BAMF Of The Week: Daniel Craig

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. 

Instant Replay!

Image from grannydinner.

We all have our favorite movies. That movie you've watched it multiple times, making friends and family suffer through it because only a soulless fuck wouldn't love this movie as much as you do. But you know you've found something really special when you watch it, pause about two seconds to let the epicness that is everything you've just seen on screen sink in, and then hit the replay button to watch the entire thing all over again. I can't think of a better compliment to a movie than to watch it twice...in a row. In my long and weary life of twenty two years, I've paid this compliment to all of three movies. Roll it.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

I don't think this one is a surprise to anyone. But I was a bit of a movie virgin when I first saw this movie--I hadn't seen any other Tarantino's and I didn't recognize any of the actors or actresses because I simply never bothered to remember their names (ah, the simple days). I'd picked this one up randomly, not particularly thrilled by the cover and not even that eager to watch it. Nonetheless, I sat down with my younger sister and popped it in. We sat in silence until the credits rolled, paused only long enough to rewind it (ah, VHS), and then unanimously agreed that we had to watch it again. Immediately.

2. Road To Perdition (2002)

Yet another movie with an unglamorous start. This was a sick-day movie rental. Something to keep me company while I sniffled and focused on fighting the cold with my badass antibodies. So I turned it on, watched it, hoped to fall asleep half way through so I wouldn't have to deal with my miserable state of existence. What I got was something entirely unexpected. Something that kept me riveted at every second. Something so good that I had to invite a friend over just so I could rewatch it right away.

3. Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (2003)

I know what you're thinking. So how many days did that one take to rewatch? This one was neither a sick day nor a reluctant watch. I went to the theaters knowing I would love it. So what did I do? I bought my ticket, sat down, fell into fan hysteria for a near three hours, and then hung around for the next showing to do it all over again. Nerdom at its finest.

And that was my walk down memory lane. Your turn. What movies did you watch that were so good you had to rewatch instantly?