E.C. the next James Bond????

girl out of time · Post by **girl out of time** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:54 pm

check this out......from yahoo news

Entertainment - Variety Special Events

Wanted: suave, sexy, strong
Sun Apr 18, 8:00 PM ET

JON BURLINGAME

(Variety) It's every casting director's dream, or nightmare: Who should play the next James Bond?

Author Ian Fleming may have created the character but, for a generation of filmgoers, Sean Connery (news) defined 007: Handsome, sophisticated, ruthless, as quick with a quip as with a Beretta. He Bonded with the character seven times (counting "Never Say Never Again," not part of the official MGM-UA canon).

Notes John Cork, co-author, with Bruce Scivally, of "James Bond: The Legacy": "Since Connery, the actors who have been major successes in the role have already been associated in audiences' minds with characters that are similar to Bond in important ways."

Roger Moore (news) --- previously known as the elegant British adventurer "The Saint" --- brought a lighter touch to 007 beginning with "Live & Let Die"; he also played Bond seven times. Pierce Brosnan (news)'s fame as TV's debonair "Remington Steele" translated into four Bond films beginning with "GoldenEye."

Australian George Lazenby (news) got one shot, with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and Timothy Dalton (news) had two in the late '80s, notably "The Living Daylights."

Since Brosnan has not yet been signed for Bond 21, a number of names have surfaced as possibilities, including Jude Law (news), Hugh Jackman (news), Clive Owen (news), Orlando Bloom (news), Ewan MacGregor and Colin Farrell (news). We asked several experts for their takes on who should step into Band's shoes:

Brett Ratner (director, the "Rush Hour" films): Stick with Pierce Brosnan. "He's a great Bond. He has the depth and talent to show another side of Bond. If they did the backstory, showed who the character really is, it could be the best Bond ever."

Danny Biederman (producer, "Hollywood Spytek"): An unknown. "Apart from filling the usual requirements of the actor being dark and handsome with the proper accent, I'd like to see an emphasis on charisma: some offbeat element to help lift the Bond series up and away from the pack of contemporary effects-driven action movies and back to its roots as clever thrillers with more focus on character."

Mike Fenton (casting director): Hugh Grant (news). "Although we have seen him as a farceur, I think Hugh embodies a lot of what James Bond is. You can take a guy who does drawing-room comedy, because of his appeal, and --- although Bond does have to have some physicality --- with the magical weapons that get him out of predicaments I think you could take Hugh Grant and make him into James Bond."

Steve Rubin (author, "The Complete James Bond Movie Encyclopedia"): Hugh Jackman. "He has the pedigree. He has that darkness we've seen in the 'X-Men' movies, but he also has a wonderful romantic side to him that we've seen in movies like 'Kate & Leopold.'"

Peter Rainer (film critic, New York magazine): Jeremy Northam (news). "He looks like he could mix a good martini." Or Elvis Costello (news). "I think Bond could use a few musical numbers."

Richard Kraft (talent agent): Carson Kressley, fashion savant from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." "Bond was always the ultimate metrosexual, lavishing so much time and money on his grooming and style fetishes. It's high time James Bond stepped out of Her Majesty's Secret Closet. Besides, Bond has already slept with every woman in the universe, and you only live twice."

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:32 pm

I actually think Hugh Grant -- if he felt free to drop his (usually) likable but inappropriate in an Bondian context romantic comedy mannerisms -- could make a truly interesting Bond.

If anyone here has seen him play a bad guy, as he has once or twice, there's a really interesting strain of cruelty in him that would make an interesting Bond -- or an even more interesting Bond villain.

As for Elvis, he should write a Bond song. And, if John Cleese wants to quit, he could play "S".

seanpointblank · Post by **seanpointblank** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:50 pm

John Cleese is Q, not R, that was just a joke, in case you weren't aware.

I wouldn't mind Farrel or Jackman possibly getting the role, though I have trouble imagining Jackman as a suave Bond, since he seems rugged and rowdy in all of his roles.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:11 am

What an interesting post, Bobster. Hugh Grant as Bond. When your post first registered, I thought the idea was absurd. But after reflection, it could work, if he gets rid of the doofus floppy hair and the signature self-deprecating puppy frowns.

Can you identify a movie wherein he played a bad guy? I would like to see it.

I'll admit it. I enjoy his films and his act. Can't explain it, as it is the antithesis of what I typically like. Forgive me, board members, but I confess that I liked Notting Hill very much. There is one particular scene near the end when Julia Roberts is actually acting...the scene where she brings him the painting and attempts to rekindle the wacky relationship that continually gets derailed throughout the story. And he refuses her offer. And her poignant monologue and very well appointed body language make for one of the few times that I really feel that I have seen her act (StepMom is another). In both cases, the actor across the set from her pulled her to the level that she rarely gets to...Hugh Grant in Notting and Susan Sarandon in StepMom.

But, as always, I will disclaim my knowledge of cinema is completely superficial and of armchair quality. Anytime I write about a film, I always feel the steely gaze of Bobster out there in cyberland, perusing my posts and laughing Dr. Evil-like at my topical comments. Even though he is one hell of a nice fellow.

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 4:23 am

Can you identify a movie wherein he played a bad guy? I would like to see it.

An Awfully Big Adventure
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112427/
In this pretty dreadful film Grant plays a deeply unpleasant person. Also in Small Time Crooks his character shows elements of badness. Still I don't think he'd make a good bond, too upper class. Clive Owen is perfect for the role.

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:49 am

Easily Ewan McGregor...imagine him doing a Down with Love 60s type bond...would be great! Remember Bond is a Scotsman too!

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:11 am

Mr. Average wrote:Can you identify a movie wherein he played a bad guy? I would like to see it.

Bridget Jones's Diary! The dastardly, roguish, irresistible Daniel Cleaver...

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:50 am

martinfoyle wrote:
Can you identify a movie wherein he played a bad guy? I would like to see it.
An Awfully Big Adventure
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112427/
In this pretty dreadful film Grant plays a deeply unpleasant person. Also in Small Time Crooks his character shows elements of badness. Still I don't think he'd make a good bond, too upper class. Clive Owen is perfect for the role.

"Awfully" was the movie I had in mind (couldn't remember the title last night). I wasn't crazy about the movie either -- which I guess bit off more than it could chew though there were some very interesting things about it -- but I thought Grant was truly terrific in it.

Grants character in "Small Time" and in "Bridget Jones", however, were just less kindly variation on his usual persona. He would have to drop all of that -- which commercial factors, sadly, would probably never permit. Certainly not the timid keepers of the James Bond flame who, last I heard were afraid to let Quentin Tarentino work on the next film (his idea reportedly is to do a fairly faithful adapation of the very first JB novel, "Casino Royale," which has never been adapted for a proper Bond movie). They're terrified of new ideas over there."

Re: Clive Owen. I think he's great and he seems, on paper, like a perfect James Bond -- even more macho and nasty than Connery, but then so did Timothy Dalton.

To Mr. Average -- just remember that it's actually been scientifically proven that, in fact, "everyone's a critic." (Which is why it's so hard to find someone to pay me to do it!) Your opinions are at least as valid as mine and twice as valid as Richard Roeper's and 85,000,000 more valid than most TV entertainment "reporters."

clairequilty · Post by **clairequilty** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:18 pm

bobster wrote:I actually think Hugh Grant -- if he felt free to drop his (usually) likable but inappropriate in an Bondian context romantic comedy mannerisms -- could make a truly interesting Bond.

If anyone here has seen him play a bad guy, as he has once or twice, there's a really interesting strain of cruelty in him that would make an interesting Bond -- or an even more interesting Bond villain.

As for Elvis, he should write a Bond song. And, if John Cleese wants to quit, he could play "S".

I also think Hugh Grant would make a wonderful Bond. They have alot in common.

Like Grant, Bond is elegantly handsome. Like Grant, Bond is British. Furthermore, like Grant, Bond also probably loves a nice blowjob.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:21 am

I bet Bond doesn't have to pay for his though!

Post by **BlueChair** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:07 am

I think they should just put the Bond series to rest. There hasn't really been a good bond Film in decades anyway, regardless of who has been playing the role, whether it be Brosnan, Dalton, or whoever.

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:12 pm

I kind of agre with you Blue..all effects and puns... but I think you have to take them with a pinch of salt, like you would a pantomime...if you do that, they can be quite enjoyable.
I would like to see Tarantino do Casino Royale though, that'd be great.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:25 pm

I don't think an American is a good idea, but still I could see Gene Hackman... love him...

clairequilty · Post by **clairequilty** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:37 pm

selfmademug wrote:I don't think an American is a good idea, but still I could see Gene Hackman... love him...

I'm not quite so sure about Hackman; I just cant picture James Bond on a Rascal.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:46 pm

I actually enjoyed the last one, and the one with Michelle Yeoh. Though the titles are getting really stupid.