Pierce Brosnan admits he can't bear to watch himself as Bond

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Comments

  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,425
    Fair comment. But I don't care what the popular response is to be honest. My attitudes to both films were responses I had at the cinema the first time I saw them. I always go into a Bond movie wanting to enjoy it. With both GE and SF I just found them both really lacklustre and disappointing. I wasn't influenced positively or negatively by what other people felt. By the same token I really enjoyed QOS and still like it - it was only later I even realised it was supposed to be a dud in popular culture terms.
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,189
    SF was easily the best cinematic experience I've ever had with Bond and I avoided reading any reviews beforehand.

    With QOS I remember thinking it was alright but something was off. Watched it again the other week and a lot of it is good but pacing wise it just doesn't flow well.
  • Posts: 1,999
    A lot of actors hate watching themselves in their movies. It's not an unusual thing
  • Jazz007Jazz007 Minnesota
    edited April 2017 Posts: 257
    "It was quite tame, and the characterisation didn’t have a follow-through of reality, it was surface."

    My take on the Brosnan years is that the production of the films let Brosnan down far more than the other way around. Brosnan has his bad acting moments - no doubt - but he's a good actor and could have done more with the character than EON was prepared to allow at the time. Brosnan seems to understand and explain as much in his quote from the article (above) - I think this outlines my and others' biggest problem with the Brosnan years. Of course, others like it for that reason - so it's all a matter of perspective.
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,425
    If Brosnan felt the character was underwritten he should have turned to the books IMO.

    I think Brosnans biggest fear was not being 'another Dalton' as he saw it and therefore turned away from the literary character towards a very lightweight homage of Sean and Rog.

    Brosnan is the anti Dalton, even though i think deep down he wanted to give the part more dramatic heft.

    Sad really. I blame EON and Brosnan tbh
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,189
    Sadly Brosnan seems to have unintentionally exposed his limited knowledge of the books. There's an interview on YouTube with him and Robert Pattinson where he says towards the end "I think there was only 7 books".

    I get that most of the Bonds didn't turn to the novels directly for inspiration but they were at least honest about only having read one or two. I wonder if Broz made the mistake of essentially, as you've stated before @Getafix, blagging it and trying to come off like he knew more about the character than he actually did.

    It kind of hurts to admit it but I get the sense Brosnan was basically a yes-man. He did what Eon told him to do.
  • Jazz007Jazz007 Minnesota
    Posts: 257
    Getafix wrote: »
    If Brosnan felt the character was underwritten he should have turned to the books IMO.

    Turning to the books gets you only so far when the dialogue and stories your given are about the furthest away from Fleming as you can get (while still skating by as legitimately "Bond"ish). When Dalton was Bond, they were still using pieces from the books and giving Dalton something to work with. EON went full-on pop for Brosnan's tenure - the public ate it up but that, of course, doesn't mean it's good.

    Brosnan isn't off the hook - although I think he is a pretty good actor overall, he certainly has the tendency to overact. His painface is painful to watch! His ideas for more explicit sex were finally realized in DAD and was proven to be a really bad idea. Turns out we don't want to watch Bond blubber out an oh-face.
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,189
    I never noticed Brosnan's grimacing until I became an online fan (I actually noticed Roger's "oof's" long before). Some of them aren't too bad but others...wow.

    The worst ones I think are when he's fighting with Mr Kil.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,362
    Getafix wrote: »
    Sad really. I blame EON and Brosnan tbh

    Christ.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I never noticed Brosnan's grimacing until I became an online fan (I actually noticed Roger's "oof's" long before). Some of them aren't too bad but others...wow.

    The worst ones I think are when he's fighting with Mr Kil.
    They were always deeply troubling to me at the time. It just didn't seem credible that Bond would behave and act in this fashion. The same thing applied to his moping about like a love torn teenager wuss in TWINE. Completely out of character and I don't think anyone needed to read the books to figure that out.
  • Posts: 11,189
    bondjames wrote: »
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I never noticed Brosnan's grimacing until I became an online fan (I actually noticed Roger's "oof's" long before). Some of them aren't too bad but others...wow.

    The worst ones I think are when he's fighting with Mr Kil.
    They were always deeply troubling to me at the time. It just didn't seem credible that Bond would behave and act in this fashion. The same thing applied to his moping about like a love torn teenager wuss in TWINE. Completely out of character and I don't think anyone needed to read the books to figure that out.

    I think at least some of this can be attributed to cheesy writing, which looking back seemed quite common in big 1990s films.
  • Posts: 1,999
    I thought Brosnan was fine in his performances. I really don't see anything wrong with how he portrayed the role. Not everything needs to be taken so serious.

    He is better than Dalton, George and some even say Craig.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,362
    He's the best! ;)
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    @fjdinardo Agreed. While Dalton and Craig are great, Brosnan will always be better to me.
  • I have no contentions with Brosnan's performances as well. Connery once stated in an interview that he only read 3 of Fleming's Books, I think Brosnan may have read Goldfinger but I may also be mistaken. I sure as hell prefer him over George, Tim, and Daniel. He's no Connery or Moore, and I'll admit I have nostalgia for his films as they were what introduced me to the series, but the man was just such a badass. I just don't see why people hate on the guy as Bond. It everybody just bitter about Dalton not getting a third film, or do people genuinely like to hate on the guy. Getting on to Goldeneye, like it's been said previously about 3 times, if one was to compare the film to Casino Royale. The impact of Goldeneye is incredibly more significant than Casino's, determining the better film is purely down to each person's taste, but you can't argue against the fact that Goldeneye was arguably a bigger film than Casino.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,003
    I don't think it has anything to do with being bitter over the lack of more Dalton. And I think this Brosnan bashing is blown out of proportion, it really doesn't happen as much as some claim. There is far more Dalton bashing. One person says something about Dalton never looking comfortable in his suits, followed a chorus of agreeing. Someone says something about Brosnan, and THEN is becomes bashing. People act as if their family tree has just been insulted. Brosnan bashing doesn't happen as often as it is claimed.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I have no contentions with Brosnan's performances as well. Connery once stated in an interview that he only read 3 of Fleming's Books, I think Brosnan may have read Goldfinger but I may also be mistaken. I sure as hell prefer him over George, Tim, and Daniel. He's no Connery or Moore, and I'll admit I have nostalgia for his films as they were what introduced me to the series, but the man was just such a badass. I just don't see why people hate on the guy as Bond. It everybody just bitter about Dalton not getting a third film, or do people genuinely like to hate on the guy. Getting on to Goldeneye, like it's been said previously about 3 times, if one was to compare the film to Casino Royale. The impact of Goldeneye is incredibly more significant than Casino's, determining the better film is purely down to each person's taste, but you can't argue against the fact that Goldeneye was arguably a bigger film than Casino.
    Well said, sir. You and I are going to get along well.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    edited April 2017 Posts: 1,812
    I just don't see why people hate on the guy as Bond.

    I don't quite get it either. When I ask any hater all they can say is that he's over dramatic and too "Terminator-like." I don't really agree with either. I will admit that he is the most dramatic out of all the Bond actors, but not overly dramatic. His Bond does hold the most kills out of all the Bonds (although Craig's isn't too far behind), but I wouldn't go as far as calling him the Terminator.

    The impact of Goldeneye is incredibly more significant than Casino's, determining the better film is purely down to each person's taste, but you can't argue against the fact that Goldeneye was arguably a bigger film than Casino.

    I remember when GoldenEye came out. I was a little kid and it was years before I became a Bond fan. I remember seeing Bond everywhere. It's the only time I can recall Bond being as big as it was. While Casino Royale is amazing, and was talked about quite a bit when it first came out, it just never had what GoldenEye seemed to have when it was first released.

  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I don't think it has anything to do with being bitter over the lack of more Dalton. And I think this Brosnan bashing is blown out of proportion, it really doesn't happen as much as some claim. There is far more Dalton bashing. One person says something about Dalton never looking comfortable in his suits, followed a chorus of agreeing. Someone says something about Brosnan, and THEN is becomes bashing. People act as if their family tree has just been insulted. Brosnan bashing doesn't happen as often as it is claimed.

    There is a bit of a difference from my perspective. There's a spitefulness that's not really there when discussing Dalts. It's rare (in fact I can't recall an instance off the top of my head) where Dalts is absolutely torn a new one. That's quite a regular occurrence with Brosnan. Aside from that, I think it's more the snide comments that grate with me. The petty asides when the Brosnan isn't even part of a conversation but just has to be dropped in as the punchline because it's so obviously hilarious. I like them both, so I have no agenda, but from my perspective it's definitely Brosnan who gets the bulk of the shit shovelled his way.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,003
    RC7 wrote: »
    I don't think it has anything to do with being bitter over the lack of more Dalton. And I think this Brosnan bashing is blown out of proportion, it really doesn't happen as much as some claim. There is far more Dalton bashing. One person says something about Dalton never looking comfortable in his suits, followed a chorus of agreeing. Someone says something about Brosnan, and THEN is becomes bashing. People act as if their family tree has just been insulted. Brosnan bashing doesn't happen as often as it is claimed.

    There is a bit of a difference from my perspective. There's a spitefulness that's not really there when discussing Dalts. It's rare (in fact I can't recall an instance off the top of my head) where Dalts is absolutely torn a new one. That's quite a regular occurrence with Brosnan. Aside from that, I think it's more the snide comments that grate with me. The petty asides when the Brosnan isn't even part of a conversation but just has to be dropped in as the punchline because it's so obviously hilarious. I like them both, so I have no agenda, but from my perspective it's definitely Brosnan who gets the bulk of the shit shovelled his way.

    I've seen people get really precise in picking at Dalton. I have criticised Brosnan, I won't deny that, but on the whole, I don't think it happens that much.
  • I'm going to be straight off the bat and say that the only issue I have with Dalton (and even Lazenby) was that we didn't get more of his films. That's my only problem w/ the man. I love what each Bond actor brings to the table, so you won't find me bashing any of them. That being said, I certainly get the impression that Brosnan gets bashed around here a helluva lot more than Dalton does. Dalton starred in two great Bond movies, the same can not be said for Brosnan, and I feel bad because most of the blame is getting shifted towards him. Brosnan always wanted to play the darkened hero Fleming originally conceived, the scripts just didn't appeal to that. In the Goldeneye Press Conference he says he wants to explore this character a bit more than past actors have, and that didn't happen. Thats not Brosnan's fault however, how can you play a dark character in scripts for films as ridiculous as Die Another Die and Tomorrow Never Dies. Brosnan shouldn't be getting any of the hate. He's an actor doing what he does best. If people want to hate on anybody, hate on EON and the screenwriters for not taking liberties and chances with this character during his tenure.
  • Posts: 1,999
    I have no contentions with Brosnan's performances as well. Connery once stated in an interview that he only read 3 of Fleming's Books, I think Brosnan may have read Goldfinger but I may also be mistaken. I sure as hell prefer him over George, Tim, and Daniel. He's no Connery or Moore, and I'll admit I have nostalgia for his films as they were what introduced me to the series, but the man was just such a badass. I just don't see why people hate on the guy as Bond. Is everybody just bitter about Dalton not getting a third film, or do people genuinely like to hate on the guy. Getting on to Goldeneye, like it's been said previously about 3 times, if one was to compare the film to Casino Royale. The impact of Goldeneye is incredibly more significant than Casino's, determining the better film is purely down to each person's taste, but you can't argue against the fact that Goldeneye was arguably a bigger film than Casino.
    I think what's in bold is a huge reason why, but why should Brosnan be blamed for that? In fact Dalton was gonna get a 3rd film, Goldneye was his but he didn't like the script so he left the role and he was able to leave it cause the time frame on his contract expired.

  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,425
    I think they did provide Brosnan with opportunities but he blew them.

    I'm pretty sure that's why we ended up with DAD. By that point EON had given up on getting a decent performance from Brosnan and just let rip with total CGI fantasy nonsense.

    I'd bet that Babs is not a Brosnan fan.
  • Posts: 1,999
    Bond movies wouldn't be around today if it wasn't for Brosnans run. His run resurrected the franchise from its 6 year death.
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,425
    I think that's probably not true.

    I think they could have given it to another actor and it could have been a success.

    Bond is bigger than any one actor
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 2,297
    Getafix wrote: »
    I think they did provide Brosnan with opportunities but he blew them.

    I'm pretty sure that's why we ended up with DAD

    Brosnan did not blow any of the opportunities because he was never presented with them. Even when the script called for moments where he needs to be really emotional, there are usually followed up by some ridiculous over the top action scene that usually makes us the audience forget about it instantly. Also no, we ended up with DAD because EON decided to hire a jackass more interesting in overusing CGI and trying to make a "Best of Bond" or "Bond's greatest hits" film. None of that is Brosnan's fault whatsoever.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Getafix wrote: »
    I think they did provide Brosnan with opportunities but he blew them.

    I'm pretty sure that's why we ended up with DAD. By that point EON had given up on getting a decent performance from Brosnan and just let rip with total CGI fantasy nonsense.

    I'd bet that Babs is not a Brosnan fan.
    I'm inclined to agree. They did give him chances, but he overplayed them. I think he knew he messed up on TWINE, which is why he turned it around in DAD. He really gave quite an assured performance in that film, but by then I think the tide had turned and the writing was on the wall, due to circumstances in the industry (Bourne, 911 and the like).
  • Posts: 1,999
    You put Dalton and Brosnans movie. Oh boy that would of been ugly
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 11,425
    Getafix wrote: »
    I think they did provide Brosnan with opportunities but he blew them.

    I'm pretty sure that's why we ended up with DAD

    Brosnan did not blow any of the opportunities because he was never presented with them. Even when the script called for moments where he needs to be really emotional, there are usually followed up by some ridiculous over the top action scene that usually makes us the audience forget about it instantly. Also no, we ended up with DAD because EON decided to hire a jackass more interesting in overusing CGI and trying to make a "Best of Bond" or "Bond's greatest hits" film. None of that is Brosnan's fault whatsoever.

    Yes but does Bros handle the 'dramatic' scenes well? Regardless of what happens afterwards, does he convince when he's actaully required to act and bring the character to life?

    This whole thread is based on an interview where Brosnan basically says he never got a grip on who the character was. That is what he always lacked - the ability to take this fantasy slightly ridiculous character and give him an element of human believability that elevates Bond above cartoon character.

    That is the basic challenge that faces every actor - how do you elevate this man from two dimensional into someone who actually resonates with an audience beyond 12 year old boys.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    I've seen people get really precise in picking at Dalton. I have criticised Brosnan, I won't deny that, but on the whole, I don't think it happens that much.

    I beg to differ. Go over to the thread "Would GoldenEye had been a success with Dalton?" right now and tell me that Brosnan doesn't get too much hate. It's actually quite irritating.
    Getafix wrote: »
    I think they did provide Brosnan with opportunities but he blew them.

    I'm pretty sure that's why we ended up with DAD. By that point EON had given up on getting a decent performance from Brosnan and just let rip with total CGI fantasy nonsense.

    Absolutely false. Brosnan said that he always wanted a more serious Bond and actually wanted to have something closer to what we got with Casino Royale. EON was what screwed Brosnan and themselves over. They wanted to play it safe and stick to the formula that was currently working for them at the time.


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