Who should direct?

Number24

There has been speculations in this forum before, but this important subject needs a dedicated topic.

My suggestions are fairly traditional:

Christopher Nolan - Insomnia, Momento, Batman begins, The Prestige. Theer is hardly a man on the planet more qualified.

Mike Newell - Four weddings and a funeral = he knows comedy and romance. Donnie Brasco = he kan make gritty, intense thrillers. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire = He can do blockbusters with action and adventure.

Sam Mendes = One of the best british directors working today

Peter Weir = masters any genre he wants.

Martin Cambell = He has only made one very good film (GE was only good), but that was Casino Royale!

Fernando Meirilles = Not a subject of the Queen, but made City of God. Was offered DAD, but made The Constant Gardener insead. Let him try to make a Bond film with a good script!

DAWUSS

I thought Campbell already had the job...

Number24

Not according to IMDB. At first he said no, now there are some rumours that he might return.

Gassy Man

None of these directors has a style that's significantly different than any other, so they're all pretty interchangeable to me. But if Bond is to be more "serious" again -- and if the films are going to use that faux epic sensibility with wide camera angles of largely empty expanses, CGI, quick cuts of TV closeups, low depth of field medium shots, and sweeping orchestrations -- then Nolan would be a good choice. He prefers a more muted cinematography than Campbell, kind of a poor man's Ridley Scott, but I like what he did with the pacing and intensity of "Batman Begins" (which I sensed Campbell watched, too). If the next Bond film is going to be a bit more "posh" than this one, harkening back to the Connery ones, then the director will need to find that balance between hard hitting and lushly romantic.

Number24

I feel both Weir and Mendes could be particularely good at that.

Moore Not Less

I hope Martin Campbell returns. I would like to see as many of the same people (as is possible) behind Casino Royale working together again on Bond 22. Campbell certainly has earned and deserves an invitation from Eon. Whether he receives an invitation and whether he accepts it is another matter.

John Drake

Gassy Man wrote:

the director will need to find that balance between hard hitting and lushly romantic.

That's well put. I'd like to see something similar. I think Luc Besson could deliver the goods in that respect. Some of his films ('Subway,' 'Nikita' and 'Leon,' could be described as romantic action movies.

If they're looking for a safe pair of hands then Philip Noyce (Dead Calm, Blind Fury, 'The Quiet American) would be fine.

Or how about having Kathyrn Bigelow (Near Dark, Point Break) become the first woman to direct a Bond film?

DAWUSS

Weren't people all wanting Tarantino for CR? Bond 22 could be another shot for him...

Number24

Philip Noyce could be a good choise. He just makes better and better films. From the unholy "The Saint" to the very good "The Good American".
Luc Besson has gone the other way: from the modern classic "Leon" to the questionable "Angel-A". I think he has lost contact with his muse.

Tarantino would definately make something interesting! Perhaps it could work .... ??

John Drake

Number24 wrote:

Philip Noyce could be a good choise. He just makes better and better films. From the unholy "The Saint" to the very good "The Good American".
Luc Besson has gone the other way: from the modern classic "Leon" to the questionable "Angel-A". I think he has lost contact with his muse.

I think Noyce was hamstrung on 'The Saint,' by Val Kilmer's eccentric take on characterisation. That is one strange performance. There's some nice touches in the movie, but so much nonsense.

I agree about Besson. He has fallen so very far. I love his early movies, but lately he's become something of a chore. 'Arthur and the Invisibles' was unwatchable. I still think the talent is there, he just needs a decent project. A bit of action and romance might bring out the best in him.

Gassy Man

John Drake wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

the director will need to find that balance between hard hitting and lushly romantic.

That's well put. I'd like to see something similar. I think Luc Besson could deliver the goods in that respect. Some of his films ('Subway,' 'Nikita' and 'Leon,' could be described as romantic action movies.

If they're looking for a safe pair of hands then Philip Noyce (Dead Calm, Blind Fury, 'The Quiet American) would be fine.

Or how about having Kathyrn Bigelow (Near Dark, Point Break) become the first woman to direct a Bond film?

Thanks, John Drake -- I'd be comfortable with any of your suggestions but am absolutely in agreement about Noyce, whose John Ryan films are solid thrillers.

Bondy

Not sure if he's been mentioned before but how bout getting Michael Mann involved in a Bond Film? Im a pretty big fan of his flicks and reckon he could do Bond justice.

John Drake

Bondy wrote:

Not sure if he's been mentioned before but how bout getting Michael Mann involved in a Bond Film? Im a pretty big fan of his flicks and reckon he could do Bond justice.

Mann would be great. However, he tends to control every aspect of his movies. I'm not sure he would be able to work with such hands-on producers as Babs and Michael.

Number24

I agree about Mann. The same could be said about Scorsese.

Number24

Alfonso Cuaron is a good candidate. This is his IMDB profile: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/
I haven't seen "Children of men" yet, but I hear he shows a real flair for the visuals and the action is very good. He handled "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban" very well, and that's really a action/adventure blockbuster.
"And your mother too" is a very good film.
I think the Bond producers should hire british directors most of thye time like they have done, but they should give a film to an exellent foreign director from time to time.

Agent Wade

Ridley Scott can make anything look good. Since he's not busy on and Alien film, he could certainly cross off another genre on his list with Bond. :v

John Drake

Number24 wrote:

Alfonso Cuaron is a good candidate. This is his IMDB profile: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/
I haven't seen "Children of men" yet, but I hear he shows a real flair for the visuals and the action is very good. He handled "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban" very well, and that's really a action/adventure blockbuster.
"And your mother too" is a very good film.
I think the Bond producers should hire british directors most of thye time like they have done, but they should give a film to an exellent foreign director from time to time.

Great choice. 'Children of Men' was one of my favourite films of last year. 'Azkaban' is the best Potter movie and 'And Your Mother Too' had a grown-up world view that is unusual in movies about teenagers trying to get laid..

dblo that guy

i've always thought that either David Fincher, Paul Greengrass, John Frankenheimer, or J.J. Abrams would be good choices?

John Drake

dblo that guy wrote:

i've always thought that either David Fincher, Paul Greengrass, John Frankenheimer, or J.J. Abrams would be good choices?

Fincher, Greengrass and Abrams are great choices. {[]

Sadly, Frankenheimer died a couple of years ago.

dblo that guy

really, that sucks.

Number24

Fincher was one of my favorites for CR, and I still think he could make a good Bond film.
Greengrass and JJ Abrams are good directors, but imagine the headlines: "Casino Royale borrowed from Bourne/M:I, for the next Bond they borrow the director!"
Too long for a headline, actually, but you get my point. There are plenty of good directors around. They can hire one of them. I also think Abrams is too søick and shallow, despite his talent.

Number24

"too slick", that is ...

spectre7

Most of your choices are more realistic than many that have been suggested. Why are people still suggesting big name American directors? They have to be hacks from Britain or the commonwealth, otherwise EON are not interested.

Number24

I haven't seen "Sunshine" yet (I thought it best to put that title in brackets ...), but couldn't Danny boyle be a good Bond director?

Jango Black

I'd really like Martin Campbell to direct the next two Daniel Craig films.

blackbond

it it aint broke , don't fix it !!

Martin Campbell but if he wants to do something else then get Robert Rodrieguez or Guilermo Del Toro

Tilly Masterson 007

Ok, lets dig up past directors.

I rather liked John Glen's directing, so either him or Lewis Gilbert who are probably the 2 best.

John Drake

Tilly Masterson 007 wrote:

Ok, lets dig up past directors.

I rather liked John Glen's directing, so either him or Lewis Gilbert who are probably the 2 best.

Sadly Glen's record is pretty poor since LTK. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery was dreadful. The Point Men was better, but still didn't get close to his Dalton Bond films. I think it would be better if they brought somebody fresh in.

Dan Same

If we are going to bring in past directors, then I think the producers should rehire Michael Apted. I think it's a crime he wasn't hired to direct DAD or CR. X-(

Tilly Masterson 007

Dan Same wrote:

If we are going to bring in past directors, then I think the producers should rehire Michael Apted. I think it's a crime he wasn't hired to direct DAD or CR.

Apted wasn't too bad, but he was better than Lee Tamahori that's for sure!

Roger Spottiswoode was rather overlooked, he was adequate and should be considered for Bond 22.

royalmile

Len Wiseman did a good job on the "Underworld" movies and is a director on the rise. Perhaps he might fit EON's profile of someone without megastar pull - if they use him before he gets too famous?