With the recent big Hollywood announcement, I felt it only appropriate to profile this marginally unknown actor who surprisingly beat out all other candidates to play the sixth cinematic incarnation of the iconic James Bond character from the stylish 007 film series.
"We believe that in Daniel Craig we have found the ideal 21st century Bond." stated the contemporary producers of the James Bond film conglomerate.
Following in the mighty big footsteps of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and of late, Pierce Brosnan, editor and publisher of 007 Magazine Graham Rye's said "I think that he's a different enough actor and a good enough actor to put his own stamp on the role."
Yet, some folks may be scratching their heads trying to figure out how the low-key, 37-year-old actor, Daniel Craig, managed to be singled out over the likes of such A-List actors as: Jude Law and Clive Owen, both of whom were serious contenders for the high-profile role.
Perhaps, the fair-haired, blue-eyed Craig, frequently cited as being an intense and intelligent actor, was chosen on account of the fact he has something of which Law and Owen have now dispensed- that of relative obscurity in the United States.
Though Craig previously appeared in such mainstream US feature films as: ELIZABETH (1998) with Cate Blanchett; I DREAMED OF AFRICA (2000) with Kim Bassinger, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (2001) as sly treasure hunter, Alex West to Angelina Jolie's title Artistocratic antiquities hunter; ROAD TO PERDITION (2002) as Paul Newman's henchman son, Conner Rooney; and SYLVIA (2003) in which he had a sizable co-starring role as poet Ted Hughes opposite Gwyneth Paltrow's title character; apparently none of these parts had the power or magnitude necessary to jettison him into leading male status.
Flip flopping back and forth between US films and European film, television and theatre projects, Craig begun to garner positive attention with the indie film, THE MOTHER, (2003) as a seductive Mrs. Robinson type-house contractor and then solidified his appeal with the dicey British crime thriller LAYER CAKE (2004) in which he played the title drug-dealer known only as XXX (Triple X when said audibly) looking to do one last big job before he goes legitimate.
While XXX may have hit the spot where casting agents were concerned, Craig's entire body of work has long demonstrated his abilities to play suave, action-oriented characters good at making quick, witty retorts. And his British training and experience has indicated that he is not simply a 'pretty face' but also a talented and versatile actor.
While waiting for Craig to make his 2006 debut as Bond in CASINO ROYALE, the remake of the 1967 high roller flick written by Ian Fleming, anxious movie goers will be able to check out Craig in such forthcoming releases as: MUNICH, which directed by none other than Steven Spielberg and written by the heralded Tony Kushner (ANGELS IN AMERICA), tells the tragic aftermath tale of the 1972 Munich Olympics, detailing the Mossad agent (played by Eric Bana) who tracked down Palestinian terrorists responsible for the assassination of Israeli athletes.
You can also catch him in THE VISITING which stars Nicole Kidman (hasn't she already made a similarly titled film THE VISITORS?) as a Washington psychiatrist who stumbles upon what could be the root of an alien epidemic (plot reminiscent of the INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS).
And, in HAVE YOU HEARD, Craig plays convicted killer Perry Smith-one of the two men convicted in the 1959 rural Kansas Clutter Family killings. The second film released in 2005 to focus on the life of Truman Capote and the extensive research he conducted in conjunction with the writing of In Cold Blood, Craig, joins an all-star cast inclusive of: Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Daniels and Isabella Rossellini.
A product of the UK, Craig was born in Chester, England in 1968. Well-trained in the Arts, upon turning 16, Craig moved from Liverpool to London where, early on, he studied at the National Youth Theatre and, later, the acclaimed Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Though a late comer in the US, in his homeland, British critics have long declared his worthiness calling him a gritty, complicated and exceptionally committed actor. And providing concrete validation, in 2000, Craig was named as one of Europe's Shooting Stars and, in 2002, was nominated for a London Evening Standard Theatre best actor award for his stage performance in "A Number" at the Royal Court Theatre.
Raw and driven, the secret to Craig's success may be the fact that he is not overly fanatic about his career status. In fact, prior to being named as Bond, Craig was quoted as saying he was not certain whether he would accept the role if he were offered-but would give it serious consideration.
Regardless of whether he is a classic poker-faced Brit or a genuinely unaffected actor, Craig's pensive method acting practicum is certain to add a breath of fresh air to what has become a somewhat stale series of formulaic, action-adventure spy flicks.
According to "Entertainment Tonight" critic Leonard Maltin, "As some people feel (Bond has) become a little too cavalier, It may well be time for an adjustment in tone. Craig, a good actor, will have to balance Bond's light and dark sides. We haven't seen him do much lighthearted material, but this is the role that will put him to the test."
Saying that he wants to bring more emotional depth to his impending portrayal of Bond, Craig seems to have excessive amounts of "in the can" material on which to draw, both as a proven on screen weapons-handler and as a suave and multi-layered undercover agent. Oh, did I also mention that he also looks pretty darn good in a tuxedo?....
 email this column to a friend
Comment on this Column:
Sorry, you must be a member to add comments to columns.
Join or Login. |
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS
|
| Take One Look |
Every other Friday
A capsulized profile on an emerging talent, i.e., actor/director in the film world and a snippet as to why he or she is destined to soon become a household name.
|
| Nancy Simon |
A Chicago-based freelance writer and film enthusiast, Nancy has an insatiable curiousity and knack for picking out talented, promising individuals.
|
| Contact |
If you have a comment, question, or suggestion, you can send a message to Nancy Simon by clicking here.
|
|
