By: Greg Payne
I should start off by clarifying that this article is not my attempt to campaign for Michael Fassbender to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. Instead, this post constitutes my argument that when the time comes for Daniel Craig to step down as 007, I want Michael Fassbender to step up. In an ideal world, Craig would stop aging and be James Bond forever. Seriously, Craig is such an ideal fit for Ian Fleming's iconic character, and perhaps even more importantly, he cares about the property. This isn't just some gig that lands him a boatload of cash and the admiration of every dude and the longing of every woman on the planet.
Craig once said: "There's a perfect Bond movie out there. And I'm going to find it if it kills me."
Boom. Done. Lock it up, strap a bow on it. What else do you need to know? He's not spitting bullshit at us when he says that. He means it. Go watch any of his interviews with late night talkshow hosts or anyone else when he talks Bond and you'll see the sincerity he carries around with him.
Producer Michael G. Wilson, a household staple on the Bond flicks, wants Craig to surpass Roger Moore's personal Bond-playing record and do eight films, which speaks to the brass' faith in his ability to stretch this character to new lengths and consistently keep him interesting and infinitely watchable.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Perks of Running in the Evening
By: Greg Payne
Before we begin, this is pretty cool:
The final months of spring are upon us here in New England, ready to usher us into the sweltering days of summer. Some would say they've already arrived, based on the 85+ degree days we've been forced to endure lately.
For those of you who don't know, I'm an avid runner. I average anywhere from 8-10 miles per day during the week and I creep into the low-to-mid teens on the weekends. Usually I'm an afternoon guy. Between 4:00pm and 5:00pm is usually my go-to time for running. But lately, I've become somewhat attached to the evening, specifically between 7:00pm and 8:00pm, as the sun begins its descent below the horizon, and last night I think I figured out why.
I tied the laces of my Nike Lunarglide IIs and set off, my feet quietly tapping Paine Road (yes, I live on Paine Road. It's a coincidence, I swear) as I proceeded into the earliest stages of my run. And that's when I realized what separated 7:00pm from 4:00pm, what distinguished the late afternoon from the early evening: The sense of quiet that seems to envelope the world, as if everything's taken a collective sigh and plumped itself down on the couch to crack a cold one, finally at peace with the fact that the rigors and demands of the day are firmly behind it.
The hustle and bustle of the morning and afternoon have ceased, and everything is so much calmer. I'm not sure the responsibilities of every day life ever allow for a true sense of tranquility throughout the standard work week, but if it's possible for such a feeling to be obtained, it would come within our grasp during this time. For most people and things, the work is done for the day. Even the extremes of nature retreat to an almost sedated state. The sun doesn't shine so bright, the winds calm themselves to gentler breezes, which compliment the still humid, but far less hot evening air. Even the birds chirp less, as they revert back to their nests and their young, perhaps sending out a final note of elation at having survived another day against the threat of predators and other dangers. Another night safe with those they love. Even the pounds of choking pollen have retreated to wherever it is pollen hangs out at nights, freeing us of the feeling that we've just swallowed two pounds of sticky white rice in one gulp.
And then there are the people. As I meander through the local back roads, passing through my favorite neighborhood -- Sheldonville -- I can take stock of those around me. During the day, people are rushed. There's the pressure to get to work on time in the morning, beat the traffic, rush out to lunch and back, sprint home, again trying to avoid the jam up of cars on the highway, each person and car with the same goal. There are children to pick up, sport practices to attend, dentist and doctor appointments.
But examine those same people after dinner, with that flurry of activity behind them, and you see them as they want to be seen. You see them in a state of calmness -- they are once again in control of their lives. They are no longer at the mercy of their bosses, the traffic report, or necessary errands. I see a man in his mid-40s walking his black lab, and he greets me with a friendly, 'Hello,' as I pass by. I witness another couple walking down Farmhill Road, dressed in matching khaki shorts, with the father pushing a pink stroller with a shade over the top. I pass by one of my favorite houses -- light grey with blue shutters, with a driveway that ascends straight and loops into a circle at the top, like an upside down exclamation point -- and see a familiar site: An elderly couple, sitting on a short, swinging bench that sits close to their front steps, hand-in-hand, still embodying the idea that love can persist through time and all of the obstacles life has to throw at us. And I know in my own heart that these two are as in love now as the day they first told each other they couldn't live without one another.
These are the things I don't see when I run at 4:00pm. I see the prelude to all of this: The asinine driving, the furrowed brows, the seemingly unshakable feeling of go-go-go. I much more enjoy these people just a few short hours later, when their sense of calm, and peacefulness, and happiness, engaging in perhaps their first truly voluntary actions all day, helps to remind me that this world isn't just a highway to our eventual expiration. Our daily responsibilities routinely exhaust us, frustrate us, and push us beyond our breaking points, but it's these hours of calm that provide us the solace we need to endure. It's just a shame that there are so few of them throughout the day.
But their calmness is what calms me. In fact, it energizes me. The stillness of the evening reminds me that I'm not competing with the pace the daily grind thrives upon, and as I increase my own foot speed, I feel like I'm soaring, like a paint brush being stroked across a blank canvas for the first time. Houses, and fences, and slower-paced cars streak by, as my breathing gets heavier, but almost easier. I'm not laboring, I'm embracing the fatigue, fighting it with longer strides, bottled up by the atmosphere around me. My worries pour off of my body, encased in the beads of sweat that glisten my skin and eventually disembark into the evening air. It all pushes me, drives me, and just when I feel like I'm running fast enough to get pulled over in a school zone, my run is complete. I come to a halt in my driveway, my hands drape over my knees, the sweat begins to amass and wash over me, as if a bucket of water has been poured over my head and is cascading down my exposed limbs.
But then I stand, breathe in through my nose, and further embrace the world around me. A world of peace, composure, and serenity.
If you're a runner, I suggest you try running at this time. But don't go in with expectations I've laid out for you. Leave room to make your own. Run, and as you run, keep your eyes and ears open, and the world will find a way to cater to whatever it is you're searching for.
Before we begin, this is pretty cool:
The final months of spring are upon us here in New England, ready to usher us into the sweltering days of summer. Some would say they've already arrived, based on the 85+ degree days we've been forced to endure lately.
For those of you who don't know, I'm an avid runner. I average anywhere from 8-10 miles per day during the week and I creep into the low-to-mid teens on the weekends. Usually I'm an afternoon guy. Between 4:00pm and 5:00pm is usually my go-to time for running. But lately, I've become somewhat attached to the evening, specifically between 7:00pm and 8:00pm, as the sun begins its descent below the horizon, and last night I think I figured out why.
I tied the laces of my Nike Lunarglide IIs and set off, my feet quietly tapping Paine Road (yes, I live on Paine Road. It's a coincidence, I swear) as I proceeded into the earliest stages of my run. And that's when I realized what separated 7:00pm from 4:00pm, what distinguished the late afternoon from the early evening: The sense of quiet that seems to envelope the world, as if everything's taken a collective sigh and plumped itself down on the couch to crack a cold one, finally at peace with the fact that the rigors and demands of the day are firmly behind it.
The hustle and bustle of the morning and afternoon have ceased, and everything is so much calmer. I'm not sure the responsibilities of every day life ever allow for a true sense of tranquility throughout the standard work week, but if it's possible for such a feeling to be obtained, it would come within our grasp during this time. For most people and things, the work is done for the day. Even the extremes of nature retreat to an almost sedated state. The sun doesn't shine so bright, the winds calm themselves to gentler breezes, which compliment the still humid, but far less hot evening air. Even the birds chirp less, as they revert back to their nests and their young, perhaps sending out a final note of elation at having survived another day against the threat of predators and other dangers. Another night safe with those they love. Even the pounds of choking pollen have retreated to wherever it is pollen hangs out at nights, freeing us of the feeling that we've just swallowed two pounds of sticky white rice in one gulp.
And then there are the people. As I meander through the local back roads, passing through my favorite neighborhood -- Sheldonville -- I can take stock of those around me. During the day, people are rushed. There's the pressure to get to work on time in the morning, beat the traffic, rush out to lunch and back, sprint home, again trying to avoid the jam up of cars on the highway, each person and car with the same goal. There are children to pick up, sport practices to attend, dentist and doctor appointments.
But examine those same people after dinner, with that flurry of activity behind them, and you see them as they want to be seen. You see them in a state of calmness -- they are once again in control of their lives. They are no longer at the mercy of their bosses, the traffic report, or necessary errands. I see a man in his mid-40s walking his black lab, and he greets me with a friendly, 'Hello,' as I pass by. I witness another couple walking down Farmhill Road, dressed in matching khaki shorts, with the father pushing a pink stroller with a shade over the top. I pass by one of my favorite houses -- light grey with blue shutters, with a driveway that ascends straight and loops into a circle at the top, like an upside down exclamation point -- and see a familiar site: An elderly couple, sitting on a short, swinging bench that sits close to their front steps, hand-in-hand, still embodying the idea that love can persist through time and all of the obstacles life has to throw at us. And I know in my own heart that these two are as in love now as the day they first told each other they couldn't live without one another.
These are the things I don't see when I run at 4:00pm. I see the prelude to all of this: The asinine driving, the furrowed brows, the seemingly unshakable feeling of go-go-go. I much more enjoy these people just a few short hours later, when their sense of calm, and peacefulness, and happiness, engaging in perhaps their first truly voluntary actions all day, helps to remind me that this world isn't just a highway to our eventual expiration. Our daily responsibilities routinely exhaust us, frustrate us, and push us beyond our breaking points, but it's these hours of calm that provide us the solace we need to endure. It's just a shame that there are so few of them throughout the day.
But their calmness is what calms me. In fact, it energizes me. The stillness of the evening reminds me that I'm not competing with the pace the daily grind thrives upon, and as I increase my own foot speed, I feel like I'm soaring, like a paint brush being stroked across a blank canvas for the first time. Houses, and fences, and slower-paced cars streak by, as my breathing gets heavier, but almost easier. I'm not laboring, I'm embracing the fatigue, fighting it with longer strides, bottled up by the atmosphere around me. My worries pour off of my body, encased in the beads of sweat that glisten my skin and eventually disembark into the evening air. It all pushes me, drives me, and just when I feel like I'm running fast enough to get pulled over in a school zone, my run is complete. I come to a halt in my driveway, my hands drape over my knees, the sweat begins to amass and wash over me, as if a bucket of water has been poured over my head and is cascading down my exposed limbs.
But then I stand, breathe in through my nose, and further embrace the world around me. A world of peace, composure, and serenity.
If you're a runner, I suggest you try running at this time. But don't go in with expectations I've laid out for you. Leave room to make your own. Run, and as you run, keep your eyes and ears open, and the world will find a way to cater to whatever it is you're searching for.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Captain America's New Love Interest Revealed in 'The Avengers?'
By: Greg Payne
There's a heck of a lot to take in when you watch The Avengers for the first time, but if you're willing to shell out some more cash (or in my case, free passes and gift cards) and see the film multiple times, you'll have the advantage of noticing some more of the finite details that are spread throughout the 2-hour-plus running time.
My greatest takeaway from my third go-around with Earth's Mightiest Heroes? The very un-mighty, but seemingly very strategically placed blonde waitress, whose name, I believe, is Beth (on IMDB she's just credited as a waitress, but you can see her name tag during her final scene). She's played by Ashley Johnson, known best, perhaps, for her role as Mel Gibson's daughter in What Women Want, but she has a pretty substantial film resume beyond that.
Anyway, she crops up during the end battle scene. At first she runs into a shop of some kind and is looking up at the destruction through a window, then she's caught in the bank with the other civilians who are eventually freed from the Chitauri by Captain America, and then she's seen for the final time as an interviewee on one of the various news broadcasts which are meant to show the fluctuating state of the public's opinion of the superheroes. As expected, she expresses support and gratitude, stating that she would like to thank Captain America for saving her life.
You can see who Beth is at the 13-second mark of the first trailer for The Avengers. Check it out below:
So, this got me thinking...Might she be Cap's new love bug in his next solo outing? They've established the fact that she wants to see him again (and thank him), meaning there is already cause for her to be seen again, obviously Peggy Carter is out of the question, because, she'll either be deceased or super old, and it'll save Marvel time introducing a whole new character out of the blue (granted, Beth's role in The Avengers is so small, she might as well be a new character, but the continuity could be established through some quick dialogue).
Each of the individual solo outings for Marvel's heroes had a significant love interest (Pepper Potts in both Iron Mans, Peggy Carter in Captain America, Jane Foster in Thor, and Betty Ross in The Incredible Hulk), and it's safe to say many of those relationships will continue into the second solo outings for each hero (or third solo outing if you're Tony Stark). But, because Cap was frozen for 70-ish years, they obviously need a replacement. Will it be Beth? We'll just have to wait for the casting news to drop as we get closer to the Captain America sequel, slated to land in theaters in 2014.
There's a heck of a lot to take in when you watch The Avengers for the first time, but if you're willing to shell out some more cash (or in my case, free passes and gift cards) and see the film multiple times, you'll have the advantage of noticing some more of the finite details that are spread throughout the 2-hour-plus running time.
My greatest takeaway from my third go-around with Earth's Mightiest Heroes? The very un-mighty, but seemingly very strategically placed blonde waitress, whose name, I believe, is Beth (on IMDB she's just credited as a waitress, but you can see her name tag during her final scene). She's played by Ashley Johnson, known best, perhaps, for her role as Mel Gibson's daughter in What Women Want, but she has a pretty substantial film resume beyond that.
Anyway, she crops up during the end battle scene. At first she runs into a shop of some kind and is looking up at the destruction through a window, then she's caught in the bank with the other civilians who are eventually freed from the Chitauri by Captain America, and then she's seen for the final time as an interviewee on one of the various news broadcasts which are meant to show the fluctuating state of the public's opinion of the superheroes. As expected, she expresses support and gratitude, stating that she would like to thank Captain America for saving her life.
You can see who Beth is at the 13-second mark of the first trailer for The Avengers. Check it out below:
So, this got me thinking...Might she be Cap's new love bug in his next solo outing? They've established the fact that she wants to see him again (and thank him), meaning there is already cause for her to be seen again, obviously Peggy Carter is out of the question, because, she'll either be deceased or super old, and it'll save Marvel time introducing a whole new character out of the blue (granted, Beth's role in The Avengers is so small, she might as well be a new character, but the continuity could be established through some quick dialogue).
Each of the individual solo outings for Marvel's heroes had a significant love interest (Pepper Potts in both Iron Mans, Peggy Carter in Captain America, Jane Foster in Thor, and Betty Ross in The Incredible Hulk), and it's safe to say many of those relationships will continue into the second solo outings for each hero (or third solo outing if you're Tony Stark). But, because Cap was frozen for 70-ish years, they obviously need a replacement. Will it be Beth? We'll just have to wait for the casting news to drop as we get closer to the Captain America sequel, slated to land in theaters in 2014.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
On Javier Bardem's Role as Silva in 'Skyfall'
By: Greg Payne
I was recently in an Oscar-Winning Films class (shoutout to Professor Damico!), and I had the pleasure of taking in No Country for Old Men for a second time. While I loved that film as a whole, what I ultimately came away with above all else was a true appreciation for Javier Bardem's acting chops. He won Best Supporting Actor that year, and I'm assuming it was by a landslide. If it wasn't, it should have been.
Anton Chigurh is a marvelous villain, and Bardem's entire performance is, in a word, captivating. He turned Chigurh into a character you wanted to see on screen at all times, simply to see what he would do next. This scene alone is worth the price of admission:
I say all of this to help explain my excitement for Bardem's turn as Silva, Skyfall's chief villain. Now, I obviously don't want a duplicate of Chigurh in Skyfall. That would be doing both Bardem and the film an injustice. But I do want a villain on par with Chigurh. I want a villain just as enthralling as James Bond is. I want someone who can outsmart Bond and then, when the situation calls for it, go toe-to-toe with him in a brawl.
Bond villains used to be diabolical and sinister. Lately, they've been...um...underwhelming. Le Chiffre in Casino Royale was intriguing, but I lost all respect for him when his two terrorist buddies held him and his girl up in the hotel room. If he can't even handle guys who wouldn't be more than mere henchmen to the old school Bond villains, how is he supposed to deal with Bond himself? Sure, Bond wasn't technically even the one to kill Le Chiffre, but if he hadn't been tied to that chair, Le Chiffre's dick-crushing exercise wouldn't have gone down so smoothly.
And then there was Dominic Greene in Quantum of Solace...Let's just move on.
I'm hoping Silva is a villain that I can respect. I'm hoping he's a villain that makes the stakes feel real to me. I want him to keep me guessing. I want him to be utterly unpredictable, and I want him to torment Bond in ways that we haven't seen before. Can't we all agree that Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker in The Dark Knight raised the stakes for all future movie villains? I want Bardem's Silva to surpass that.
The teaser trailer for Skyfall dropped this past Monday. We don't really get to see Silva, except for a brief glance at his shadowed silhouette as he staggers away from a burning mansion. I love that he's shrouded in mystery. The only other glance we've had of him comes from these set photos, in which he's dressed as a police officer and is sporting a blonde wig.
Needless to say, he's not looking quite as dapper in the trailer, with his hair all frazzled and sticking out at every possible angle. Notice his walk, though (1:03 mark).
Then, watch this scene from No Country. Notice Bardem's walk (1:34 mark) as he limps back to steal medicine for his messed up leg.
The walks are awfully similar, are they not? Now, this is no way implies that the two villains are even remotely similar (Chigurh is hurt in that scene from No Country, who knows what state Silva is in after he ignites that building in Skyfall), but it's just something that jumped out at me as soon as I watched the trailer for the first time. That scene from No Country popped into my head immediately. And since I'm campaigning for Silva to be as memorable as Chigurh, I'll take any comparison I can get, even if it's a simple strut through a field with a mansion ablaze in the background.
While Bond villains haven't lived up to the hype lately, they've at least been somewhat intelligent, and I think it's safe to say Silva will be supplied with considerable intellect and problem-making skills. Bardem is listed as being six-feet tall, and he's a pretty burly guy, while Craig, who's, you know, jacked, checks in at about five-feet-10, so Silva should be more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Bond if the two ever need to duke it out at one point (or multiple points) in the film. Sure, Silva will have some henchmen at his disposal (Ola Rapace plays Patrice, and I'm willing to bet he's tied to Silva in some manner), but we know those guys all get axed at some point, so there's no reason not to have Silva be combat ready.
I'm hoping for (and pretty much expecting) a twisted, sinister, engrossing, and slightly unstable villain in Silva that leaves me feeling uncertain throughout the film's run time. I don't want to be able to guess what his ultimate fate will be a mere 20 minutes into the movie. I want to look forward to see the scenes when he and Bond are sparring, whether it be verbally or physically. I want one of the best Bond villains we've ever seen on the screen. And Javier Bardem has proven already that he's the perfect man for the job.
I was recently in an Oscar-Winning Films class (shoutout to Professor Damico!), and I had the pleasure of taking in No Country for Old Men for a second time. While I loved that film as a whole, what I ultimately came away with above all else was a true appreciation for Javier Bardem's acting chops. He won Best Supporting Actor that year, and I'm assuming it was by a landslide. If it wasn't, it should have been.
Anton Chigurh is a marvelous villain, and Bardem's entire performance is, in a word, captivating. He turned Chigurh into a character you wanted to see on screen at all times, simply to see what he would do next. This scene alone is worth the price of admission:
I say all of this to help explain my excitement for Bardem's turn as Silva, Skyfall's chief villain. Now, I obviously don't want a duplicate of Chigurh in Skyfall. That would be doing both Bardem and the film an injustice. But I do want a villain on par with Chigurh. I want a villain just as enthralling as James Bond is. I want someone who can outsmart Bond and then, when the situation calls for it, go toe-to-toe with him in a brawl.
Bond villains used to be diabolical and sinister. Lately, they've been...um...underwhelming. Le Chiffre in Casino Royale was intriguing, but I lost all respect for him when his two terrorist buddies held him and his girl up in the hotel room. If he can't even handle guys who wouldn't be more than mere henchmen to the old school Bond villains, how is he supposed to deal with Bond himself? Sure, Bond wasn't technically even the one to kill Le Chiffre, but if he hadn't been tied to that chair, Le Chiffre's dick-crushing exercise wouldn't have gone down so smoothly.
And then there was Dominic Greene in Quantum of Solace...Let's just move on.
I'm hoping Silva is a villain that I can respect. I'm hoping he's a villain that makes the stakes feel real to me. I want him to keep me guessing. I want him to be utterly unpredictable, and I want him to torment Bond in ways that we haven't seen before. Can't we all agree that Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker in The Dark Knight raised the stakes for all future movie villains? I want Bardem's Silva to surpass that.
The teaser trailer for Skyfall dropped this past Monday. We don't really get to see Silva, except for a brief glance at his shadowed silhouette as he staggers away from a burning mansion. I love that he's shrouded in mystery. The only other glance we've had of him comes from these set photos, in which he's dressed as a police officer and is sporting a blonde wig.
Needless to say, he's not looking quite as dapper in the trailer, with his hair all frazzled and sticking out at every possible angle. Notice his walk, though (1:03 mark).
Then, watch this scene from No Country. Notice Bardem's walk (1:34 mark) as he limps back to steal medicine for his messed up leg.
The walks are awfully similar, are they not? Now, this is no way implies that the two villains are even remotely similar (Chigurh is hurt in that scene from No Country, who knows what state Silva is in after he ignites that building in Skyfall), but it's just something that jumped out at me as soon as I watched the trailer for the first time. That scene from No Country popped into my head immediately. And since I'm campaigning for Silva to be as memorable as Chigurh, I'll take any comparison I can get, even if it's a simple strut through a field with a mansion ablaze in the background.
While Bond villains haven't lived up to the hype lately, they've at least been somewhat intelligent, and I think it's safe to say Silva will be supplied with considerable intellect and problem-making skills. Bardem is listed as being six-feet tall, and he's a pretty burly guy, while Craig, who's, you know, jacked, checks in at about five-feet-10, so Silva should be more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Bond if the two ever need to duke it out at one point (or multiple points) in the film. Sure, Silva will have some henchmen at his disposal (Ola Rapace plays Patrice, and I'm willing to bet he's tied to Silva in some manner), but we know those guys all get axed at some point, so there's no reason not to have Silva be combat ready.
I'm hoping for (and pretty much expecting) a twisted, sinister, engrossing, and slightly unstable villain in Silva that leaves me feeling uncertain throughout the film's run time. I don't want to be able to guess what his ultimate fate will be a mere 20 minutes into the movie. I want to look forward to see the scenes when he and Bond are sparring, whether it be verbally or physically. I want one of the best Bond villains we've ever seen on the screen. And Javier Bardem has proven already that he's the perfect man for the job.
'Skyfall' Trailer Reactions and Crazy Theories: Part 2
By: Greg Payne
This is a direct continuation of my first rant about the teaser trailer for Skyfall, which was released on Monday. You can read Part 1, here.
For those of you who haven't seen it, here's the first official teaser trailer for Skyfall.
Before I go any further and continue adding commentary on the trailer, I need to disclose that I have completely ignored any and all spoilers that might have surfaced about the movie, purposely. I don't want this film ruined for me ahead of time. I want to go in as cold as possible. So, for any of you who might have been tempted and dug through the classified information, please forgive me if my lacking of said secrets makes the following theories and observations seem completely ludicrous. Let's just have some fun talking about the trailer and the film as a whole, shall we?
The trailer succeeds on a host of levels, by telling us both everything and absolutely nothing about the film. Really, if you haven't gone through any spoilers, what more do you know about the film after having viewed the trailer? You don't get a credible look at the main villain, Silva, played by Academy Award-Winner Javier Bardem, and you only get parting glances of the two most significant Bond girls: Severine (Berenice Marlohe) and Eve (Naomie Harris). Although, credit Eve for being a part of what appears to be, hands-down, the most sensual shaving scene in film history. Needless to say it'll be slightly more arousing than Steve Carell's chest waxing scene from The 40-Year Old Virgin.
Speaking of shaving, what's with Bond's stubble in this one? He boasted a grubby beard when he was in a North Korean prison in Die Another Day, and he might have even had some slight growth when he was in the hospital in Casino Royale after Le Chiffre bashed his balls in, but, to my knowledge, he hasn't, at least in recent years, willingly sported the scruff.
I mentioned the trailer not telling us a whole lot about the film, save for the fact that we appear to be in for a darker and grittier tale that has been beautifully photographed and shot (more on that later). But, at the same time, Bond reinforces what the movie is actually about with two lines: "Some men are coming to kill us. We're going to kill them first." Doesn't the synopsis claim that MI6 comes under attack and 007 must "track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost?" So, when you boil it down, isn't that what the film is? Bond's quest to destroy the threat? Obviously there are several different complexities and subplots that will be explored and explained, but in it's most basic sense, the film appears to be about Bond destroying the mentioned threat and saving a number of people in the process. Sign me up.
The trailer also gives us short glances at a host of action sequences, and even though they're mere glimpses, director Sam Mendes appears to have adhered to one of the most important unofficial rules of directing action scenes: Keep a safe distance and let the action be seen. When Bond's running through the fancy dining room of the mansion with bullets cascading in through the windows and walls, we can actually see him running. When he's marching through the room at the 43-second mark the shot is wide enough for us to see his advancement and the unloading of two bullets. Go through the final 15 seconds of the trailer. A wider shot is supplied for the brief fistfight we see in that really cool looking blue-tinted glass room (I believe in Shanghai). Similarly, when Bond's flying off a motorcycle in one of the last shots, the camera is a satisfactory distance away. Cinematographer Roger Deakins probably deserves just as much credit for all of this. I can't say how excited I am to have him on board for this film. His work is unparalleled.
For more on my feelings on Hollywood action sequences, read this.
Obviously my general excitement for the film makes me a tad bit biased, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that we appear to be in for a very memorable James Bond adventure with Skyfall. Do we realize how much Academy Award power is in this film? Sam Mendes has won for Best Director (American Beauty), Javier Bardem has won for Best Supporting Actor (No Country for Old Men), Judi Dench has won for Best Supporting Actress (Shakespeare in Love), Ralph Fiennes has been in a host of Best Picture winners (The English Patient, Schindler's List, and even a small turn in The Hurt Locker), Daniel Craig is unquestionably an Oscar-worthy actor, and has worked with Mendes before on Road to Perdition, and Deakins has served as the director of photography for multiple Best Picture winners (A Beautiful Mind, and No Country for Old Men, but we can also thank him for his work on stellar films like The Shawshank Redemption and Fargo).
The ingredients are clearly in place. Let's cross our fingers and hope they blend together in a truly magnificent way.
Skyfall hits theaters in the United States on November 9.
This is a direct continuation of my first rant about the teaser trailer for Skyfall, which was released on Monday. You can read Part 1, here.
For those of you who haven't seen it, here's the first official teaser trailer for Skyfall.
Before I go any further and continue adding commentary on the trailer, I need to disclose that I have completely ignored any and all spoilers that might have surfaced about the movie, purposely. I don't want this film ruined for me ahead of time. I want to go in as cold as possible. So, for any of you who might have been tempted and dug through the classified information, please forgive me if my lacking of said secrets makes the following theories and observations seem completely ludicrous. Let's just have some fun talking about the trailer and the film as a whole, shall we?
The trailer succeeds on a host of levels, by telling us both everything and absolutely nothing about the film. Really, if you haven't gone through any spoilers, what more do you know about the film after having viewed the trailer? You don't get a credible look at the main villain, Silva, played by Academy Award-Winner Javier Bardem, and you only get parting glances of the two most significant Bond girls: Severine (Berenice Marlohe) and Eve (Naomie Harris). Although, credit Eve for being a part of what appears to be, hands-down, the most sensual shaving scene in film history. Needless to say it'll be slightly more arousing than Steve Carell's chest waxing scene from The 40-Year Old Virgin.
Speaking of shaving, what's with Bond's stubble in this one? He boasted a grubby beard when he was in a North Korean prison in Die Another Day, and he might have even had some slight growth when he was in the hospital in Casino Royale after Le Chiffre bashed his balls in, but, to my knowledge, he hasn't, at least in recent years, willingly sported the scruff.
I mentioned the trailer not telling us a whole lot about the film, save for the fact that we appear to be in for a darker and grittier tale that has been beautifully photographed and shot (more on that later). But, at the same time, Bond reinforces what the movie is actually about with two lines: "Some men are coming to kill us. We're going to kill them first." Doesn't the synopsis claim that MI6 comes under attack and 007 must "track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost?" So, when you boil it down, isn't that what the film is? Bond's quest to destroy the threat? Obviously there are several different complexities and subplots that will be explored and explained, but in it's most basic sense, the film appears to be about Bond destroying the mentioned threat and saving a number of people in the process. Sign me up.
The trailer also gives us short glances at a host of action sequences, and even though they're mere glimpses, director Sam Mendes appears to have adhered to one of the most important unofficial rules of directing action scenes: Keep a safe distance and let the action be seen. When Bond's running through the fancy dining room of the mansion with bullets cascading in through the windows and walls, we can actually see him running. When he's marching through the room at the 43-second mark the shot is wide enough for us to see his advancement and the unloading of two bullets. Go through the final 15 seconds of the trailer. A wider shot is supplied for the brief fistfight we see in that really cool looking blue-tinted glass room (I believe in Shanghai). Similarly, when Bond's flying off a motorcycle in one of the last shots, the camera is a satisfactory distance away. Cinematographer Roger Deakins probably deserves just as much credit for all of this. I can't say how excited I am to have him on board for this film. His work is unparalleled.
For more on my feelings on Hollywood action sequences, read this.
Obviously my general excitement for the film makes me a tad bit biased, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that we appear to be in for a very memorable James Bond adventure with Skyfall. Do we realize how much Academy Award power is in this film? Sam Mendes has won for Best Director (American Beauty), Javier Bardem has won for Best Supporting Actor (No Country for Old Men), Judi Dench has won for Best Supporting Actress (Shakespeare in Love), Ralph Fiennes has been in a host of Best Picture winners (The English Patient, Schindler's List, and even a small turn in The Hurt Locker), Daniel Craig is unquestionably an Oscar-worthy actor, and has worked with Mendes before on Road to Perdition, and Deakins has served as the director of photography for multiple Best Picture winners (A Beautiful Mind, and No Country for Old Men, but we can also thank him for his work on stellar films like The Shawshank Redemption and Fargo).
The ingredients are clearly in place. Let's cross our fingers and hope they blend together in a truly magnificent way.
Skyfall hits theaters in the United States on November 9.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
'Skyfall' Trailer Reactions and Crazy Theories: Part 1
By: Greg Payne
I'm a big, big, big James Bond fan. Let's just get that out on the table. I've been waiting for Skyfall for an excruciatingly long duration of time, so you can understand why I might have been a bit excited for the release of the first teaser trailer this past Monday. Before we go any further, watch it now:
It takes several viewings to really grasp what's going on. Obviously at the forefront Bond is being interrogated, by way of one of those mind-twisting word association games.
The transcript:
INTERROGATOR: Country.
BOND: England.
INTERROGATOR: Gun.
BOND: Shot.
INTERROGATOR: Agent.
BOND: Provocateur.
INTERROGATOR: Murder.
BOND: Employment.
INTERROGATOR: Skyfall.
[BOND FREEZES AND PAUSES]
INTERROGATOR: Skyfall.
BOND: Done.
So, what do we take out of that? It seems like Bond is, initially, unconcerned with this entire process, as he rattles off answers fairly nonchalantly, perhaps best exemplified by the way he casually says, 'Employment,' when he's approached with, 'Murder.' My guess is, he isn't expecting the word 'Skyfall' to be dropped at any point in the conversation, which is why he's suddenly so taken aback when he hears it. Obviously we get the briefest of flashes of what appears to be a room in which Bond is standing over a middle aged man slumped back in a chair, gun in hand (or is that even Bond with the gun?). Was he assigned to kill this man? Was this man already dying when he arrived? Is this man close to Bond in a personal way? Is he a fellow agent that Bond had grown somewhat close with (consider Pierce Brosnan and Alec Trevelyan in Goldeneye)?
Also, it's hard not to notice M (Judi Dench), Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear), and newcomer Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) (full disclosure: I've purposely done no research on Mallory's character, so I could be waaaaaay off over the next few paragraphs) examining this interrogation as it's taking place. And, of course, notice how Mallory turns towards M when Bond first hesitates when presented with 'Skyfall.' Crazy theory: Mallory doesn't trust Bond, suspects him of something (perhaps something related to the Skyfall case), or is afraid he's been emotionally or professionally compromised by the case, and his look towards M appears to be one of, 'See what I mean?' or, 'I told you so.'
But here's another crazy theory (I have many)...The official synopsis claims that M's past comes back to haunt her (I think that's why we see her standing in the room with the caskets draped with the flag of England), so MAYBE this Skyfall case that has so disrupted Bond's psyche was one that M alone gave the approval on. Maybe it was a mission that didn't have to be executed, or wasn't of the utmost importance, only M decided to go through with it anyway and ordered Bond to carry out certain actions. In other words: M made a stupid decision (Bond and apparently England as a whole are paying for it) and now Mallory has shown up as some sort of intermediary, and his look towards M could then be interpreted as something along the lines of, 'See what you've done?' Notice how stone-faced M is in that one shot?
Also notice how Tanner slowly averts his gaze when Bond hesitates, almost as if he's uncomfortable with the entire situation. Almost like he feels awful that Bond's in this room, and that he's being forced to respond to 'Skyfall.' We've all been in those uncomfortable situations where we can't quite look someone in the eye.
I think it's safe to say that this scene isn't one in which Bond was summoned from his home to go all Robert DeNiro-Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents with the interrogator man. Notice his outfit. Looks like a blue jumpsuit, or something of that nature. Um, Bond is the king of style. At all times. Does the man even own a pair of sweatpants? He actually might. There's that brief shot of him running in the park in some old school Rocky gear. BUT, he would NEVER willingly wear a blue onesie. My guess? This scene comes shortly after whichever part of the movie this picture is associated with. Also, notice the quick gaze he shoots towards M and Mallory. He obviously can't see them directly, but he knows they're there. His look? One of, 'Happy?' or, 'Are you satisfied?' Or perhaps there's even a bit more anger there.
Okay, I'm going to stop here for now. I have a lot more to say about this trailer, and the film in general, so I'll post a part two later today. I don't want to go through every single second of the trailer and try to break down all of the quick edits we get (even though I kind of did that here), because, where's the fun in that? One of the best things about the trailer is that not a whole lot about the movie has been revealed. And it's better that way. I want this movie still shrouded in a bit of mystery when I see it on November 9 (most likely at midnight). But I do have some other general thoughts/comments/crazy theories to put out there, so I'll be back with those shortly.
I'm a big, big, big James Bond fan. Let's just get that out on the table. I've been waiting for Skyfall for an excruciatingly long duration of time, so you can understand why I might have been a bit excited for the release of the first teaser trailer this past Monday. Before we go any further, watch it now:
It takes several viewings to really grasp what's going on. Obviously at the forefront Bond is being interrogated, by way of one of those mind-twisting word association games.
The transcript:
INTERROGATOR: Country.
BOND: England.
INTERROGATOR: Gun.
BOND: Shot.
INTERROGATOR: Agent.
BOND: Provocateur.
INTERROGATOR: Murder.
BOND: Employment.
INTERROGATOR: Skyfall.
[BOND FREEZES AND PAUSES]
INTERROGATOR: Skyfall.
BOND: Done.
So, what do we take out of that? It seems like Bond is, initially, unconcerned with this entire process, as he rattles off answers fairly nonchalantly, perhaps best exemplified by the way he casually says, 'Employment,' when he's approached with, 'Murder.' My guess is, he isn't expecting the word 'Skyfall' to be dropped at any point in the conversation, which is why he's suddenly so taken aback when he hears it. Obviously we get the briefest of flashes of what appears to be a room in which Bond is standing over a middle aged man slumped back in a chair, gun in hand (or is that even Bond with the gun?). Was he assigned to kill this man? Was this man already dying when he arrived? Is this man close to Bond in a personal way? Is he a fellow agent that Bond had grown somewhat close with (consider Pierce Brosnan and Alec Trevelyan in Goldeneye)?
Also, it's hard not to notice M (Judi Dench), Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear), and newcomer Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) (full disclosure: I've purposely done no research on Mallory's character, so I could be waaaaaay off over the next few paragraphs) examining this interrogation as it's taking place. And, of course, notice how Mallory turns towards M when Bond first hesitates when presented with 'Skyfall.' Crazy theory: Mallory doesn't trust Bond, suspects him of something (perhaps something related to the Skyfall case), or is afraid he's been emotionally or professionally compromised by the case, and his look towards M appears to be one of, 'See what I mean?' or, 'I told you so.'
But here's another crazy theory (I have many)...The official synopsis claims that M's past comes back to haunt her (I think that's why we see her standing in the room with the caskets draped with the flag of England), so MAYBE this Skyfall case that has so disrupted Bond's psyche was one that M alone gave the approval on. Maybe it was a mission that didn't have to be executed, or wasn't of the utmost importance, only M decided to go through with it anyway and ordered Bond to carry out certain actions. In other words: M made a stupid decision (Bond and apparently England as a whole are paying for it) and now Mallory has shown up as some sort of intermediary, and his look towards M could then be interpreted as something along the lines of, 'See what you've done?' Notice how stone-faced M is in that one shot?
Also notice how Tanner slowly averts his gaze when Bond hesitates, almost as if he's uncomfortable with the entire situation. Almost like he feels awful that Bond's in this room, and that he's being forced to respond to 'Skyfall.' We've all been in those uncomfortable situations where we can't quite look someone in the eye.
I think it's safe to say that this scene isn't one in which Bond was summoned from his home to go all Robert DeNiro-Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents with the interrogator man. Notice his outfit. Looks like a blue jumpsuit, or something of that nature. Um, Bond is the king of style. At all times. Does the man even own a pair of sweatpants? He actually might. There's that brief shot of him running in the park in some old school Rocky gear. BUT, he would NEVER willingly wear a blue onesie. My guess? This scene comes shortly after whichever part of the movie this picture is associated with. Also, notice the quick gaze he shoots towards M and Mallory. He obviously can't see them directly, but he knows they're there. His look? One of, 'Happy?' or, 'Are you satisfied?' Or perhaps there's even a bit more anger there.
Okay, I'm going to stop here for now. I have a lot more to say about this trailer, and the film in general, so I'll post a part two later today. I don't want to go through every single second of the trailer and try to break down all of the quick edits we get (even though I kind of did that here), because, where's the fun in that? One of the best things about the trailer is that not a whole lot about the movie has been revealed. And it's better that way. I want this movie still shrouded in a bit of mystery when I see it on November 9 (most likely at midnight). But I do have some other general thoughts/comments/crazy theories to put out there, so I'll be back with those shortly.
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