Total Film, December 2013

Total Film, December 2013 (Issue #213)

I purchased the December issue (#213) of Total Film this past week because of a short article on the upcoming series, Fleming, starring Dominic Cooper. The four part Bio-drama places Ian Fleming in World War II London at the time of his recruiting into Naval Intelligence. The series will broadcast next month on Sky Atlantic (UK) and BBC America (US).

  

As I perused the rest of the magazine, I came across two additional articles of Spyfi & Superspies interest. The first one reported on a "first look" at the rebooted 1960s American television series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. currently filming in Rome under the directorial vision of Guy Ritchie (Snatch and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels). Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Arnie Hammer (The Lone Ranger) star as agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin originally made famous by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum respectively. The film is set in the 1960s and does not have a release date as yet.

Villain regular Javier Bardem was featured in a lengthy interview to discuss his role in The Counsellor directed by Ridley Scott. Naturally, Bardem's role of the villainous Silva in Skyfall came up when he was asked about how he balances his characters so they don't come off to the viewer as over the top. Of course the suggestive dialogue and touch Silva engages in with Bond at their first meeting was brought up. Here is an excerpt from page 114:

Film Interview: Talking of Silva, was it your idea that he should flirt with Bond and rub his thigh?

Bardem: It was there on the page but it was not really there. Sam and I got together. He said, "Did you read that thing, that possibility?" and I said, "I fucking love that possibility." He said, "I agree, so let's work in that direction and see what comes."

FI: It was brave of Daniel Craig to go along with it....

Bardem: The brave part of that scene was James Bond saying, "Who told you it was my first time?" That's a brave line, and a fucking great line. Whether it's true or not, who cares? Bond is Bond because he knows how to fight the enemy, and the only way to fight Silva is with that line. It dismantles him.

Photo from Google Images

Bardem was then asked if it was true he had been offered the role of Renard in The World Is Not Enough that would be portrayed by Robert Carlyle. Bardem could not recall if that was the role or not but he did express that it was not the right time for him, not until he he was offered Silva. Personally, I think that Silva was the better choice for Bardem because it was a more complex character to get inside of -- it was the role to showcase Bardem's acting skills and innate ability to physically embody a character as well.

And, what was the first Bond film that Bardem saw? It was Roger Moore's Moonraker (1979), which just so happened to feature his favorite Bond villain: Richard Kiel's Jaws.

International Spy Museum's Nod to Bond Villains

Visit museum website: http://www.spymuseum.org

My boyfriend is away on business and after a long day at work, one of our usual practices is to eat dinner and watch an episode from the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Collection. This time Bourdain was in Washington D.C., a place I would not mind visiting someday. That was until in one of the segments, Bourdain met former CIA agent Peter Earnest and they made a stop at the International Spy Museum, where Earnest is the Executive Director. Whoa, stop the bus! 

I finished up the episode and fired up the Mac. A quick Google search and a click to the home page of the museum; I was immediately excited by the face of Javier Bardem and the title of one of their current exhibitions: “Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains.”  Honestly, I was amazed that such an exhibit exists because what makes Bond so good to watch is the juxtaposition he finds himself in with the villain he is facing. From Dr. No to Raoul Silva, audiences have enjoyed seeing just how evil a Bond villain can be. 

The exhibit appears to have classified the villains into eight separate categories based on their motivation for world domination. For instance, “New World Disorder” spotlights Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008) while “Cold War Power Plays” focuses For Your Eyes Only (1981) and You Only Live Twice (1967). Each exhibit displays various movie props to help convey the overriding theme that inspired each Bond villain. In fact, back on March 13^th, the museum hosted lecture titled “Blowing Blofeld’s Mind: The Psychology of Villainy” and was led by Dr. David L Charney and Dr. Stanton Samenow. Both are noted experts in the study of criminal behavior.

Also online, the museum was promoting a section called “Vilify Me” where the Internet viewer can create a virtual lair of villainy by either iPad application or within the browser. I didn’t try it though. And, no museum is complete without a stop at the shop. The spy store touted a handful of t-shirts, gadgets, and books. However, I was disappointed that there was not an exhibition booklet. 

The exhibit opened February 13, 2013, but there was not a closing date listed. All items were provided by EON Productions. So, next time you’re in Washington, D.C., scope out the International Spy Museum. Maybe I’ll see you there!