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Was Brosnan's best Bond 'The Tailor of Panama'?

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  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Personally, I feel Brosnan's best non-Bond film was 'The Tailor of Panama', with extremely honorable mentions to 'The Matador,' 'Seraphim Falls,' 'The Thomas Crown Affair,' and 'Married Life.' Brosnan was too risqué and sexual to be seen as Bond in 'The Tailor of Panama,' but he did play an excellent spy.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I think he was fine in TTOP but not Bondian, no.
  • Commander_SkyfallCommander_Skyfall
    edited June 2012 Posts: 371
    I've liked most of his non Bond stuff, TTOP and Thomas Crown particular favourites, but he always struck me as a bit of a retired Bond in After the Sunset, something to do with the way he really seemed to enjoy the finer things in life, I really enjoyed that one.
  • LeChiffreLeChiffre
    Posts: 1,548
    The Matador is Brosnan's best non-Bond role IMO. A cracking little indie film. Panana is good also. Met the Director's son Charley Boorman recently. A thouroughly nice chap he is too
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @LeChiffre, I love The Matador. Brosnan is so outrageous and flamboyant in the film, and his little back and forth banter with Kinnear is some excellent material. Really glad they put the film on blu-ray; they must have known how bad I wanted it.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    I do think that Brosnan's best Bond-ish performance is in TTOP. He seems so relaxed in a Connery or Moore kind of way.
  • fire_and_icefire_and_ice
    Posts: 6,432
    fourth protocol.
  • GetafixGetafix
    edited July 2014 Posts: 11,425
    Still think TTOP is Brosnan's best turn as a spy. His new movies will be interesting to see though.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    I don't think TTOP was his best Bond, in fact in the movie (which is great) Brosnan plays the anti-Bond.
  • GetafixGetafix
    edited July 2014 Posts: 11,425
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think TTOP was his best Bond, in fact in the movie (which is great) Brosnan plays the anti-Bond.

    He is so much better on TTOP than as Bond. Incredible really. Like two different actors.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited July 2014 Posts: 18,281
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think TTOP was his best Bond, in fact in the movie (which is great) Brosnan plays the anti-Bond.

    Indeed it was based on a John Le Carré novel after all, so how could it be anything other than anti-Bond?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    He was most certainly anti-Bond in TTOP, but his personality in it is exactly what Brosnan wanted to bring to the Bond films, and was never given the chance: brutality, gritty aspects, the sex and the blood and the cigarettes, all of it. I believe Brosnan would've loved playing Bond like Craig is now a lot more than what he had to work with in GE - DAD.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @Birdleson, like an older Bond? I like the thought of that. Well past his prime, foul-mouthed, completely out of his mind due to all of the booze and smoking and sex, and he's pushed away everyone around him to the point that he just wants a good friend.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    May be Brosnan had a decent Bond performance in him waiting to come out, but he certainly never delivered it on the screen.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Getafix wrote: »
    May be Brosnan had a decent Bond performance in him waiting to come out, but he certainly never delivered it on the screen.

    I thought he was more than decent in GE and TWINE at the very least.
  • AnonAnon
    Posts: 246
    My favourite line in The Tailor of Panama is when he exclaims 'cunt!'. Wouldn't get Bond saying that
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think TTOP was his best Bond, in fact in the movie (which is great) Brosnan plays the anti-Bond.

    Indeed it was based on a John Le Carré novel after all, so how could it be anything other than anti-Bond?

    Indeed. It may be his best role, but Brosnan certainly did not play Bond in it.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited August 2014 Posts: 15,718
    'The Matador' is what I'd imagine Brosnan's Bond would do after he retires from MI6. So I would put this film ahead of 'Tailor of Panama' for Brosnan's most Bondian performance outside of Bond movies.

  • AnonAnon
    Posts: 246
    DaltonCraig007 wrote: »
    ... Brosnan's most Bondian performance outside of Bond movies.

    Not Remmington Steele?

    Just joking - I assume you were restricting yourself to feature films.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    A lot of his performances pre-Bond were preparing him to become Bond.
  • AnonAnon
    Posts: 246
    Yes - he was pretty laconic in a proto-bond way in The Fourth Protocal
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    Anon wrote: »
    DaltonCraig007 wrote: »
    ... Brosnan's most Bondian performance outside of Bond movies.

    Not Remmington Steele?

    Just joking - I assume you were restricting yourself to feature films.

    Yep, I was talking films only :) But yes, Remingston Steel is definately very Bondian
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    I would say no because he doesn't see Bondian in the film. In my opinion Brosnan's best Bond was GoldenEye.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    TTOP showed Brosnan could have been a decent Bond.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited August 2014 Posts: 15,718
    Getafix wrote: »
    TTOP showed Brosnan could have been a decent Bond.

    I really can't wait for November Man. Seems like the serious spy flick Brosnan never got to do as Bond.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    The other thread reminded me of this old one. Still think TTOP is one of Brosnan's best performances.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I did not know about this thread.

    Yes, I think it was one of his best performances. The arrogant, charming, non-caring, insensitive persona that he brought to Osnard was very believable and suited Brosnan. He let his hair down for this one. You almost got the feeling he was sending a message to the Bond producers: "Let me be this way for Bond!!"

    I think he attempted to capture the essence of this portrayal in his next stab as Bond, in the early parts of DAD, and it worked. It was most apparent in his carefree, confident, almost arrogant early intro interactions with Jinx at the beach (if that was not James Bond, I don't know who is).

    Sadly, Brosnan's tenure was over with DAD, so we will never know if he could have replicated more of this performance in his 'Bond persona'. Shame
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,169
    Pushee wrote: »
    Of course, his finest performance can be enjoyed in Taffin, where he proceeds to deliver the greatest line in the entire history of film:

    I can't think of any other Bond who has had a scene-quite as great as that. Legendary!
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    Getafix wrote: »
    The other thread reminded me of this old one. Still think TTOP is one of Brosnan's best performances.

    His best performance, I think. Because he played the anti-Bond. And for once he did not play the poor man's Bond, as he used to before he became Bond.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Don't know if this is being discussed elsewhere but I thought Pierce Brosnan
    Was terrific in The November man. An older, darker Bond in many ways.
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