clive owen

superdaddy

just saw atrailer for clives new flick international and i just cant help thinking if they had done the reboot 14 years ago with clive as bond instead of making goldeneye with pb i think clive who could still be playing the part now would have been the alltime greatest bond dont get me wrong i still think dc is great but if only cw had took the role we would have be spared brozzer imo the worst bond of all

spectre7

I'm afraid Clive Owen would have been a 007 disaster. Aside from being considered by many to be one of the dullest leading men in films at the moment, he does not have a good reputation within the industry, at least in the UK. Casino Royale would have been nowhere near as effective with him and it's telling that EON never showed any interest in him.

HowardB

Well I certainly thought that Clive Owen, around the time of "Croupier" looked like he would have made a great Bond. I actually was pretty convinced that he also was the logical successor to Brosnan. Those BMW comercials looked like Bond auditions. I just don't think if they would have replaced Brosnan with Owen that they could have done a complete reboot...Owen by the time of CR was just a bit too mature looking. Craig on the other hand was perfect for a reboot...he looked young enough, but not too young and really captured what a raw, but tough as nails Bond would be like. The more I watch CR (it pops up on cable often and I can't help but watch) the more I appreciate the film and Craig's performance.

zaphod

I have never really rated Clive Owen. He looks to much like a nightclub doorman to me, and he tends to mumble. The great 'non Bond' for me is Daniel Day Lewis, who I think could have been terrific earlier on in his career.

Gassy Man

Clive Owen looks and acts like a meathead to me, a Nicolas Cage type with an English accent, so having him play Bond would not have been any sort of improvement over Brosnan and certainly not Craig. Except for the lighter features, Craig is as at least as good as we could expect of any actor working today to play Bond, and in most ways better.

Mailfist

Surprised to see Spectre 7 say CO does not have a good reputation within the film industry. From the articles I've read he seems to be one of the current top leading men, and never seems to be out of work.

I think he would have made a good Bond. He has the rugged good lucks, knows how to wear the cloths and would be good in the action sequesnces.

I have seen the trailer for The International and intend to go and see it. Can't help feeling that the plotline is more like what Quantum should have been up to in QOS rather than trying to increase water rates in Bolivia.

Thunderpussy

I have to agree with Mailfist, Clive Owen would of made a great Bond

Dan Same

I agree with superdaddy. Not about Brosnan, :v I think that Brosnan remains the second greatest Bond of all time, but I do think that Owen would have been a brilliant replacement for him. Ever since I saw Sin City I was convinced that Owen would have made a magnificent Bond.

I think he would have made a vastly superior Bond to the incumbent OO7. But I don't know if Owen would have been as successful as Craig. Although I'm no fan of his, I accept that many people do love Craig, so on that basis Owen might never have gotten the job.

Loeffelholz

I think Owen would have made a fine Bond. But his time as a potential 007 has now passed. When Craig leaves the role, they will go younger and not older (Owen will probably be pushing fifty by the time Craig hangs it up).

Henry Cavill will be Bond #7.

blueman

zaphod wrote:

I have never really rated Clive Owen. He looks to much like a nightclub doorman to me, and he tends to mumble. The great 'non Bond' for me is Daniel Day Lewis, who I think could have been terrific earlier on in his career.

Agree about Owen and - Day Lewis, that would've been awesome! :007)

The Bond Experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdZimFwes5M

HowardB

When you watch those BMW shorts, it's real easy to see Owen as Bond. Also, keep in mind that if Owen had been cast as Bond, EON would have insisted that he hit the gym a little harder...so he would look a little leaner and meaner than he currently does. Daniel Day Lewis is one of the finest actors to ever appear on stage or screen...if he approached Bond like he approaches his other roles, he would have been a great Bond. But I don't think Lewis would ever accept a role like Bond. However, it is fortunate that EON was able to cast as fine an actor as Craig but who also respects the role and enjoys playing it.

zaphod

HowardB wrote:

When you watch those BMW shorts, it's real easy to see Owen as Bond. Also, keep in mind that if Owen had been cast as Bond, EON would have insisted that he hit the gym a little harder...so he would look a little leaner and meaner than he currently does. Daniel Day Lewis is one of the finest actors to ever appear on stage or screen...if he approached Bond like he approaches his other roles, he would have been a great Bond. But I don't think Lewis would ever accept a role like Bond. However, it is fortunate that EON was able to cast as fine an actor as Craig but who also respects the role and enjoys playing it.

I think that you are right and that Day-Lewis would never have touched Bond.Thats what makes it interesting 'what if' territory for me.

HowardB

Just saw "The International" with Owen this weekend. Pretty good film actually. The director, Tom Tykwer might make a good choice for Bond 23. Owen was good in the film...but not particularly Bond-like (but he wasn't trying to play James Bond). Ironically, they showed a trailer for Owen's next film, "Duplicity" where he apparently is playing a Bond-alike...a retired MI6 agent in cahoots with a retired CIA Agent (Julia Roberts). In this trailer Owen is very dashing and Bond looking (he's slimmed down, well dressed, has a dead ringer Connery in Thunderball haircut)and sounds like he cleaned up his working class accent. Definately looks like he could be a very good Bond.

scottmu65

At first I wanted to see Clive Owen as Bond, mainly because I had seen him in Croupier and in the 'Hire' short films for BMW, now when I look at him I don't think he would make a great Bond, not saying he shouldnt be but I imagine that it would be a very bland performance.

I watched Event Horizon again not so long ago with Jason Issacs and there was a shot of him turning to face the camera and I just saw Flemings drawing of Bond on the screen, he looked so much like it for some reason, so now I think I would like to see him take on the role after Craig.

Nightshooter

After seeing The International, I confirmed just how much better Craig is that Owen would have been.

But maybe Duplicity will make me rethink that?

John Drake

I thought The International was dreadful. The dialogue was abysmal. The action ridiculous. And much as I like Clive Owen, ( I even liked Sharman), he was lost here in a stunningly stupid film. And Tom Twyker should never be allowed near any film set again.

Lexi

scottmu65 wrote:

I watched Event Horizon again not so long ago with Jason Issacs and there was a shot of him turning to face the camera and I just saw Flemings drawing of Bond on the screen, he looked so much like it for some reason, so now I think I would like to see him take on the role after Craig.

I adore Jason Issacs :x and he would have made a great 007 but alas his age is against him. He must be 40+ now, and Like Leoffs says, they will go younger not older when Craig leaves.

Sir Miles

Lexi wrote:

I adore Jason Issacs :x and he would have made a great 007 but alas his age is against him. He must be 40+ now...

Cheers love !

Kinda gives all us over 40's a lift when you say that

Nightshooter

John Drake wrote:

I thought The International was dreadful. The dialogue was abysmal. The action ridiculous. And much as I like Clive Owen, ( I even liked Sharman), he was lost here in a stunningly stupid film. And Tom Twyker should never be allowed near any film set again.

I thought that while most of the actions scenes were ridiculous (oh yeah, there's a guy walking around with a gun, that's completely normal), the Guggenheim shootout was truly inspired.

Despite a convoluted plot and too many lucky what-ifs, it was still enjoyable.

HowardB

IMO The International was a decent, entertaining thriller and Owen did a nice job as an obsessed, burned out Interpol Agent. As far as realism in an action/thriller...people walking around in public flashing guns, and the Police taking forever to arrive on the scene, etc seems to be a staple in most action films these days. If you want stark realism, get a copy of "Battle of Algiers" or watch a documentary lol. However, credit where credit is due, at least the Police were involved in the pre-title chase in QOS and there was plenty of realistic collateral damage (although Bond did get out of that battered Aston a bit too unscaved).

Nightshooter

No, this wasn't "people walking around with guns", this was "people walking around with guns in broad daylight around civilians and nobody even lets out a scream or even notice? The cars that he walks by just continue on their daily business, despite having a man with a gun walking up to them.

HowardB

Just so there is no confusion, I'm not advocating in any way for Clive Owen to replace Daniel Craig as Bond. I'm just looking at Owen and how fit he would be for the role, not a comparison. If my memory is correct, alot of people (myself included) believed Owen was a shoe-in to get the Bond role in the months leading up to EON's casting of DC. As far as I'm concerned, DC is the best Bond since Connery (and I'm no Brosnan hater either).

Mailfist

Just been to see The International and enjoyed it. Agree with the comments about the hero wandering around with a gun in his hand and nobody giving him a backward glance. Think its a bit unfair to look at Clive Owen playing a burnt out Interpol agent and say he couldn't play a super cool secret agent. I think he would have made a great Bond. Not better than Craig, just different.

One thing that did strike me was that IBBC is what Quantum should be. A group of ruthless executive types in expensive suits based in their multi million dollar glass and stainless steel headquarters controlling things from behind the scenes. The days of the hollowed out volcanos has gone.

SpectreBlofeld

I think Clive Owen would be perfect to play the more sedate Bond of the books - that is, if they ever refilmed the novels as period pieces and stayed true to the attitude and levels of action in the novels. In fact, I now picture Clive while rereading the novels.

Napoleon Plural

Owen could take over for just two pics if Craig ditches after the next one (unlikely however). I mean, he's so well known it shouldn't be a problem, a good holding operation. Better than kicking off with a younger Bond who is never going to cut it.

zig zag

Clive owen would bore everyone to death,the timber of his voice never changes,rember the bourne film,in the field just got shot or somthin and was dead pan and dead boring then just dead from the neck up.
So I hope he never gets near a bond set.Thats my tuppence worth!

Sir Miles

zig zag wrote:

Clive owen would bore everyone to death,the timber of his voice never changes,

Wooden in every sense of the word for you then, zig zag ? )

I disagree, I thought Owen would have been a great choice for Bond, but I'm even happier that Eon went with DC -{

Slyguy3129

Very simply no. I like Clive Owen, just not as a Bond, ever, period. Shoot'Em Up yes thats fine, as Bond, never.

spectre7

He'll probably be hovering around 50 by the time Craig quits.

DBS

I just watched "Duplicity" last night on Blu-ray. Did anyone notice they filmed at the One And Only Ocean Club? One of the first shots of the film (doubling for Dubai) was by the pool that Bond walks by on his way to play Poker in "CR." And they also shot in what looks like the exact same "ocean-view villa" that Bond occupies. Hmmm.

Kind regards,
Craig