Connery's Lacklustre Performance in YOLT?

chrisisall

Last night I watched YOLT on Blu Ray, and I was seeing lots of cool detail I'd never seen before, and was also watching for bored looks, blank stares, non-reactions to other actors, etc. and I didn't see any of it. His repartee with Moneypenny was charming & quick, his usual determined face was quite determined, his reaction to Siamese vodka was very funny...
I saw a less twitchy more seasoned Bond, a natural progression due to experience combined with age.

Can anyone here give examples of how they feel his performance was in any way lacking or imperfect? ?:)

chrisisall

I just realised that since Dalton is my favourite Bond ("If he fires me for it I'll thank him"), the idea of Bond being slightly burned out & not quite so thrilled with his job is appealing to me, hence Connery's performance in YOLT would of course be in my good graces. He delivers certainly, but the sense of loving the job isn't there. Real life intrusion forced the performance I would enjoy best from him, it seems! )

MooseWithFleas

I thought Connery was lively and turned in a nice performance for YOLT. It wasn't as classic as GF or TB, nor as cool as DN or FRWL, but it was solid.

I understand the difficulties he had while filming in Japan, but I don't see why that means he would take off scenes and not give full effort. I imagine it would effect his mood greatly off camera, but he is a professional and did his job when the red light was on.

Gassy Man

It's not so much he looks bored -- though he does at times -- as it is that he's showing his age . . . heavier, out of shape, with a less stylish haircut. The director, Lewis Gilbert, also seems more concerned about the set pieces than the actors. Rat-eyed Donald Pleasance, though a fine actor in many things, is so underwhelming as Blofeld that there isn't much for Connery to play off of. Diana Dors is hardly any better. In scenes with them, Connery seems listless. The two of them seem listless in scenes with each other. But watch him in actual talky scenes with Aki, Kissy, Tiger, Moneypenny, and Dikko, and he's very much the 007 we expect. Connery clearly wanted more scenes involving the people -- he's good when the dialogue is good. But in scenes where he's essentially just along for the ride -- literally in the car watching the helicopter or during the aerial attack in Little Nellie -- he's doing little. He seems to be playing it as though if that's all they're going to require him to do, that's all he's going to. This might have been Connery's strategy for a very different reason, however. Actors used to purposefully flub scenes in hopes they would get cut. I don't blame him. Connery, with the help of directors, made Bond into a unique character, and the scripts increasingly just made him a guy with some gadgets. I doubt many actors would want that sort of role to play.

AlphaOmegaSin

He cited lack of Character Development as one of the Reasons for leaving originally.

Silhouette Man

This also came up on MI6 Community:

Like most things with Bond, it was a commentary in a book that started this one, though I can't recall which book it was at the moment. Anyhow, from this book the critical line (and canard?) on Connery's performance in YOLT was born and indeed mushroomed. It shows the power and potency of the printed word even in this day and age of easy media sound bites and 24 hour rolling news coverage if nothing else...

And it is of course true that the films did indeed change with YOLT (and probably not for the better, OHMSS excepted of course) even if Connery remained much the same as before.

broadshoulder

Gassy Man wrote:

It's not so much he looks bored -- though he does at times -- as it is that he's showing his age . . . heavier, out of shape, with a less stylish haircut. The director, Lewis Gilbert, also seems more concerned about the set pieces than the actors. Rat-eyed Donald Pleasance, though a fine actor in many things, is so underwhelming as Blofeld that there isn't much for Connery to play off of. Diana Dors is hardly any better. In scenes with them, Connery seems listless. .

This in one.

The director seems to be going through the motions. The big set gets more of screentime then he does. Setting up the explosians, combat etc must have taken ages.

Give the man a OHMSS or CR and he'd be a different actor.

King Kamal

I have to agree that Connery's performance in YOLT was up to his usual standard. The difference is that he is perhaps more considered, thoughtful and charming than macho, ruthless and physical as in the previous films. Certainly when needed he was very cold (Hans in the pirhana pool) but overall he was maybe you could say more in Roger Moore FYEO mold, more experienced and not as brash and in your face. The scenes with him and Moneypenny, Aki, Dikko Henderson and Tanaka were all quite respectful instead of basically just a chance to show off as for instance with Largo in TB. But the warmth and charisma is still there, as in the ocassional menace and the ability to drop a good one liner when needed.

BIG TAM

YOLT is a mammoth spectacle & should be cherished as such. But it doesn't feel as strong as the previous four films. The plot is pretty perfunctory with Bond just part of the scenery rather being at the forefront. Connery looks glum through a lot of it but has such charisma you still have to watch what he's up to. But I do find his reaction to Bernard Lee's "This is the big one, 007!" line quite laughable. He clearly doesn't give a stuff.
But it's James Bond & the music, photography, locations & production design all make up for it. And it has one of the best posters, too.

chrisisall

BIG TAM wrote:

But I do find his reaction to Bernard Lee's "This is the big one, 007!" line quite laughable. He clearly doesn't give a stuff.

He'd clearly heard that one before. 8-)

Firemass

Silhouette Man wrote:

This also came up on MI6 Community:

Like most things with Bond, it was a commentary in a book that started this one, though I can't recall which book it was at the moment. Anyhow, from this book the critical line (and canard?) on Connery's performance in YOLT was born and indeed mushroomed.

That is exactly what I suspected. Everyone wants to sound smart, so they play it safe by repeating some other opinion that was printed years ago.

Firemass

Gassy Man wrote:

It's not so much he looks bored -- though he does at times -- as it is that he's showing his age . . . heavier, out of shape, with a less stylish haircut. The director, Lewis Gilbert, also seems more concerned about the set pieces than the actors.

+1 Very well put Gassy.

I would also like to add that Lewis Gilbert did a far better job of keeping Bond at the forefront in TSWLM and MR.

Blackleiter

I enjoy Connery's performance in YOLT. To me he doesn't appear to be bored, but rather he seems relaxed, confident and comfortable in the role. It is true that he isn't given much to play against dramatically. But he is his usual charming self and his presence adds immensely to one of the most entertaining Bond films of all.

chrisisall

Blackleiter wrote:

he is his usual charming self and his presence adds immensely to one of the most entertaining Bond films of all.

I went through a period where I wasn't fond of YOLT because the OTT thing, so I didn't watch it for a few years. Last year I got the DVD and found that I liked it SO much more than I remembered. Watching this BR version the other night just awed me, and I realise now that it's basically my favourite Connery Bond, and the reasons are the deft & professional film-making, and Connery. As the end credits rolled I just wondered, where in this movie did he not seem to care?
And so far, no one can come up with any examples except to say 'that spark wasn't there'.
Yeah, he could have said the code words "I love you" to Aki in a more gleeful/come-on way, but that's why I liked the way he did say it because it was different and shows that Bond has moods and is not just a walking penis; sometimes he's quite all business.

Thunderbird 2

The film itself and Connery's performance are great in my opinion. I have seen the film several times, and there are moments when Connery gets lost in all the running around and bangs to a certain degree. But the same thing has happened to all the Bond actors except Brosnan and Craig, as they have not been surrounded by an army of uniformed extras like the previous actors were.
One book I read stated this was the film where Connery became aware the audience were demanding 007 / Bond when after autographs etc, not him as the actor. - That had to burn a bit. His comment about Japanese women was both unfair, even if it his opinion and a serious PR gaff. I understand that YOLT was in part set in Japan due to the popularity of Bond there.
I also think Sir Sean needed his eyes tested. Tsai Chin, Mie Hama, and especially Akiko Wakabayashi look lovely!

Firemass

Pierce mentioned that DAD was rather dull to make because he was in front of a green-screen the whole time. Connery likely had a similar experience with YOLT.

Hardyboy

OK, count me as someone who thinks YOLT has Connery's weakest performance as Bond. Granted, I think a lot has to do with Gilbert's direction (as praised as it is, why handle the Kobe dock fight with an overhead shot instead of an up-close-and-personal camera?) and the script. In the Little Nelly attack, all Connery's Bond does is push buttons, and then when he radios his report he sounds like he's confirming a menu order over the phone. Connery doesn't create much of a character, but I don't think the script gave him much of a character to create.

chrisisall

Hardyboy wrote:

OK, count me as someone who thinks YOLT has Connery's weakest performance as Bond.

May I ask how long it's been since you saw the entire movie, sir?

Thunderpussy

I watched it again this morning. and sorry but Connery
Isn't firing on all cylinders. He is a professional so gives
A good performance, but he'd mental already left the series.

chrisisall

Thunderpussy wrote:

I watched it again this morning. and sorry but Connery
Isn't firing on all cylinders. He is a professional so gives
A good performance, but he'd mental already left the series.

Because this is the interrnet, this is where I am required to tell you that your opinion is wrong. )
Seriously though, one aspect of Connery's Bond I most appreciated from DN & FRWL was his sort of solemn demeanour. There was a seriousness to him that sort of faded in GF & TB. All of a sudden he seemed to be having the time of his life (when his life wasn't in actual danger, anyway). In YOLT I see a return to the earlier Bond, not as carefree, more serious, slightly darker.

Thunderpussy

The most important thing is that YOU enjoy it. {[] we all
Take different things from watching Bond -{ also I think
You'll find, I'm never wrong ! Just takes a little time for
Everyone else to catch up with my light speed thinking ! )

chrisisall

Thunderpussy wrote:

to catch up with my light speed thinking ! )

I'll see your light speed thinking & raise you warp drive reasoning.

Thunderpussy

My Tachyon drive system will out run anything.
" I made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs." )

( as we all know a parsec is a unit of distance not time, even
G Lucas gets things wrong )

chrisisall

Thunderpussy wrote:

" I made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs." )

Han meant that his special modifications allowed his hyperdrive to bend space to travel a distance less than the twelve parsecs that is usual for that route.
Laserbrain. :v

Thunderpussy

) ) )
" Here's always an excuse with you isn't there double "o" zero ! "

AlphaOmegaSin

YOLT will always hold a special Place in my Heart because it's one of the very first Bonds I saw -{

Thunderpussy

It may not be my favourite, but I love them all
Even Moonraker :x

AlphaOmegaSin

Yes, same -{

I'll never hate any Bond, even DAD which is my least favorite

Thunderpussy

) Even coming to its defence when it's taking
A lot of criticism, I guess that's love. Or stupidity )

chrisisall

Thunderpussy wrote:

) Even coming to its defence when it's taking
A lot of criticism, I guess that's love. Or stupidity )

I love DAD too. Colour me stupid. )

Thunderbird 2

chrisisall wrote:

Thunderpussy wrote:

) Even coming to its defence when it's taking
A lot of criticism, I guess that's love. Or stupidity )

I love DAD too. Colour me stupid. )

Pass me the paint and brush when you are done please Chris? Or in other words,

Thunderbird Too!