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Nice to see they still marketing it.
As with the Everything or Nothing documentary, I never expected this piece to have such a heart to it. You really see George spill his guts, and I was surprised to see him get emotional about his past in a way that really touched me. The more I read about him the more I feel real sympathy for him, and I hate to see him ragged on. People don't seem to get his story and why, for him, it was such a shock to the system to be in his position. Every Bond actor from Roger onward faced certain hurdles and hiccups but nothing truly major. In George's day the world only knew James Bond as Sean Connery, so the target on his back for both not being Connery and being completely untrained and inexperienced with no prestige to his name was a massive one. It really pisses me off to see how mistreated and misunderstood he has been all this time, because nobody has a right to place a judgment on him. In 1969 there was never any indication that Sean would ever come back, and no Sean in the role could've easily met the death of James Bond. In retrospect it's easy to call George's decision a daft move, but in the context of the time I could see many people doing the same.
Ultimately George's maverick sense of individualism was really on display here and that is what sells the entire piece. He doesn't play by anyone's rules and nobody is his keeper. There's a certain respect in that, and it's fitting that it's the message he leaves viewers with. I think he really understands far more than any other Bond actor just what Sean got scared off by when he played the role. The poisonous fame, the hungry and overbearing press, the brand overtaking the self, the lack of privacy and personal freedoms, the binding contracts, the expectation to be James Bond in your private life and all the rest that comes with it.
George tasted all that fresh from Sean in a time where Bond wasn't this decades long institution, and he was the first replacement before it was expected that Bond actors would be swapped out over time. Tim, Pierce and Dan especially get to sit down and talk about what Bond meant to them as kids with stars in their eyes but George was in the thick of it when the series was at its biggest moment of confusion and the strange circumstances that led to a car salesman getting the biggest gig in cinema is staggering. The took the brunt of it but didn't complain and got on with it. That he's made peace with so much of it is a relief and I ultimately respect him for sticking up for himself and following his gut when he didn't like the feeling of the suit on his skin.
Other random thoughts on the actual production of the piece itself:
I really enjoyed the casting of Josh Lawson, who I found to be a very strong fit for the role of George. He was able to replicate the charm and certain boldness of the man well. If that part failed, the documentary would've soured.
I was also impressed by the overall style of the film, from the imaginative and Binder-esque transitions, designs and pop-ups to how it was shot and staged. Usually with reenactment pieces you run the risk of getting very over-dramatized and cringe-inducing theater pieces where actors lay it on too thick. What I found refreshing about how this film was directed was how George's words would set the scene depicted and how Lawson would break the fourth wall to let the audience in on the man's fun in every moment. It gave off a certain charm and comedy by inviting the audience to come on the journey and the addition of a lot of stage-bound effects and projection not only connected the look of it to the vintage feeling of the early Bonds, but also gave it a more accessible and fun identity. George, as narrator, was willing to poke a lot of fun at himself and the film was able to go along with him for that ride.
Obviously every Bond fan should watch it, that's a no-brainer. If you like Lazenby as I do, you will only find more reason to believe he'd make a fine drinking partner or company for a night out. Also be prepared to be surprised by how much he peels himself back to reveal some regret and introspection too. It's not all laughs and we get a full picture of our great second James Bond in his every facet throughout.
https://watchmovie.me/watch-movie-becoming-bond/i5pw
Was lucky enough to catch Becoming Bond with a Q&A after with George Lazenby last night.
Then today OHMSS again followed by a Q&A and photo / autograph signing with Lazenby.
Was very impressed with Becoming Bond, a lot of fun. A pleasant surprise to be sure. To see OHMSS on the big screen was another treat. Having the man himself there and some photo ops was just the icing on the cake.
Jealous, I'm sure it was a blast.
No doubt about that: the birthplace of film and technology!
That's putting it mildly 007!
Epic @Benny, hope you took picutres, film, etc.... ;-)
I got a picture with George, while my wife sat on his knee. His a randy old bugger. But very genuine and warm. Nice guy.
Not sure how to upload it, but it's on my Facebook page.
OHMSS on the big screen was epic. Sooo good. Becoming Bond is a real treat if you like George, or even if you're just a Bond fan. It's a lot of fun. I enjoyed it.
But made me want to rewatch OHMSS again!
To me indeed in the documentary, it doesn't come over as arrogance. It's as you say, it wasn't his world, and for a guy who from his early youth on made decisions on a whim and loved his freedom above everything else, the strict rules of Bond just didn't fit. He made the decision as he always did, and then had to come up with a story.
I think George was the man who shouldn't have been there, but because he was he landed the role. He looked the part, fitted the part half perfectly, but the other half made it impossible for him to stay there.
Quite. George is very much a leaf in the wind type, with liberty on the mind. Better to die riding high by one's own choice then lie low in chains for another's profit and all that.
I haven't seen anything for it. I'm hoping it gets a release here, unlike Everything or Nothing.
Great news! I'll bag my copy!