The tailor of panama

wormloverwormlover 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???

Comments

  • Willie GarvinWillie Garvin Posts: 1,412MI6 Agent
    edited April 2003
    Pierce Brosnan fought to play the part of SIS agent Andy Osnard in The Tailor of Panama,precisely so he could portray a character as unlike James Bond as possible.Andy Osnard isn't the heroic cinematic superman that James Bond has become,but is instead a bitter and amoral individual-and someone who can't be trusted.A man entirely lacking in scruples.

    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.
  • GrishenkoGrishenko Posts: 45MI6 Agent
    How could you not like Bond? Probably if you're some moron with "Le" in front of your name...
  • Willie GarvinWillie Garvin Posts: 1,412MI6 Agent
    edited April 2003
    Quoting Grishenko:
    How could you not like Bond? Probably if you're some moron with "Le" in front of your name...

    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.
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,651MI6 Agent
    edited April 2003
    I'm 2 for 2 on LeCarre; I've finished two, but I stopped reading two of them right in the middle. Yawn. Nonetheless, I bought the novelization of ToP after watching the movie (which I liked a lot), and you guessed, it, I haven't read a page yet. I also have an old, unread copy of Russia House lying around for when I get desperate for reading material.

    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.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • MBE_MBE_ USAPosts: 266MI6 Agent
    I love Le Carre, and while I've read most of his books I haven't read Tailor because I was told it wasn't one of his best (that the film actually vastly improved on it). Along with his George Smiley books (great TV series with Alec Guiness) his best I think is The Little Drummer Girl which was sadly made into a really poor film.

    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
  • vanguardvanguard Posts: 42MI6 Agent
    It was a movie that showed Brosnan can act. I know this is heresy for some people, but I really liked his portrayal, and find it more interesting than the Bond character in the Brosnan era.
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,239MI6 Agent
    I didn't like this film at all. It was like a bad Harry Palmer movie ie not The Ipcress File. Sort of caught between showing how seedy the spying game could be, but also having to be a big, show-off blockbuster type thing too. Very surprised after director Boorman's excellent film about the Irish thief Cargill (?) - can't remember the name of it now...

    And Brosnan kept veering between London wide-boy, Irish and American in his accent.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • MBE_MBE_ USAPosts: 266MI6 Agent
    edited April 2003
    The film cost about $12m to make. I guess that "thrilling" car chase at the end threw you off and made you think Blockbuster. :)) As for being like Harry Palmer, I don't see it, if anything it's a revamped Greene Man In Havana (as LeCarre acknowledges in his book) but darker and more twisted and seedy. It's essentially a black comedy more than a spy thriller.

    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
  • wormloverwormlover Formerly Derbyshire, UKPosts: 46MI6 Agent
    Quoting vanguard:It was a movie that showed Brosnan can act...quote]

    It wasn't as good acting as Bond even though we can all say Bond isn't very much of good acting (being honest there) its a classic film (in the great sense) and thats why we see em'
  • spiderfrommarsspiderfrommars Posts: 13MI6 Agent
    I enjoyed Brosnan's performance a lot in Tailor of Panama, I was just sad that Geoffrey Rush got more scenes.
  • gundustgundust Toronto, ONPosts: 1MI6 Agent
    I think that is too similar and auto-ironic version of James Bond!!!
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    Do you think it'd be possible to re-edit this film into a Bond film, somehow?

    REQUEST: Don't throw tomatoes, please! :)
  • EaglemanEagleman Posts: 26MI6 Agent
    I loved this film. Because of Brosnan. He plays the nasty, perverted spy, driven by money. It's also a very funny film. I like he fact that he get's away with it at the end.

    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!
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    I really enjoyed Brosnan in "Tailor." From what I understand, Eon was not too pleased about their 007 taking on this anti-Bond role.
    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.
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    So nobody even considers the idea of Tailor being re-edit, right?
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    I see, everyone ignore this then?

    Its good to be back, BTW! :)
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    This is my third post since May, I think, and I'm ignored. Nice.
  • taitytaity Posts: 702MI6 Agent
    Whoa man, c'mon. You posted twice in one day - these things take time
  • John DrakeJohn Drake On assignmentPosts: 2,564MI6 Agent
    I actually prefer Brosnan's performances in films like 'Tailor of Panama,' 'The Thomas Crown Affair,' and 'The Matador,' to his Bond gigs. There just seems a lot more going on with him in these roles. He really gets to cut loose, while as 007 he always seemed on a tight leash. As for LeCarre, I don't have a problem with him disliking Bond, simply because his own writing has been turned into some interesting films and TV. 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,' being a particular favourite. Incidentally, I wonder if LeCarre voiced a similar objection to another Bond taking a leading role in one of his novels, Sean Connery, in 'The Russia House?'
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