Casting Coup: Goldfinger

James Bond is rarely respected by Oscar. Since 1962, the movies have received eight Academy Award nominations, including three for 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me (the last for 1981's For Your Eyes Only), and only two wins. That last win was in -- wait for it -- 1966, honoring 1965's Thunderball, the FOURTH Bond film. Now, I know many consider the Bond franchise to be "just" action flicks, and even Cubby Broccoli said, the movies weren't "art, just entertainment". But holy shit: 2006's Casino Royale, Telly Savalas in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, all the songs from From Russia with Love to Moonraker, David Arnold's scores since 1997, John Barry's scores from Dr. No to The Man with the Golden Gun, visual effects, sound....

What does make sense, at least, is that first nomination. Remember how huge The Dark Knight was and everyone was clamoring for it to win awards? It was nominated at the PGA, DGA and WGA awards, won two of its six Oscar nominations, and when it became the second highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation), it also became the most successful Batman movie ever. It absolutely defined the year in pop culture for 2008. It wasn't the first Batman movie, but it was the biggest and the best.



Likewise, in 1964, Bond mania reached its peak with the release of Goldfinger. This was the movie that started the merchandising awesomeness of the Bond films, including its relationship with toy car makers Corgi. The Aston Martin DB5, the most popular Bond vehicle of all time, made its debut here, sending sales of the car skyrocketing. In two weeks, it recouped its $3 million budget. It's also the Bond film with the most iconic henchman, most bombastic song, most (believably) action-packed finale...and, of course, the beginnings of absolutely amazing chick names with the introduction of Pussy Galore. Not to make a pun, but it is the gold standard by which other Bond films are judged.

So it was that it became the first Bond film to find itself nominated at the Academy Awards, winning in the sole category where it was honored: Best Effects - Sound Effects. Now, this is interesting, because it's a category that no longer exists. In 1965, they had Best Sound, Best Effects - Sound Effects, and Best Effects - Visual Effects. The category for Best Sound Effects was added the year before, and lasted until 1968. In the 1970s, it was mainly a Special Achievement Award, before becoming Best Sound Effects Editing from 1981 to 1999. Only in the last decade did it become the Best Sound Editing category we know and like well enough. Goldfinger is a deserved winner in this category, too. Just the laser and the hum of Ft. Knox alone are evidence enough. In fact, the entire section within Ft. Knox, where Bond battles Oddjob, is masterful in its sound work.

Now, Bond is a familiar face at the Casting Coups for The Silver Screening Room. This past June, I cast Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker and Live and Let Die. In addition, I had a master list of the Bond regulars. This included Michael Gambon as M, Claudie Blakley as Moneypenny, Josh Brolin as Felix Leiter and Chiwetel Ejiofor as James Bond. Some would consider it criminal to recast Goldfinger: where can I get another Gert Frobe or Honor Blackman? But the real crime, of course, would be ignoring one of the most iconic films in all of cinema. Wouldn't you agree?


MR. MIDNIGHT
Who is He: The head of a large crime syndicate. Goldfinger brings him and others to plot the invasion of Fort Knox. Midnight pledges his cooperation and men to Goldfinger in exchange for a payment of gold bricks. His loyalty is repaid later when he, like the others, is gassed by Goldfinger. In the movie, that is. In the book, he goes with Goldfinger to help with Operation Grand Slam.

Originally played by:

Bill Nagy (A Countess from Hong Kong, You Only Live Twice)

My Choice:

Keith David (Armageddon, The Princess and the Frog)
A smooth talker with an imposing presence, he could quickly telegraph the power, pride, and gullibility of this brief role. One of my favorite character actors, too.


MR. SIMMONS/JUNIUS DU PONT
Who is He: In the film, he is Mr. Simmons; in the novel, he is Junius Du Pont, who met Bond at Casino Royale. In both cases, he is losing card games to Auric Goldfinger, and it is he who introduces 007 to the Golden Gangster. He suspects something dishonest, and asks Bond to investigate.

Originally played by:

Austin Willis (The Mouse That Roared, The Boston Strangler)

My Choice:

Frank Sivero (Goodfellas, The Wedding Singer)
Another reliable character actor. It's a simple role, albeit one that allows for a lot of glad-handing. Sivero can pull off the "buddy, buddy, help me, buddy" aspect of the role. He brings that New York attitude, and that's what Du Pont or Simmons or somebody needs.


MR. SOLO/HELMUT M. SPRINGER
Who is He: One of the gangsters Goldfinger invites to his Kentucky ranch to plan Operation Grand Slam. Solo is the only one who won't go with the plan, so Goldfinger allows him to leave. By way of DEAD! In the book, he has an "accidental" fall down the stairs, and his name is Helmut M. Springer. In the novel, he is shot while riding in the backseat of a car, which is then crushed at a junkyard. Advantage: movie.

Originally played by:

Martin Benson (The King and I, Cleopatra)

My Choice: SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Nixon)

Paul Sorvino (Romeo + Juliet, Repo!: The Genetic Opera)
As the only other notable gangster of the story, I wanted someone who already has mob credentials. Sorvino, famous for playing Paul Cicero in Goodfellas, is that guy. Hey, maybe the opera-trained singer can cover the song, too!


COLONEL SMITHERS
Who is He: Representing the Treasury, Smithers suspects that something is afoot with Mr. Goldfinger. He trains Bond on the gold market, preparing him for the mission at hand. He and M together come up with the mission to track Goldfinger.

Originally played by:

Richard Vernon (The Tomb of Ligeia, Evil Under the Sun)

My Choice: BAFTA Award/Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Venus)

Leslie Phillips (Millions, Is Anybody There?)
If you know Phillips, there is little need to explain this. If you don't, it's farly simple: older, British, with a voice and demeanor that suggest "retired banker". And Smithers is a money kind of guy.


TILLY MASTERTON
Who is She: Jill's sister. Like Bond, she follows Goldfinger to his hideout. Unlike Bond, her mission is a pure vendetta, avenging the death of her sister at the hands of the billionaire terrorist. Bond considers trying it with her, but Tilly will not have it. Besides, she's more interested in Miss Pussy Galore....

Originally played by:

Tania Mallet

My Choice:

Laura Michelle Kelly ("Marple: Nemesis", Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
With only two film roles, Kelly shows a strong presence. No surprise, since she's theatrically trained. She meets the beauty requirements for a Bond Girl, but she can also hold her own.


JILL MASTERTON
Who is She: Goldfinger's secretary. She watches his games with Du Pont/Simmons through binoculars, informing her boss of his opponent's hand through his earpiece. Bond catches her, stops her, and -- because it's goddamn James Bond -- fucks her for a day. For her betrayal, Goldfinger paints her completely gold. Every inch of her. The paint suffocates her, and she is left on the bed for Bond to see.

Originally played by:

Shirley Eaton (Ten Little Indians, The Blood of Fu Manchu)

My Choice:

Jennifer Ellison (The Phantom of the Opera, The Cottage)
Sometimes, when casting Bond Girls, you just got to think: Does she have experience? Is this part within her range? How large are her two chief assets?


ODDJOB
Who is He: Goldfinger's manservant, a muscled mute with a sharp bowler hat.

Originally played by:

Harold Sakata (Mako: The Jaws of Death, The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington)

My Choice:

Tony Lee ("Lost", Novel Romance)
Lee is perhaps best-known as Sun's "other man" on the show "Lost". Everyone on that show is great, and he's no exception. He's fit, so he can be a physical threat to Bond. I don't think we always need sumo wrestlers or Schwarzenegger types to fight 007; it's more threatening when it's someone your own height and build who is whooping your ass.

PUSSY GALORE
Who is She: In the film, she is relegated to Goldfinger's personal pilot. In the novel, and this is much cooler, she is the leader of an all-lesbian gang, the only ones who get away. This could have something to do with the fact that they're all pilots, and therefore can fly out of anywhere. But also, Bond takes a shine to her, and she realizes he's the only male man enough for her. If that makes sense.

Originally played by:

Honor Blackman (Jason and the Argonauts, Bridget Jones's Diary)

My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Hustle & Flow, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Taraji P. Henson (Smokin' Aces, Talk to Me)
Sexy and fierce. The woman is undeniably beautiful, but you know she could kill you just as easily as smile. A fantastic actress who can hold her own against any of her screen partners, oftentimes stealing the show without them realizing it. Henson would be a worthy addition to the Bond Girl Sisterhood.


AURIC GOLDFINGER
Who is He: A wealthy businessman, also known as The Richest Man in England. Goldfinger is an expatriate who keeps his wealth as gold bullion, spread across the world. He does not keep anything in banks, nor does he pay taxes. The body of his car is pure gold, which he hides beneath a false exterior, allowing him to smuggle the precious metal across borders. He runs a business that makes metallic furniture, and plans Operation Grand Slam: the destruction, one way or another, of Fort Knox.

Originally played by:

Gert Frobe (The Longest Day, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

My Choice:

Richard Sammel (Casino Royale, Inglourious Basterds)
His brief appearance in Basterds is notable for his suave, honorable demeanor never failing as he defended evil. He made wickedness look like an obvious course of action. So, he may not be as large as Goldfinger always has been in our minds, but he definitely deserves a big role like this one. He can get the character down, and still be lithe enough to keep up with James Bond. He's the only one for this role.


Yes? No? Maybe so? Sound off in the comments!

Is Anybody There?

Because I love Michael Caine, because I had a free movie ticket, because there's nothing better to do on a Summer's eve in Tally, I went with some friends to see Is Anybody There? last night at my local art house cineplex. I'd been hearing good things, and I was delighted at the ensemble of veteran actors assembled, so off to the theater did I trip and go.



Meh.

Is Anybody There? struck me as a first-timer. Clearly, it was the work of a first-time director working with a first-time screenwriter, cut together by a first-time editor. Which doesn't mean it's bad. It's actually quite a good film, about a boy (Bill Milner) living in a rest home run by his parents befriends one of the residents, a retired magician (Michael Caine). So, it was quite winning and touching and humorous at times, but generally seemed like everyone involved was just a little inexperienced.

And then I learned that director John Crowley, writer Peter Harness, and editor Trevor Waite are not only experienced, but two of them are actually sort of admired. Crowley and Waite, I mean. Doubly surprising was the revelation that I have actually seen and enjoyed other films Waite edited -- surprising because, besides Joby Talbot's intrusive and inappropriate score, the editing is the weakest part of the film, cutting away when it should linger, lingering when there is little need to, rendering confusing the simplest of scenes. As we left the theater, my roommate made sure to stay for the credits, and upon seeing Waite's name, proclaimed, "I'm never working with him." Harsh, perhaps, especially now that I know he did Prime Suspect: The Final Act. But still, there it is, the editing was jarring and the score intrusive.

OK, that's the bad. The good, fortunately, comes from Michael Caine's brilliant performance as Clarence, struggling to keep his wits while slowly slipping into dementia. In fact, that's where the great comes from. I've never seen a Caine performance like this, one in which he gets to be crotchety, fun-loving, and so nakedly vulnerable. I read where someone called this his best since The Quiet American, but I would go a step further and say this is his best since Hannah and Her Sisters. Call me crazy, but there it is. Within his performance is all the bitterness that some people experience when facing their own mortality; the regret of past mistakes; the hope that there may be an afterlife. It's a beautiful and touching performance.

Bill Milner does quite well as the boy he befriends. And old folks -- featuring Peter Vaughan, Leslie Phillips, and the late Elizabeth Spriggs -- do quite well with comic relief, but are not developed enough. Only Rosemary Harris (Aunt May in the Spider-Man films) gets a wonderful role as a former dancer who now has a plastic leg. She pulls a Hermione Baddeley, making a fully-realized person out of a sketchily-written role. Anne-Marie Duff, as Milner's struggling and strong mother, is also great, but that may also be because she is hot and a mom.

The script could have stood with some rewriting. Some polishing on the Caine-Milner relationship. Some development of the old people. Less concern with the parents, to be honest, would have suited me. But overall, some good stuff is going on here.

Bottom line: A sweet little movie whose actors are better than what they're working with. Especially Michael Caine.

Casting Coup: Wuthering Heights

*An oldie from the Livejournal days. This one goes back to the week before I started this blog. The news is already outdated after only a year, with Portman out, Gemma Arterton and Ed Westwick in. Many of the pictures are new, since I used to exclusively use hot-linking in the ol' LJ days.*

I'l go back to black next week, but recent developments have made today's Casting Coup necessary.

A recent announcement claims not only a new production of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is in the works, but Academy Award Nominee Natalie Portman (Closer) will be playing the role of Catherine Earnshaw.

I'm a fan of Natalie. I like her in a number of flicks. She's one of the few good things about the first two Star Wars prequels. In Leon, she's haunting. In Everyone Says I Love You, she's surprisingly realistic in a screwball musical-comedy. In Garden State, she's the wonderful embodiment of every high school guy's fantasies. She's just a brilliant actress.

And yet... I'm sorry, Catherine?! She's sickly and what not, but she's not exactly a pixie. Something about Natalie Portman has just never struck me as English. French, maybe, but English? I just can't see it. Catherine should be more intense, more strikingly beautiful. And let's be honest, Natalie looks perpetually 16.

Obviously, I'm going to give her a shot, try to keep an open mind. But meanwhile, I can't help but think of who else would be swell. Who would I choose?

LOCKWOOD
Who is He: The narrator representing us, the readers, he arrives at Wuthering Heights and gets to learn the whole history of everything. Hooray! Occasionally misunderstands things, due to his inability to really understand anything past his own privileged world.

Previously played by: Miles Mander (1939) and Paul Geoffrey (1992)


My Choice: Up-and-comer who insists on playing leading male roles billed as supporting in fictional dramatizations of real-life political events.

Michael Sheen (The Queen, the upcoming Frost/Nixon)


MRS. LINTON
Who is She: Privileged matriarch of the hoity-toity, conservative, probably in-bred Linton family. Not cool with Heathcliff.

Previously played by: Pamela Brown (1970) and Jennifer Daniel (1992)

My Choice: Funnily enough, she appeared in the 1992 version of the film, but in a different role.

Academy Award Nominee Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds, Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage)


MR. LINTON
Who is He: He, too, has a stick up his bum. Proprietor of Thrushcross Grange.

Previously played by: Cecil Humphreys (1939), James Cossins (1970) and Simon Ward (1992)

My Choice: Not actually British, but according to native Brits, he does the accent better than some Englishmen.

Daniel Davis (The Nanny, The Prestige)


MRS. EARNSHAW
Who is She: Matriarch of the Earnshaw household, she does not care for Heathcliff. Like, say, she hates him. But it's okay, because she dies first.

Previously played by: Rosalie Crutchley (1970)

My Choice: She only does a few things a year, but Lordy, she's awesome. And she's dating Saffron Burrows, so she has great taste.

Fiona Shaw (My Left Foot, the Harry Potter films)


MR. EARNSHAW
Who is He: Head of the Earnshaw clan at Wuthering Heights. Adopts Heathcliff, preferring him to his own son, Hindley. This creates a problem, naturally.

Previously played by: Cecil Kellaway (1939), Harry Andrews (1970) and John Woodvine (1992)

My Choice: Too old? Maybe, but I miss this guy, and he certainly has a kinder face than those other guys.

Timothy West (Ever After, Agatha)


JOSEPH
Who is He: Religious, elderly, fanatically, stubborn, unkind--a pain in the ass, but he remains a servant at Wuthering Heights throughout the novel. Which is weird, considering that he's pushing seventy at the beginning of the novel, so he's about 120 by the end.

Previously played by: Leo G. Carroll (1939), Aubrey Woods (1970) and Robert Demeger (1992)


My Choice: A bit more upper-class than the character, but he's an actor, so he can do it.

Hollmann Award Nominee Leslie Phillips (Venus, Millions)


FRANCES EARNSHAW
Who is She: Wife to Hindley. She, too, does not care for Heathcliff, and to call her a whiny bitch would be generous. Methinks.

Previously played by: Morag Hood (1970) and Janine Wood (1992)


My Choice: The original choice for Bellatrix Lestrange, actually, though now she's got another role in the Harry Potter series.

Helen McCrory (The Queen, Becoming Jane)


HINDLEY EARNSHAW
Who is He: Earnshaw's son and heir. After his father's death, he forces Heathcliff into servitude, before becoming a depressed alcoholic. Abusive and resentful.

Previously played by: Hugh Williams (1939), Julian Glover (1970) and Jeremy Northam (1992)


My Choice: Funnily enough, he's played Timothy West's son before.

Dougray Scott (Dark Water, Ever After)


LINTON HEATHCLIFF
Who is He: The weak, mopey son of Heathcliff and Isabella. Isabella takes care of him until she dies (everyone does in the novel, don't worry about spoilers), then he's sent off to the abusive Heathcliff and forced to marry Young Catherine.

Previously played by: Jonathan Firth (1992)


My Choice: Another Ever After alum. I guess I really miss that movie.

Lee Ingleby (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Marple: Nemesis)


HARETON EARNSHAW
Who is He: The son of Hindley and Frances, Heathcliff takes charge of him when Hindley is too drunk to do otherwise. Hareton becomes an ignorant, angry field worker. He's tender-hearted, though, and falls for Young Catherine.

Previously played by: Jason Riddington (1992)


My Choice: A little scrawny now, but I'm sure with some field work, he could buff up. And he's good-looking, and can play angry and belligerent. I'd believe it. Just add some facial hair, and he's good. Just watch his bare-knuckle boxing in Becoming Jane.

James McAvoy (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Atonement)


YOUNG CATHERINE LINTON
Who is She: The daughter of Edgar and Catherine, she's a lot like her mother, but also a little like her father. She's headstrong and stubborn, but she's also forgiving and tender-hearted. Looks a great deal like her mother, though, and at times, they are played by the same actress.

Previously played by: Academy Award Winner Juliette Binoche (1992)


My Choice: Uh, fuck that two different actresses crap. I'm getting girls about the same age, but who can play mother and daughter with the right make-up. And they resemble each other. And Young Catherine would be blonde, anyway.

Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Poirot: Death on the Nile)


ISABELLA LINTON
Who is She: Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Linton, Isabella is meek and silly, falling for Heathcliff despite his obvious hatred for her family. She runs off to London with their son in the middle of the night, but dies anyway.

Previously played by: Academy Award Nominee Geraldine Fitzgerald (1939), Hilary Dwyer (1970) and Sophie Ward (1992)


My Choice: Oh, sure, red-head instead of blonde, but (1) they do it better, and (2) I would kill to see her in this part.

Isla Fisher (The Lookout, I Heart Huckabees)


EDGAR LINTON
Who is He: The son of the Lintons, he's kind of weak. Like, a spoiled brat who becomes a cowardly man. Marries Catherine, thus leading Heathcliff to hate and vow revenge upon him. Handsome and pleasant company, though.

Previously played by: Academy Award Winner David Niven (1939), Ian Ogilvy (1970) and Simon Shepherd (1992)


My Choice: Looks like Isla's brother. He's a handsome, pleasant enough fellow, but he's also skinny enough to play cowardly and pampered.

Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, Breakfast on Pluto)


NELLY DEAN
Who is She: She narrates the core events of Wuthering Heights to Lockwood--and, thusly, us. A housekeeper, I guess, she is a little older than everyone else and so is able to narrate the events with an almost perfect memory. Her compassion for these people makes her unreliable at times, though.

Previously played by: Academy Award Nominee Flora Robson (1939), Judy Cornwell (1970) and Academy Award Nominee Janet McTeer (1992)


My Choice: Hey, she turns 49 today! And is one of the greatest actresses in the English language!

Academy Award Winner Emma Thompson (Howards End, Angels in America)


CATHERINE EARNSHAW
Who is She: Daughter of the Earnshaw clan, she loves Heathcliff to an almost ridiculous intensity, but marries Edgar for the money and social power. Then she ruins everyone's lives. Beautiful and spoiled, arrogant and free-spirited, she is prone to mood-swings and temper tantrums.

Previously played by: Academy Award Nominee Merle Oberon (1939), Anna Calder-Marshall (1970) and Academy Award Winner Juliette Binoche (1992)


My Choice: Now, this is one bad-ass chick that men would obsess for.

Eva Green (Casino Royale, The Golden Compass)


HEATHCLIFF
Who is He: The lead guy of the novel, a vengeful orphan who is obsessively in love with Catherine. Because he cannot have her, he exacts a lifelong revenge on the entire Earnshaw-Linton bloodline. Sexy, kinda, if you're into that kind of thing.

Previously played by: Academy Award Winner Laurence Olivier (1939), Timothy Dalton (1970) and Academy Award Nominee Ralph Fiennes (1992)


My Choice: Former comedian, with dark enough features to do this. Superb actor, in my book.

Eric Bana (Troy, Lucky You)

Still want Natalie Portman?