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Thoughts on John Logan: Co-writer of Bond23
As part of EON's announcement back in January, it was officially stated the screenplay would be written by Bond veterans Purvis and Wade (TWINE, DAD, CR and QOS) and playwright John Logan. I've had mixed feelings about Mr. Logan based on his past contributions. On one hand he got his start as a stage playwright with plays focusing on historical accounts, so this could be a good pairing with director Sam Mendes, who also has a theatre background. His most recent work: the Broadway hit "Red", a cerebral bio-drama about abstract artist Mark Rothko, has received rave reviews.
Logan's film screenplay resume, however, seems a little shaky. His first major screenplay was "Any Given Sunday", directed by Oliver Stone. While it did have some good dramatic moments, the whole production seemed a bit overbloated. In fairness, this criticism should be aimed at Oliver Stone. His next screenplay contribution was for Gladiator, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. It's not my favorite film by any means, but it did do a nice job of combining interpersonal drama with action: if done well suits a Bond film (CR for example). His other Oscar nominated film was the Martin Scorcese directed "The Aviator."
Logan's had a string of additional feature film credits: all pretty much a mixed bag: Star Trek: Nemesis, The Last Samurai, Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, and most recently Rango. He's had quite a diverse range of projects, so perhaps he brings a broad experience of writing to Bond. He's also worked with some of the biggest directors around...but still...I'm not completely excited about his attachment to the project. What are your thoughts on John Logan?
Logan's film screenplay resume, however, seems a little shaky. His first major screenplay was "Any Given Sunday", directed by Oliver Stone. While it did have some good dramatic moments, the whole production seemed a bit overbloated. In fairness, this criticism should be aimed at Oliver Stone. His next screenplay contribution was for Gladiator, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. It's not my favorite film by any means, but it did do a nice job of combining interpersonal drama with action: if done well suits a Bond film (CR for example). His other Oscar nominated film was the Martin Scorcese directed "The Aviator."
Logan's had a string of additional feature film credits: all pretty much a mixed bag: Star Trek: Nemesis, The Last Samurai, Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, and most recently Rango. He's had quite a diverse range of projects, so perhaps he brings a broad experience of writing to Bond. He's also worked with some of the biggest directors around...but still...I'm not completely excited about his attachment to the project. What are your thoughts on John Logan?
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Comments
I remain optimistic. As long as he has writen the script with a Purvis & Wade polish.
i think it'll turn out okay.... like Samuel, i remain optimistic......... it at least wont be unfinished like the script for QOS.
thats what i meant... lol..... they obviously had a script - but it was unfinished by Haggis
The Last Samurai. Whyle i haven't seen it, i hope it be his experimence of Asian chacters/location and teatcher element why there ask Logan. I hope Gladiator have the same effect. JBFan626 discripte it as historical.
Gladiator also worried, but that is more to do who there going to ask as second united directer for the action scene. Not confirmd yet and i hope it isn't the one from CR and Gladiator and also not Dan Bradley.
Any Given Sunday. Based on the trailer: For the politic/chat-dialgue for Judi Dench M and i also like a qoute from that trailer: A Hero wil rise. Imagine the coverment guy said to M what the chacter of Diaz said to Alpacino.
Also, to your point @M_Balje, Logan's experience is pretty broad: he's done the Asian setting, ancient Rome and action, and sports/politics, so hopefully he can dip from all of these genres.
All of these films definitely have a popcorn/blockbuster feel, so perhaps we're going to get a BIG theatrical style movie with B23. I have a feeling had Peter Morgan penned the script, the movie would have been subdued/interpersonal/cerebral at best and dry/low key/slow at worst.
However, this was not the fault of John Logan. Director Baird and producer Berman decided to make a standard action film out of a Star Trek movie and proceeded to cut the living daylights out of the film; as a result, a lot of the best scenes in the film with strong thematic and character moments were left sitting on the editor's room floor (which, in addition to the lackluster U.S. Marshalls, is why I am vehemently opposed to the idea of Baird as a Bond director).
Overall, I think Logan could do good work for the series.
It will be up to Mendes who he wants as his 2nd Unit Director and Editor... he's already nabbed Deakins as his DP, and he might have already gotten his editor locked down too.... decisions like that are 99% of the time made by the director, whoever is writing usually bares no factor in who is chosen for director or editor