action films .

[Xenobia]

I've been asked to explain why I don't like P&W. Suffice to say for this thread...that which I did not like in the scripts they have written (TWINE and DAD) they were directly responsible for.

In another thread, if one should arise, I will go on a longer rant on why it is time for the root beer brigade, (as I call them, since their initials remind me of root beer) to go.

-- Xenobia

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Xenobia
I've been asked to explain why I don't like P&W.  Suffice to say for this thread...that which I did not like in the scripts they have written (TWINE and DAD) they were directly responsible for.
In another thread, if one should arise, I will go on a longer rant on why it is time for the root beer brigade, (as I call them, since their initials remind me of root beer) to go.
-- Xenobia

Would you like me to start the thread for you since i was the one who asked the question ??? Let me know . Or i will start it regardless. Root Beer Brigade , very funny.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
Bruce Beresford ,SimonWincer( ? never heard of him) , ditto Peter Medak. I think i havce beceom tired of all of the excuese that have been given as to the quailification for a Bond Director.

Look man, I'm just playing the odds. I don't think it's impossible EON will hire a director over 60, but that would be the first time in 40 years. Bruce Beresford is best known for his Academy Award winning 'Driving Miss Daisy', directed Brosnan twice in 'Mr Johnson' & 'Evelyn' and showed talent to shoot action in 'Double Jeopardy' starring Ashley Judd & Tommy Lee Jones. Simon Wincer is more a Roger Spottiswoode-esque director. Directed films like 'Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man', 'Quigley Down Under' & 'The Phantom'. Peter Medak was considered for 'Tomorrow Never Dies'. He directed 'The Krays', 'Let Him Have It' & 'Species 2'. All over 60 (if only just).
I'm curious in what film Jackson proved he has an 'understanding of the required balance in action films'?

[kevrichardson]

Look i understand where your coming from . With the Directors for EON . Mick Jackson has as good of a chance as any one listed here except for Mimi Leder and John McTieran . People should move on , they will not been consider . Just like Vic Armstrong through a good candidate in my view will ot be given the director's chair. More on Mick Jackson . His body of film are across a wide spectum . Action (The Bodyguard 1992 - any one who could get Whitney Houston to act an not look too foolish Truly can direct ).Plus the action inthe like reminded mmy of a small scale Bond like "FYEO" . Jackson done Espionage films "Yuri Nosensko"(1986) with Tommy Lee Jones . "Volcano"(1997) again with Tommy Lee Jones . Drama "Indictment" (1995) . And the film which was rather moving , "Tuesday's With Morrie" with Jack Lemmon (1999) . Not too bad it cut across the field that a Bond moves in . Action , Drama , Humor , each one a rather successful film .

[norwegianbond]

The man who`s born to direct a Bond film is the norwegian Harald Zwart(Agent Cody Banks, One Night at McCool's and Hamilton )


he knows how to do the job!!!

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
Mick Jackson has as good of a chance as any one listed here except for Mimi Leder and John McTieran . People should move on , they will not been consider .

We agree about the last part. But, although I agree Jackson is still in the race, I don't think Jackson's chances are quite as good as Amiel's, Hopkins', Baird's or Donaldson's. It's a very short list we are looking at right now. The fact he even made the list (well, mine anyway ) should say enough of his chances.

I really hope EON will start filming Bond 21 soon. Can't wait to find out whether or not my formula based on past precedent is going to predict future directors.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by norwegianbond
Harald Zwart(Agent Cody Banks,  One Night at McCool's and Hamilton ) he knows how to do the job!!!

Oh my God, Zwart directed 'Agent Cody Banks'? Well, it probably won't happen since EON seem to prefer Commonwealth (British/Scottish/Welsh/Irish/New Zealander/Australian) filmmakers. Zwart is part Dutch (that's where I know him from) part Norwegian. He's also a little too young and inexperienced.

[kevrichardson]

CrashDrive From everything i have read here and seem on other websites . Bond 21 is too begin in the summer 0f 2003 with pre-production . As i have written in several other threads given . The financial heath of MGM . And the need for income , the only thing it has going in it's favor is James Bond . It's the hot cash cow right now for the company. Plus given the popularity of Brosnan' Bond . It would be hard to wait . I never read any thing which said the 3 year rule was written in stone ( not the Ten Commandments) . Brosnan makes $15 million dolars as Bond .it 's in the interest of MGM to get a new one up-an-running . So i like inthe earliy day of the revivial of Bond with "GE" ? Purvis and Wade were cranking out ideas even as the release of "DAD" was goning on . It happened with Bond 18 (TND) , Bond 19( TWINE) . It is the question of who will helm the film . SInce again the basic Production Team is allway in place. EON has spent 40 years producing nothing but Bond . So not just screenwriters , but all types of craftsman are at the ready . The Director is the final link in the chain . With Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in full command . While the list of People to helm Bond 21 is again IMPRESSIVE . WE most be realistic in who will be chosen . I never thought of Michael Apted or even Lee Tamahori . So we might be surprised once again . This is a very important Bond film . Again not to repeat myself since you of all people know my feelings in this regard . So i would not be surprise to se a "Mick Jackson" (yes i know he too old under the EON guide lines) . Still the recent trend in EON under the guidance of Barbara Broccoli is to hire "International Talent ". This translates into stars (Michelle Yeoh , Halle Beery - yes she is one witha large following ) . As i said only a few listed here have a real chance of directing Bond 21 . Yet my gut tells me it will be Martin Campbell . If for two reasons, Price he has not done too much since "GoldenEye" . Mark of Zorro was great , yet he has not had too many since then . Plus he is (according to you) working in Television . And above all else he knows the EON/DANJAQ system . And Bond is very hot . He can't turn it down again . he relationship with Wilson And Broccoli was from what i understand good ( i am sure yoy have more imformation on this .) . Brosnan may want a returning director for once , $ different one since "GE" . Is begining to show on his charaterization of Bond . No Continutiy unlike Connery and Moore with Young , Hamilton , Gilbert, Glen .

[Xenobia]

Kevin...let's let the Root Beer Brigade fizz for a while. When things start looking bad, then we will start a thread.

-- Xenobia

[crashdrive]

Time will tell kev. One thing is for sure, Bond 21 will not begin shooting this summer. Brosnans busy with 'Laws of Attraction' starting in May.

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Xenobia
Kevin...let's let the Root Beer Brigade fizz for a while.  When things start looking bad, then we will start a thread.
Xenobia

Okay the Root Beer Brigade are all ready fizzing away on a new Bond screenplay . So it's too late and we will just have too wait and see.

[Loomis]

So how are things shaping up with this poll?

McTiernan is in the lead (you go McT! - the chances of his directing BOND 21 would appear to be slim, so I don't begrudge him victory in this poll). Seems a lot of fans would be happy to see Campbell signed for another Bond, due to the fact that he directed GOLDENEYE, seen as the incredibly successful "comeback" for the cinematic 007 (and maybe some also like the idea of the director of Brosnan's first Bond outing returning to make what may well be Brosnan's last).

Amiel, Baird and Hopkins, whom crashdrive and I feel are three of the likeliest candidates, have each attracted zero votes. One of them may yet get his revenge on uncaring CBners in real life.

If BOND 21 goes into pre-production this August, as some reports suggest it will, to meet a November or December 2004 release date, then we'll almost certainly know the name of its director before this year is out.

If pre-production is indeed only four months or so away, you can bet that The Powers That Be are negotiating with directors right now. If they haven't signed someone already, then they'll be talking to a handful of shortlisted people. With a Bond film, it will be possible to start pre-production before a director is on board, but, obviously, if TPTB don't manage to hire someone before pre-production starts, then they'll be looking to do so as soon as possible once pre-production is underway.

[kevrichardson]

Just when was Lee Tamahori hired ? i recall reading that the pre-production began before the casting was finished . He was announced just before or during the time that Halle Berry was chosen . The Primary Director ( first unit ) is important . But as i have written the main production team is always in place .

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
Amiel, Baird and Hopkins, whom crashdrive and I feel are three of the likeliest candidates, have each attracted zero votes. One of them may yet get his revenge on uncaring CBners in real life.

If not all of the above

I just can't help but think, had we not included McTiernan, maybe some of the voters would have looked at the more realistic options. But I guess it's a lost cause. Most fans just aren't interested in a director untill he directs a Bond film.

Shame Caton-Jones isn't one the likeliest candidates anymore (although I do still think he's still a possibility). Maybe we should have included Mick Jackson and Peter Howitt, who replaced Caton-Jones on 'Laws of Attraction'.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
Just when was Lee Tamahori hired ? i recall reading that the pre-production began before the casting was finished .  He was announced just before or during the time that Halle Berry was chosen .  

Here's a July 2001 Ain't It Cool News article announcing the hiring of Tamahori: http://www.aintitcoo...lay.cgi?id=9720

I'm not sure when first unit filming started on DIE ANOTHER DAY, but I imagine it would have been round about January 2002.

Originally posted by kevrichardson

The Primary Director ( first unit ) is important . But as i have written the main production team is always in place .

That's why I wrote that "With a Bond film, it will be possible to start pre-production before a director is on board".

However, bearing in mind the date of that AICN piece, if BOND 21 will go into pre-production this August, then I don't think it would be unrealistic to expect an announcement on who will direct at around the same time. Depends entirely on whether the hiring process is going smoothly. If TPTB are having trouble finding a suitable director, or if they decide to keep names under wraps for any reason, there may not be an announcement until much later this year.

On the other hand, if things ARE going smoothly, we may well know the name of BOND 21's director as soon as July.

Originally posted by crashdrive

I just can't help but think, had we not included McTiernan, maybe some of the voters would have looked at the more realistic options. But I guess it's a lost cause. Most fans just aren't interested in a director untill he directs a Bond film.

I've made this point before, but I think most people are only interested in playing "what if?" with famous names. If McTiernan hadn't been included, then his supporters would most likely have transferred their votes to Noyce and Donaldson. Amiel, Baird and Hopkins - all of whom are far more plausible candidates according to EON's criteria - would still most likely have scored zero votes.

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by crashdrive


I just can't help but think, had we not included McTiernan, maybe some of the voters would have looked at the more realistic options. But I guess it's a lost cause. Most fans just aren't interested in a director untill he directs a Bond film.
Shame Caton-Jones isn't one the likeliest candidates anymore (although I do still think he's still a possibility). Maybe we should have included Mick Jackson and Peter Howitt, who replaced Caton-Jones on 'Laws of Attraction'.

That line of reasoning would have made more sence than a poll with directors who never stood a "Snow Balls Chance In Hell" of directing a Bond . McTieran was never in , nor was Mimi Leder. Mick Jackson should have been included on the poll list .

[zencat]

Are you guys still complaining about who

[kevrichardson]

[quote]Originally posted by zencat
Are you guys still complaining about who

[Loomis]

Is no one interested in discussing the distinct possibility that the name of the BOND 21 director may be announced as early as July?

[Mourning Becomes Electra]

Yes just in time to see whether McTeirnan's asking price and position of power is raised or lowered by Basic. Should we hope for middling success or another bomb? Which would bode best for his hiring for Bond 21? Yes I still want him. I think he'd be the perfet director for Bond, not just the best director who also fits in the required hiring niche. And since what I want makes no difference to EON, I might as well ask and hope for who I really want anyway.

[Loomis]

If BASIC (which was originally going to be directed by Lee Tamahori, funnily enough) bombs, McTiernan may be on his knees begging Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for BOND 21. The other day, in another thread, I provided a link to a glowing advance review of BASIC on AICN, but have just come across what may be the only other review online right now, which is on the IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/C...sShow?0264395-1

This review trashes the movie, and while it's impossible to know whether the person who wrote it even saw BASIC and didn't just write the piece out of spite because McTiernan accidentally ran over his dog while backing his car out or something like that, I must say that what he claims won't seem hard to swallow if you've seen ROLLERBALL.

BTW, congratulations on your 1,000th post, MBE!

[Mourning Becomes Electra]

Thank you! Wow... I'm tempted not to post this and just leave that total and retire.

If Basic is as poorly directed as Rollerball I don't know if I'd want him anymore. LOL! To direct one stinkbomb may be regarded as a misfortune... to do two in a row seems like more than carelessness. I'm hoping for excellent direction and middling-low B.O. based on the fact that I can't be the only one tired of Travolta and Samuel Jackson. Besides recent male centered action flicks haven't done well at the B.O., they're being killed by all the comedies.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
If BASIC bombs, McTiernan may be on his knees begging Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for BOND 21.

Harry Knowles said about 'Basic' that it is "the absolute best script he' has seen in McTiernan

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Loomis
Is no one interested in discussing the distinct possibility that the name of the BOND 21 director may be announced as early as July?

Sure most of us are interested in discussiing who will direct Bond 21. In fact i just read the post on "BASIC" directed by John McTiernan . I am one of the few who don't get it with regards to fans and john McTiernan . Then again i like some of the films that he directed .And some i did not .

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by crashdrive

seriously doubt EON will change their criteria just for McTiernan. They didn't even agree to let Tony Scott, who is very much in the same vain as McTiernan, direct 'Die Another Day'. But who knows? There's a first time for everything.

CrashDrive ! Please tell me what was wrong with Tony Scott . He his directed some serious films .
Day of Thunder (1990)
Crimson Tide (1995)
Enemy of the State (1998)
Spy Game (2001)
At this point i am begining to wonder if EON has some serious problems regarding what constitutes a talented film director .

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
  CrashDrive ! Please tell me what was wrong with Tony Scott .

Scott wanted Quentin Tarantino to write the screenplay. EON refused, so Scott declined. Scott is very much in the same vain as McTiernan, meaning too independent and strong-minded to work under EON's wing. Nothing is wrong with Scott, or else EON wouldn't have approached him. He does have one advantage over McTiernan, which is Scott is from the Commonwealth. McTiernan isn't.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

Nothing is wrong with Scott, or else EON wouldn't have approached him.

There's a lot wrong with Scott as a candidate for the director's chair on a Bond film, and I'm astonished that he was approached (I forget whether he was approached by EON or by MGM according to the Brosnan interview I read, but it would appear much more likely that he was approached by MGM - indeed, I seem to remember Brosnan, presumably referring to Broccoli and Wilson, said that the producers vetoed his candidacy).

While this may appear an odd thing to claim of the director of such mainstream popcorn fare as TOP GUN and BEVERLY HILLS COP II, I believe Tony Scott - every bit as much as his more critically-acclaimed brother Ridley, and to a greater extent than John McTiernan - verges on being an auteur filmmaker.

As his IMDB biography puts it: "His films are known for their rich visual style, with dazzling cinematography and beautiful production designs. Visual trademarks include heavy use of smoke, colored filters, and shafts of light breaking through windows, often through blinds."

It's a very distinctive and strong style, and - IMO, anyway - totally wrong for Bond. And the fact that Scott apparently thought Tarantino a suitable writer for a Bond film speaks volumes about why he was the wrong sort of director to approach.

You could argue that the look of TOMORROW NEVER DIES owes much to Tony Scott, and you'd probably be right, but if Scott were actually given a Bond film to direct, then the hallmarks of "A Tony Scott Film" would most likely take it over completely. The film might well climax with multiple heavily armed groups of men facing each other at gunpoint in a small room with a resulting shoot-out massacre (not in itself a bad idea for an ending, but you'd know you were being reminded of who the director was).

By contrast, I can't really think of any particular "trademark" elements of McTiernan's work, save a certain epic feel he's somehow able to bestow on virtually everything he does. I certainly feel he'd adapt to making a Bond movie much better than Scott, although I could be wrong, and, anyway, McTiernan is not all that likely a candidate, which makes this discussion purely, as they say, academic.