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In Goldeneye probably had another name which Started with M but im sure she wasn't Olivia Mansfiled.
Even Though Judi played M with Craig and Brosnan hr character was completely different and there are hints they were two diferent M
In Goldeneye her M is the new Boss in Mi6 and Bond has his expirience as 007 while in Casino Royale her M is the one who promoted Bond.
You just need to check her first talk with each Bond to know it wasn't Olivia Mansifield the one who is charge during the Pierce Brosnan tenure
Too bad Gemma Arterton didn't win hers, but being nominated is already a tremendous achievment.
And absolutely delighted that Imelda Staunton won hers (as well as Lara Pulver) for the revival of Gypsy (qhich also won) which I saw the last time I was in London. A well-deserved victory.
I too find that Judi Dench gives us very different M's between Brosnan and Craig. I feel she is closer with Craig's Bond, connects more with him on a personal level. Her dialogues with Brosnan are amusing, but the dialogues with Craig carry more meaning, go deeper. I also find she's tougher in her language in the Craig Bonds ("take the bloody shot", "you're bloody well not sleeping here", "I'll be damned if I leave the department in worse shape than I found it") - her language in the Brosnan Bonds feels more polished. So her character echoes the kind of Bond she interacts with. I wonder if that was her idea, the directors' or the screen writers'?
The producers and directors acknowledged her as the wonderful actress she is, and took full advantage of that in Skyfall. An excellent choice, even if that much involvement of M in the story shouldn't be repeated too often. I was honestly a bit shocked when she died in Skyfall. It's telling of the Craig era that they took such a bold move.
I saw her in The Graham Norton show a couple of times - a great sense of humour, and humble as apple pie.
I agree she was my Favorite M.
As for making her more maternal i think its correct: I believe they did it to mark a difference of a female and Male boss and how a woman would react in all those circumstances.
I think she had a close Relationship with with both but in a different way
With Pierce it was a growing relationship, in the first film we see them not liking each other and with very different ways of seing the situation and with time they respected and loved each other.
In the hospital scene in die another day he is happy to see her and ask her if she missed him its clear he did but she was dissapointed since she thought he gave away information to the coreans under torture and latter reconcile in the subterranean station.
Their relationship was more of a mutual respect and admiration for their job.
With Craig their relationship was more like mother and sun and she was teaching him how to behave and what was expected from a 00.
She was great with both but it was a different M with a different back story
Thats true and i think they know they can't give too much weight in all the films so they looked fir the two most appropriate films to do so which were The world is not enough and Skyfall
Judi Dench has become the reason why I will regularly re-watch Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and also The World Is Not Enough.
Quite frankly, if you take her out of those films, not much would be left.
Her importance and weight in Skyfall is especially big. Bond isn't even the sole lead in the film if at all. It's two equal leads. And the whole Bond, mother angle is highly interesting and done so very well. And that started before Skyfall.
I'm planning writing at least one essay per film about Dench's M and her impact on the films.
I'll call it The Dench Chronicles.
Not sure where to place it though, I think that may warrant opening a thread, as it will be in-depth analysis, appreciation, reflection and discussion.
Probably going to write one essay for each of her films, bar SPECTRE. That is just an epilogue to her character really. A short one even.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/why-tony-nominee-glenda-jackson-wants-knock-doors-new-york-governor-candidate-cynthia-nixon-1111903
https://www.bifa.film/news/judi-dench-harris/
She pretty much walks away with the entire film in a single scene. That’s quite the feat. It’s a excellent comment on Bond’s old position as a piece of Cold war iconography and his awkward placement in the 1990s.
Tomorrow Never Dies:
A cardinal waste of the Dame. She has a crackling scene with Roebuck but doesn’t get the same scene-stealing material as GE. You don’t need much of Dench but when you have to use her wisely.
The World Is Not Enough:
Arguably Dench’s best performance. She gets to play an actual character opposed to an archetype. She’s successfully ingrained into the film and given a malevolent and calculated edge. But Dench is still able to imbue her with sympathy.
Die Another Day:
She has a few limited scenes but there is certainly more gravitas and conflict in her moments with Brosnan. She brought out the best in Pierce and those scenes are sharp and terse. The ultimate ice queen in action. A good example of limiting her screentime and using Dench well.
Casino Royale:
A interesting new exploration of the character as a softer more maternal side is revealed. Dench naturally rises to the bait. She’s a solid anchor who helps explain Bond’s character growth to the audience. My gripe is that Campbell can’t think of more exciting things to do with her extended screentime than have her in her office on the other side of the phone.
Quantum of Solace:
The most Dench we had. One of her stronger turns as she’s given a legitimate subplot. She has spark with Craig and their scenes in the hotel and their stuff in Moscow is character-laden and kinda sweet (in an overly formulistic and British sense).
Skyfall:
Or the Judi Dench show. She’s great and should have been Oscar nominated. She surprisingly is the female lead and gets an actual arc and development. She’s part of the resolute old guard being put out to pasture but refuses to relinquish control. But the façade of the stiff upper lip is crumbling (those misinterpreting this for coldness or meanness have misunderstood the character). There is also more of an outward acceptance of the Mother/Son dynamic. Her and Craig work very well together in drama and comedy.
Spectre:
A pleasant cameo.
I recently saw 'Tea With The Dames' - which is a camera crew filming the regular catch up of Dames Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright and of course Judi Dench. They're all brutally honest about their careers and co-stars and they make fun of each other. Maggie Smith in particular is very quick witted and they all seem to think that the only roles they get offered now are the ones that Dench has already refused. It's a good watch and the end credits sequence where they all rapidly repeat the words 'Dame Judi Dench' is a nice touch.
https://booksellercrow.co.uk/event/judi-dench-v-judy-garland/
It was a little bit different and quite a shook as I'm used to seeing her portray a more stern character in M, but here she play a more gentle charscter in "old Deuteronomy", a softer persona and one we and the other cats can really look up to.