Sam Mendes in talks to direct next James Bond film

[G✇JI☈A]

From:
au.movies.yahoo.com/news/article/-/6648148/sam-mendes-in-talks-to-direct-next-bond-movie/
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It's Mendes. Sam Mendes. The British director is in talks to direct the 23rd film in the venerable James Bond spy movie franchise. Production could begin as early as June with an eye towards a 2011 release date.

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as British secret agent 007 after winning fans playing Bond previously in "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace."
The Bond film will be Mendes' first action-heavy project, although his 2005 movie "Jarhead" was set amid the U.S.-led war in Kuwait. Mendes, the husband of actress Kate Winslet, is better known for dramas such as "Revolutionary Road" and "American Beauty," which earned him the best director Oscar.

Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing a screenplay along with "Frost/Nixon" screenwriter Peter Morgan. Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producing.

OK Quick Trivia Quiz Question:

If this works out it would be the second film Mendes has directed Daniel Craig in.

Can you name the film that Sam Mendes has directed with Daniel Craig in it?

[toddpolt]

Road to Perdition, right?

Well I'm a Mendes fan, so this is cool. I mean its not like a pretentious arty Oscar bait director like Forster. Mendes at least makes movies that the Academy was cold on, like Jarhead. That was pretty good.

Then again, why does Eon need "respectable" filmmakers to make a Bond movie? Are they afraid that nobody in Hollywood or anywhere takes 007 seriously or do the guys really want an Oscar?

007 is big budget action/thriller spectacles...and the world loves them for that. You realize that Guinness Book of Records estimate that at least half a billion people in the world have seen at least one Bond movie? 007 is a brand name, one bigger than the Oscars and even Hollywood. God knows how many action movies got inspired because of James Bond. *cough* Indy Jones *cough*

I mean look at the current Daniel Craig 007 pictures. Casino Royale was beloved, the biggest 007 hit (at the time) in spite of its record running length, and you know what? James Bond was badass again. Wow I missed that. Quantum of Solace I liked, but lets admit for a 90+ minute movie, it felt like 3 hours. And well, wasn't as popular.

Royale was shot by Martin Campbell, veteran action cinema filmmaker with some good credits. No Escapa (aka Absalom), Mask of Zorro, Goldeneye (another popular 007 title). OK Vertical Limit and that Beyond Borders both did sucked. Never saw the Zorro sequel, but do must I? He'll never win an Oscar, much less get invited to a party.

Marc Forster, well...he did Monster's Ball. And that's about it. But its important because it won Catwoman an Oscar. That lame The World is Not Enough? Shot by the respected Michael Apted. Seriously. See, who cares? We just want a good movie. Who cares if they're respected?

Hell the other 007 "classics" were made by guys who were mostly veterans of "junk" (Dr. No shot by guy who made Guns of the Navarone) and/or began in the series as editors and 2nd ADs.

[G✇JI☈A]

Jan 6, 2010 2:18:24 GMT -5 toddpolt said:

Road to Perdition, right?

Correct

[Sickfit, King Of The Fits]

I'm sort of on the fence on this one. While I think Sam Mendes could make great contributions to the franchise, I feel like it's gonna try to be more than it should be, which could ruin the movie in general. I agree with toddpolt in that we just want to see a good action film with a good amount of suspense, and if the director could add their own signature to the series without mucking it up, than that'll do fine.

But who knows? Sam Mendes is pretty versatile. Can't really put a finger on where's he gonna take it.

[Next Level was WRONG]

Great, a director I love and a franchise I despise. Hopefully this is the only one he wastes his time on.

[Jiren]

It can't be any any worse than "Quantum"

[Lick Ness Monster]

Jan 6, 2010 11:06:26 GMT -5 Jiren said:

It can't be any any worse than "Quantum"

I'm with you there, Doom.

At any rate, I approach every Bond movie with optimism. I enjoyed Casino Royale; I hated Quantum, which, I felt, took the new serious approach to such a ridiculous level that made it mind-numbingly dull. Watching the movie, the prevailing feeling that I got was that the powers-that-be seriously made a list of the things that fans expected and enjoyed with all of the franchise's films up to that point and decided to do the exact OPPOSITE things just for the sake of being different. Even the movie's big action set pieces felt drab and uninspired, for Christ's sake.

Personally, I'd love to see some of the fun return to the series, but that's just me. And in my book, you don't need an Academy Award-winning filmmaker to do that.

[4real]

Yep as stated QOS was one boring ass film, hopefully Mendes can deliver a more enjoyable one.

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

no QoS was not boring ..... it was editorially INEPT!!!

far FAR too much cut, what i wouldn't do to get it back in an editing room and DO IT JUSTICE!!!

mendes is a interesting choice though

[Lara]

If he casts Winslet in it...