The tailor of panama
wormlover
Formerly Derbyshire, UKPosts: 46MI6 Agent
Well, I was watching a little film called "The tailor of panama" starring Pierce Brosnan, an MI6 agent from london (using same hq as Bond) and seeing it made me wonder, what is thus related to Bond, Why would Brosnan sign up to this Bond type stealing movie when he is the all famous Bond... is it like Never say never again but different names???
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ToP author and film producer John Le Carre',has made it very clear time and again that he despises the James Bond character and the fantasy world he inhabits.His character,Andy Osnard,is Le Carre's version of what James Bond would be like if he existed in the real world.Le Carre' didn't want Brosnan involved until Brosnan was able to convince him that he could play 007's opposite number-a character audiences aren't supposed to like...
Also,appearing in ToP afforded Brosnan the chance to stretch himself as an actor, while working with director John Boorman and critically acclaimed actors Jeffrey Rush,Catherine McCormack and Jamie Lee Curtis.Although he enjoys playing James Bond,Brosnan has been very resistant to becoming typecast as 007-which is why he's always attempted to expand his range of characterizations and genres.
W.G.
Like Le Chiffre,for example?;)
John Le Carre'-whose real name is David Cornwell-served in the British Secret Service for several years and he disapproves of the many unrealistic elements found in Ian Fleming's novels and the subsequent EON movies.
His novels,The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and The Looking Glass War-along with The Tailor of Panama and many others-aren't the escapist fiction of Fleming,but deal instead with the less attractive,often more duplicitous and sordid parts of real world espionage during and after the Cold War.
W.G.
To change gears, I am the proud owner of Sideshow Toys DAD Pierce Brosnan 12" figure. The severe man-tan on this doll looks closer to the one that Pierce sported in ToP than his JB look.
When Boorman called Pierce about the film he thought he was going to play the Harry Pendle the tailor role since Osnard in the book is on in his twenties. He was hesitant about it (because of playing another spy) but wanted to work with Boorman. But then as WG said LeCarre didn't want him. And don't feel bad for Bond, LeCarre didn't like the slick Thomas Crown, either, but he met Pierce and liked him so he got the role.
Pierce and LeCarre spent a day together figuring out the backstory of an Osnard now in his 40's. Pierce said one line from LeCarre resonated with him "they (the British Secret Service) stole my youth" and he used that for a basis of a disullisioned bitter morally bankrupt Osnard wanting to get his before being forced into retirement. He's pretty much what Bond would be without scruples and honor, but he's not Bond. Anyhow it's a great role played with a lot of verve, humor, and intelligence in a very twisted rather black comedy. And it was smart choice by Brosnan because it then garnered him the best critical reviews of his career. (even LeCarre liked it)
MBE
And Brosnan kept veering between London wide-boy, Irish and American in his accent.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Boorman's prior film was The General starring Brendan Gleeson who played Mickey the ersatz freedom fighter... speaking of veering (or maybe just in ths case rather bad) accents.
As for the film showing Brosnan could act, he showed that years ago. But then usually every Brosnan film when being reviewed inevitably includes a phrase like "an unexpectedly good performance" from Pierce Brosnan. They said that with Fourth Protocol, Mister Johnson, Thomas Crown yadda yadda.... heck they wrote it about Nancy Astor 20 years ago. [insert eyeroll]
MBE
REQUEST: Don't throw tomatoes, please!
Also loved "Matador" this film to me is Brosnan going out of control. Almost rebelling from the Bond people in a fit of drink & contract killing. Brilliant!
As for LeCarre, I've read a couple of his books and I've enjoyed them. And "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" is one of my favorite films. Anyone who wants to know what spying is really like should check LeCarre out. It isn't pretty, that's for sure.
But he really should lighten up on Bond, which he views as glorifying the espionnage business. He reminds me of a guy who finds religion after a sinning a good deal and now feels compelled to lecture everyone about their behavior.
My feeling is that as nasty as espionnage may be, a cold war is probably better than a hot one.
Its good to be back, BTW!