DANIEL CRAIG
"Life is so fucking good I can taste it in my spit."
Whew, it's been a while since I knocked Michelle Rodriguez off her pedestal. But I was having so much fun watching her glare at me from the corner of my screen, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Daniel Craig seems to be a worthy enough badass to take the place, however, and I figure the timing's about right what with his next big film opening tomorrow. I know there are naysayers. People who think he's too old, too blonde, and it's too hard to find a crack in his tough exterior to fit a smile. But these people clearly haven't seen him laugh at the cards life dealt him and tell a child how the world is just too fucking hilarious. Nor have they seen him steal the screen time and again from Israeli assassins. Nor have they seen him make out with Toby Jones, Rhys Ifans, and Derek Jacobi (but I take your point, who wants to see that?)
The point is, sure, he's had a Hollywood sell-out here and there, but he also takes some pretty wild risks and pulls them off in true badass form--with a deft gun hand, a wry smile, and an order of vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. It's impossible to talk about Craig's badassitry without mentioning his take on Bond, which is a departure from the franchise, no doubt, but with balls of steel (quite literally), Craig manages to pull it through (without, of course, outshining you-know-who). So I've drank the punch, I have my faith in the man, you wanna fight about it?
Best films: Road To Perdition (2002), Casino Royale (2006), Layer Cake (2004).
Worst films: Defiance (2008). I just didn't get it.
Best moments: "Shaken or stirred?" "Do I look like I give a damn?"
Upcoming films: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? I'm there. And Skyfall? Don't even get me started.
Yass! He has one of the best pouts in the industry... and he's kind of awesome. He looks brilliant like Mikael Blomkvist. Can't wait for Dragon Tattool.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Craig, two words: Fuck Yes!! I've been a staunch admirer of his since Layer Cake. And with his ascent into the espionage thrills of Bond, James Bond, my admiration's grown commensurately.
ReplyDeleteA BAMF taste begets a BAMF approval. And we both share an immense love for Road to Perdition; all the more assurance of an astute choice.
@ Nikhat--Ahahaha! I will give him the best pout award. I just came back from it and I can't wait to hear what you think about TGWTDT!
ReplyDelete@ Matt--Ah, yes, another fellow Layer Cake lover! In retrospect, I'm really glad I saw Layer Cake before any of his Bond stuff was in the works, because once it was announced that he would take on the role all I thought was, "I can see it".
I BAMFily accept the BAMF approval! Glad you appreciate the choice! Time to build another shrine to Road to Perdition...
How did you NOT mention Cowboys and Aliens?
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed in you...
Even though I have a plastic Cowboys & Aliens wrist gun on my bedroom door, somehow I failed to mention that beautiful film. SHAME. Time for me to go hang my head in a corner.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Craig is most definitely BAMF. That torture scene in Casino Royale would have sealed it for me if it hadn't already been by Layer Cake. Road to Perdition is one of my fave films, but he was a real weenie in that movie. He was Fredo quality loser, though, and got his ass beat down by Cool Hand Luke himself, Paul Newman.
ReplyDeleteCowboys and Aliens was awesome as was The Trench, a film he did about the last days leading up to the Battle of the Somme in WWI. It's not the greatest looking, but Craig is outstanding as Sgt. Telford Winter.
Most definitely BAMF! I'm glad you agree. The torture scene in Casino Royale IS really the shit. Between that, watching him get the shit kicked out of him in Cowboys and Aliens, and the final bits of Girl With The Dragon Tat, I think this guy really nails it when it comes to getting beat to crap. Not sure what that says about him, except that he should keep doing action movies.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the Trench, but now that you mentioned it, I'm going to have to look it up! I like Craig and I like WWII, so it's a win win.