Sam Mendes Page 5

While the rumour mill on who will be the next James Bond keeps on turning, fans will be happy to hear that all might not be lost with Daniel Craig. According to reports, the actor could be persuaded to return as 007, after being offered $150 million to star in two more movies.

Daniel Craig has reportedly been offered $150 million to stay on as Bond

Radar reports that studio Sony has made the actor the lucrative offer because they want a seamless transition to a younger long-term successor. “The studio is desperate to secure the actor’s services while they phase in a younger long-term successor,” a source told the website.

Continue reading: Is $150 Million Enough To Get Daniel Craig To Return For Two More 'Bond' Movies?

After the recent movie adaptation of The BFG by Steven Spielberg, which was released in cinemas to huge acclaim but a slightly underwhelming commercial reaction, another big name director in the shape of Sam Mendes is being tipped as the director for another live-action Roald Dahl story, ‘James and the Giant Peach’.

According to a report in Deadline, the Oscar-winning director of American Beauty and who helmed the last two James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre is in talks to take charge at the project being developed by Disney. The script for the prospective movie has been written by author Nick Hornby.

Sam Mendes is reportedly in talks with Disney to direct live-action 'James and the Giant Peach'

Continue reading: Sam Mendes Reportedly In Talks With Disney To Direct 'James And The Giant Peach'

Daniel Craig’s love for a new pair of gloves allegedly nearly cost Bond producers millions during the editing of Skyfall, as they presented a major continuity error. Film critic Charlie Lyne has shared a story he heard from a man who worked on Skyfall, who recalled one of the film’s most important fight scenes nearly being ruined, all because of a pair of gloves.

Did Daniel Craig’s special gloves nearly ruin Skyfall?

According to Lyne's story, which was shared through two videos on Twitter, Daniel Craig and director, Sam Mendes, were both completely miserable during the production of Skyfall, as they “were buried under the weight of the studio and the expectations” of how much the film should make.

Continue reading: The Story Of How Daniel Craig's Favourite Gloves Nearly Ruined 'Skyfall'

Emilia Clarke is currently thrilling fans in the sixth season of ‘Game of Thrones’, but the 29-year-old actress also has her sights set on another franchise. Speaking to the Daily Star, Clarke revealed she’d like to be the first female James Bond.

Emilia Clarke would like to be ‘Jane Bond’.

“I have a lot of unrealised dreams,” Clarke told the newspaper. “I would love to play Jane Bond. My ultimate leading man would be Leonardo Dicaprio. No doubt about it.” There’s no doubt that Clarke has the adventurous streak needed to play 007, as anyone who saw Sunday’s ‘GOT’ could attest to.

Continue reading: Emilia Clarke Says She'd Like To Play Bond With Leonardo DiCaprio As Her 'Bond Boy'

A bookmakers has suspended betting on who will be the next James Bond, after an influx of bets on ‘ The Night Manager’ star Tom Hiddleston between Friday and Saturday made him the 2-1 favourite. A particularly large bet was also then placed on Hiddleston, which saw his odds plummet to 1-2.

Is Tom Hiddleston the next James Bond?

Nicola McGeady, a spokesperson for Coral, who suspended betting on Hiddleston said: "There is no smoke without fire, and following the big gamble on Tom Hiddleston in the last 24 hours, we've had no choice but to pull the plug on the market.”

Continue reading: Bookies Suspend Betting On Next Bond As Tom Hiddleston Becomes Frontrunner

Sam Smith has revealed that all it took to land the chance to sing the new Bond theme was, "the cockiest email in the world". Sitting down with director Sam Mendes and producer Barbara Broccoli in the latest Spectre vlog, Smith explained how he came to land the Bond gig and what the honour means to him.

Sam Smith has opened up about how he landed the Spectre theme.

“I remember sending an email to my agents in America – probably the cockiest email in the world,” the singer revealed. “ I just said 'is there any way I could do the Bond theme?’ The next thing I knew, I was asked to go to Pinewood Studios to meet with Barbara and Sam.”

Continue reading: "The Cockiest Email In The World" Landed Sam Smith The Chance To Sing 'Spectre' Theme

The 24th James Bond movie, Spectre, is massively over-budget and currently stands to cost Sony and MGM "in the mid $300Ms", according to leaked internal memos. MGM president Jonathan Glickman sent emails in early November explaining how the studio is looking to cut costs.

Spectre is tracking to cost $50 million more than Skyfall

Glickman said the studio must cut back to $250 million given that Spectre is already tracking to cost $50 million more than Skyfall. He suggests numerous cost-cutting changes, including relocating a Villa scene in Rome in London, using fewer carriages on a train scene and forgetting the dramatic finalen"in the rain". Glickman also suggests showing "the more modern aspects" of Mexico to maximize "the Mexican incentive" (the makers of the film are getting paid to shoot in South America".

Continue reading: Bond 24: Spectre "Massively Over-Budget" As Sony Try To Make Cuts

The 24th James Bond movie, to be directed by Sam Mendes and starring Daniel Craig, is titled Spectre. The announcement was made in a live broadcast from the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios on Thursday morning, where Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux were also unveiled as new cast members.

Daniel Craig will return as James Bond for Spectre

Christoph Waltz will play chief villain Frank Oberhauser, son of the late Hans Oberhauser, a ski instructor who acted as a father figure to Bond. However, the Mail reported that Waltz's character will later be revealed to be classic Bond villain Ernst Blofeld. The title SPECTRE appears to back this up, given it relates to the organisation led by evil genius and supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld that first formally appeared in the novel Thunderball (1961) and in the movie Dr. No (1962).

Continue reading: Bond 24 Titled 'Spectre', Signalling Return Of Ernst Blofeld

John Cleese, who played James Bond’s gadget man Q in 2002’s Die Another Day, has claimed that filmmakers are more interested in the Britsh Spy’s action sequences than the witty one-liners and quintessentially British themes that made him so popular.

John Cleese pictured outside BBC Radio 1's studios

"I did two James Bond movies and then I believe that they decided that the tone they needed was that of the Bourne action movies, which are very gritty and humourless," he told the Radio Times.

Continue reading: Recent James Bond Films Have Been Geared Towards Asian Audiences, Says John Cleese

The Oscar-nominated star of 12 Years A Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor, is likely to become the next James Bond villain, according to Variety. The trade magazine says the British star is the top name on producers' wish list for the 24th official James Bond movie, which will once again be directed by Sam Mendes as well as starring Daniel Craig.

Chiwetel Ejiofor Could Be The Next Bond Villain

Bond 24 is due to begin filming in the summer for a November 2015 release date. Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are also set to return as M, Q and Moneypenny respectively. 

Continue reading: '12 Years A Slave' Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Set For Bond Villain Role

Simon Russell Beale turns in an arguably career best performance in Sam Mendes' latest production at the National Theatre, King Lear.

Beale plays Lear as a hunched, thuggish leader - similar to the way in which Kevin Spacey played Richard II - though as his power begins to slip, he becomes frantic and nonsensical. In his review of the show, Henry Hitchens of the Evening Standard writes, "There is perhaps no actor better at conveying the shapes and sounds of grief."

Simon Russell Beale Turns In A Career Best Performance in 'King Lear'

Continue reading: 'King Lear' At The National: Is Simon Russell Beale Britain's Finest Actor?

British novelist William Boyd launched the latest James Bond novel at London's Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday (September 25, 2013). The book, called Solo, sees a 45-year-old Bond travel to worn-torn Africa in the late 1960s.

William Boyd Arriving At The Dorchester Hotel For The 'Solo' Press Conference

Boyd is the latest novelist to write a new Bond book since the death of its creator Ian Fleming in 1964 and follows the likes of Kingsley Amis and Sebastian Faulks.

Continue reading: 'Solo' Author William Boyd Touts Daniel Day-Lewis For James Bond

Rather than do things the old fashioned way, Kate Winslet has decided that she will keep hold of her last name rather than go by her husband's surname from here on in. Probably a wise move, because not only is Winslet one of the most instantly recognisable names around Hollywood today, but changing her name to Kate Rocknroll? That might be cause enough to get her barred from winning another Oscar nomination.

Kate at the Toronto Film Festival screening of her new film, Labor Day

The Academy Award-winning actress was speaking with British newspaper The Telegraph recently, when she stated that she may be in love with her husband, Ned Rocknroll, and may be bearing their first child together at the moment, but that doesn't mean she feels any pressure to take his surname. The 37-year-old acting star has been married before, to people with normal last names too, so maybe her decision to keep hold of her maiden name isn't based on the fact that her husband has a silly last name. Well, it might have something to do with it still.

Continue reading: It's Only 'Rocknroll' But Kate Winslet Will Never Take Her Husband's Name

Actress Michelle Williams will make her broadway debut in a production of the world famous musical Cabaret next April reports BBC News. The Brokeback Mountain actress will play the lead female character Sally Bowles and will have plenty of opportunity to show off her singing skills. Sam Mendes will direct the production whilst Rob Marshall will be the choreographer, with plenty of exciting and dazzling dance routines expected.

Williams Is Preparing To Play Cabaret's Sally.

The 32 year-old actress made her stage debut in New York in 1999 after she'd made her name on television with on screen roles in Step by Step, My Son Is Innocent and the movie Lassie. She took to the boards in the off Broadway run of trailer park drama, Killer Joe. She went on to star in the Off Broadway production of Mike Leigh's Smelling a Rat in 2002.

Continue reading: Michelle Williams To Star In 'Cabaret' On Broadway Debut

Michelle Williams will star in a Broadway production of the musical Cabaret as seductive and troubled singer Sally Bowles. The production will mark William's Broadway debut.

Michelle Williams at the L.A. premiere of Oz the Great and Powerful.

Famously, Liza Minelli took the role of Bowles starring opposite Michael York in the 1972 film adaptation. The musical is based on The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood, and tells the story of American cabaret singer Sally Bowles who performs at the Kit Kat Klub in Berlin. Brian Roberts, a naive British graduate, is befriended by the vivacious Bowles and the two have an affair set against the backdrop of interwar Germany. 

Continue reading: Michelle Williams Joins Cabaret For Broadway Debut

This week's big world premiere was in London for The World's End, where Simon Pegg and Nick Frost walked a blue carpet alongside costars Eddie Marsan, Paddy Considine and Rosamund Pike. The apocalyptic pub crawl comedy opens next week in Britain. The cast and crew talk to the press about it. As well as Simon Pegg And Nick Frost Discussing The Talents Of Edgar Wright.

Meanwhile in New York, stars turned out for a gala screening of the Sundance winner Fruitvale Station. Lead actor Michael B Jordan was joined on the red carpet by Cuba Gooding Jr, DJ Moss and his wife DJ Kiss, and Tony-winning actress Patina Miller. The true drama costars Octavia Spencer and opens in America this weekend. Watch the Cuba Goodling Jr video or the Brian d'Arcy James and DJ Mos video here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: The World's End Premieres, Mendes Returns To Bond, Oldboy Teases

The news that Sam Mendes – who helmed the most successful Bond of all time – is returning for the 24th incarnation of 007 will come as a huge relief for fans of the franchise. Skyfall was praised for its modern, innovative approach to the Bond saga and won Mendes many plaudits, but will his next efforts win him an Oscar?

Mendes with Skyfall's antagonist, Javier Bardem

Skyfall did in fact win two Academy Awards, but they went to Adele for her Bond theme and one for the sound engineering team. The film was, however, the most successful film in the franchise – a wonderful achievement despite the fact that every Bond film has risen exponentially in popularity.

Continue reading: Will Sam Mendes Be Able To Replicate Skyfall's Success?

When Sam Mendes first decided to adapt Roald Dahl's 49 year-old best loved children's book about an eccentric chocolate maker and one very lucky little boy, he hadn't anticipated the scale or scope of his Charlie And The Chocolate Factory production - or the time it would take to come to fruition.

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory has been brought to life on a large scale before: 1971's film saw Gene Wilder bring his unconventional and volatile incarnation of the mad professor of confectionery in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, whereas a Tim Burton movie kickstarted the franchise again in 2005 with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that saw Johnny Depp on truly bizarre form.

Now, the legend has been brought to the West End by Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who also has a host of strong musicals under his belt, including Oliver! (1994) and Cabaret (1994). The Guardian hails the modern adaptation of Dahl's moral fable as a "sumptuous visual feast" and praises the effective "engaging and sinister" portrayal of Wonka by Douglas Hodge. Young Jack Costello's "adorable" performance as Charlie is lauded by The Independent, along with the band of entitled and greedy golden ticket-winning brats who accompany Charlie on the trip of a lifetime.

Continue reading: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Musical Debuts In West End

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical has been re-envisioned by Sam Mendes and will open its doors to the public for the first time this evening at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

For those of you who don’t know the Raold Dahl’s much loved children’s book, the story follows Charlie, a poor but delightful child, who wins a golden ticket (hidden in a chocolate bar) and is given the opportunity to tour the eccentric Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Also present on the tour are a handful of hideous and sinful children who all come to sticky ends. It’s a modern day fairy-tale where good conquers evil except for Willy Wonka who we’re never quite sure about. There is something sinister about the chocolate maker and his army on oompa-lumpas.

Starring Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka; Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe; Clive Carter as Mr Salt and a multitude of small children playing Charlie and the assortment of monsters, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises to be a star filled event. Especially as it is directed by Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for American Beauty, he is not unfamiliar with the stage either having directed numerous musicals including Gypsy, Oliver and Cabaret.

Continue reading: 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: The Musical', Directed By Sam Mendes, Will Open Tonight

According to a report published in the Daily Mail today (May 17), British director Christopher Nolan is being eyed up by MGM executives as the man they want to direct the next James Bond film. The Inception director is atop the list of potential directors being lined up to direct the follow-up to the massively successful Skyfall, with the next film being the 24th film in the long-running series.

Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who did an excellent job it must be noted, has already voiced his desire to remain on board and direct the follow-up to the film, however the Oscar-winning director has been forced to dropped out of the project because of his theatre commitments Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear (a joint effort with Simon Russell Beale) at the National Theatre on London's West End.

Christopher Nolan is in contention to be the next Bond director

Continue reading: Has Christopher Nolan Been Chosen To Direct The Next Bond Movie?

Nicholas Hytner, the director of the National Theatre, will step down from his role in 2015, paving the way for a new era at London's biggest theatre company. However, there was no scandal, disappointing figures or bad reviews that led to his decision to Hytner's decision to leave and he is presumably still the best person for the job.

It's been a hugely successful run for the 56-year-old, whose first action in his role was to launch the Travelex £10 ticket scheme which meant a third of seats were available at massive discounts. It encouraged students, families and the less well-off to enjoy a night at the theatre and appeared to work. The legendary Peter Brook once said "The future of the theatre is cheap seats," and Hytner appeared to listen. 

Elsewhere, he created NT Live, which broadcasted productions to screens around the UK and the world, allowing audiences at home to enjoy the likes of Helen Mirren in Phedre. However, more than anything else, Hytner brought the very best plays, dramatists and actors to the National Theatre. Amongst Hytner's own productions were Alan Bennett's The History Boys - one of the most successful plays in the West End - and Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors, which starred James Corden in one particularly production.

Continue reading: Will Sam Mendes Replace Nicholas Hytner At The National Theatre?

Sam Mendes made it pretty clear that he was done with the James Bond franchise for the foreseeable future, in wake of Skyfall’s success, but the producers of the biggest critical and commercial smash the series has ever had are confident that they’ll get the director back working with them again.

Mendes, alongside his main star Daniel Craig, combined to hugely successful effect for Skyfall last year, and the producers of the film were no doubt expecting a fruitful relationship to continue. However Mendes schedule dictated otherwise and the likes of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are back to square one as they seek to take the franchise on an enforced new direction. However, at the Empire Awards on Sunday (March 24, 2013) they told Getty Images Entertainment that they do expect Mendes to return to the fold at some point.

"We will get him back. We haven't given up hope. Maybe not for the next [movie], but we will get him back again” Broccoli said coming out of the event in London, with Wilson adding “We are working on him. [With all these awards] we hope that maybe he will have gotten inspired to come back.'' Mendes himself meanwhile had a pretty unhappy Empire Awards, despite taking home three awards, with Dame Helen Mirren standing up to accept her Legend award and attacking the director for listing exclusively male influences only upon taking to the stage.

Continue reading: Skyfall Producers Still Confident Of Sam Mendes Bond Return

Dame Helen Mirren doesn’t indulge herself in any sort of beef too often, so when she does you tend to listen, as it’s normally based on some pretty solid foundations. So what, then, of her Empire Awards acceptance speech, where she lambasted Sam Mendes, suggesting slightly cryptically that he might be sexist?

According to The Guardian, Mirren’s issue with the Skyfall director after he’d listed an exclusively male set of influences upon picking up his best director award on stage, neglecting any female film makers. When it came to Mirren to pick her Legend award, she took to the stage and said in her acceptance speech "I don't want to unduly pick on Sam Mendes, but when he spoke about his inspirations earlier this evening, I'm afraid not a single one of the people he mentioned was a woman.” Receiving cheers from the audience. "Hopefully in five or 10 years, when Sam's successor is collecting their Inspiration award, the list will be slightly more balanced in terms of its sexual make-up. In the meantime, this one is for the girls."

It was a surprisingly direct attack from the much-celebrated actress, though maybe Mendes wasn’t thinking about the gender of these film makers when it came to listing his influences, and was simply listing those he admired? That said, maybe Mirren wasn't attacking him per se, more that his choices reflected the difference in equality that has been and still arguably is an issue in Hollywood even in 2013. Elsewhere at the fan-voted for awards, Martin Freeman took the best actor award for his role in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, while Jennifer Lawrence took best actress for The Hunger Games.

Continue reading: Dame Helen Mirren Hints At Sam Mendes Sexism At Empire Awards

Box-office revenue in China reached a massive $2.7 billion in 2012, far more than expected and up some 37 per cent on the previous year. The MPAA's annual report confirmed that China has overtaken Japan as the largest movie-going market outside of North America, which generated $10.8 billion in the same year, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

It also showed global box office revenue hitting $34.7 billion, up 6 per cent and an encouraging sign for the business. "It was a great year for movies," said MPAA chairman and CEO Christopher Dodd. The Avengers movie was the biggest of the year, grossing $1.51 billion, though Sam Mendes' Skyfall took an impressive $1.11 billion to make it the most successful British movie of all time, and the hugely anticipated Dark Knight Rises took $1.08 billion. Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was the fourth biggest film with takings of $1.01 billion. The National Association of Theatre Owners chairman John Fithian said, "The diversity of movies in 2012 was extraordinarily strong, and it's that kind of slate that drives the kinds of numbers you saw."

Daniel Craig [L] Had A Huge Hit With Skyfall While Robert Downey Jr [R] Led The Biggest Movie If The Year, The Avengers

Continue reading: Listen Up America: Chinese Box-Office Grows 37% To $2.7 Billion

MGM say it will announce the director of the new James Bond movie in the near future, but confirmed the film is some three years away, at least. We already know that it will not be Sam Mendes behind the camera, after he passed at the opportunity to concentrate on his theatre work. The British filmmaker was responsible for the last movie, Skyfall, the most successful film in the history of UK film.

"We are very excited about the franchise, we look forward to announcing a director soon," said MGM chairman and chief executive officer Gary Barber in a conference call with investors. "We are currently developing the screenplay and working with our partners. We look forward to developing the script soon and signing a director. We are hoping within the next three years it will be released." It was a massive year for MGM, which took $1.1 billion at the box office mainly thanks to Skyfall and Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. A huge turnaround when considering the studio was languishing in insolvency just a couple of years ago, resulting in the four year gap between 2008's Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. Mr Barber will have all but banked on Mendes returning to the director's seat for Bond 24 - given the success of the last movie - though it's back to the drawing board. "[Mendes] did an amazing job on Skyfall," he said "We are very thankful for the work that he did."

Sam Mendes At The BAFTAS [L] and Potential Bond Director Guy Ritchie At The Sherlock Holmes 2 Premiere [R]

Continue reading: MGM To Announce James Bond 24 Director Soon, Could It Be Guy Ritchie?

Sam Mendes decision not to direct the sequel to James Bond film Skyfall has reportedly shocked the franchise’s producers, with Michael G Wilson admitting “We’re devastated.”

Mendes and Bond star Daniel Craig together combined to make Skyfall the most critically and commercially successful Bond film in it history, and there were high hopes that the pair would continue the union. The movie won the top award at the South Bank Sky Arts awards in London this week. However, in a statement reported by Empire Online, Mendes wrote “It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie. Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond."

Speaking at the South Bank awards to the Daily Telegraph, Wilson said “We didn’t expect it, so I have no idea who will replace him. We’re still reeling. We only found out a day before the announcement. I think he feels like he’s done it now, but hopefully we can tempt him back.” Fellow producer Barbara Broccoli added: ”It’s a ------, isn’t’ it? We’re very sad he’s decided not to do it as we really wanted him on board.” Mendes had left the door open for a return to the film in the future.

Continue reading: Despite South Bank Award, Skyfall Producers Still Reeling At Sam Mendes Snub

The success of Skyfall was phenomenal. It broke records by becoming the highest grossing movie in England, and has been hailed the ‘best Bond ever’. No wonder, then, the director Sam Mendes has been courted to helm the next Bond, and even the next after that…

But it’s a no from Sam. The British-born director has officially ruled himself out of the running, telling Empire: "It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie. Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond." Skyfall is by far the most successful Bond film, with a worldwide take currently standing at $1.11bn, but Mendes will be looking to please smaller audiences, for less money, with his upcoming and aforementioned theatre productions of the Roald Dahl and Shakespeare classics. He had suggested that his involvement with the 007 franchise to stretch to a 24th film, saying, "I feel very honoured to have been part of the Bond family and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future."

Continue reading: After Weeks Of Teasing, Sam Mendes Rules Himself Out Of Bond 24

Carrie Strikes Back: Great news for Star Wars fans this week, with Carrie Fisher confirming that she'll reprise her role as Princess Leia in J.J. Abrams' forthcoming movie Star Wars Episode 7. Fisher, 56, joked that her age might make things a little tricky this time around.

It's A Girl! Or Is It? Did Kate Middleton inadvertently give away the gender of her baby this week? During a public appearance in the UK, the Duchess of Cambridge told one well-wisher that she would give a gift to her d..before stopping short. 

Continue reading: A Week In News: Carrie Fisher Is Princess Leia, Kate Middleton Having A Girl, Harrison Ford Joins Anchorman 2!

Imagine for a minute an alternate Academy Awards. An Oscars ceremony that decided against rewarding biopics, inaccurate thrillers and lightweight sort-of-indie flicks mainly directed by David O'Russell. This Sunday (February 24, 2013), a rather predictable bunch of nominees will take their seats at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Daniel Day-Lewis will take home Best Actor, Spielberg will probably add to his collection of Best Director gongs, hell, maybe grumps himself Tommy Lee Jones will snatch a prize. It begs the question: is this really a collection of the very best performances and movies of the year? We present to you our alternate Academy Awards - who missed out on a nomination, though wouldn't have looked out of place with the golden statuette in their hand?

The Skyfall Cast At The Premiere In 2012

Continue reading: Alternate Oscars: Paul Thomas Anderson Wins! Leonardo Di Caprio Wins! Daniel Craig Wins!

The signs are all pointing to it - surely Skyfall is going to become the first James Bond film to be nominated for the best picture award at the Oscars? Yesterday it was reported that the Daniel Craig-starring, Sam Mendes-directed 007 flick has been nominated among ten films for a Producers Guild of America award. That usually means that a film’s in with a good shout of being nominated at the Academy Awards, given that the winner of the PGA has gone on to win the ultimate prize in 16 of the last 23 years.

Now further hope has been given to the Bond team with the news, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, that the Academy is to have a special tribute section to the Bond franchise as it celebrates 50 years. "We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday," said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "Starting with Dr. No back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon."

Despite its enduring commercial success – Skyfall recently topped the $1 billion mark globally at the box office – the Bond franchise has never been taken seriously by the Academy. The 23 films have managed to muster just two wins and seven nominations between them, all coming in relatively minor categories; there’s been no nomination in any category since 1982. You have to believe that this year is going to be different.

Continue reading: Oscars Set To Mark 50th Anniversary Of James Bond; Skyfall Nomination Beckons?

Skyfall’s Producers Guild of America award nomination for the top prize at the ceremony could be a great indicator for the James Bond film’s chances at the Oscars, with the 007 flick already breaking new ground by being the first in the series to have been put up for a PGA.

BBC News reports that the Sam Mendes-directed Daniel Craig-starring Bond film – which has just topped $1 billion globally at the box office – is up against nine other films, including heavy hitters Les Miserables and Lincoln, for the much coveted award. At the Oscars themselves, the Best Picture category could end up being contested between anywhere between five and ten candidates, so you’ve got to believe that many will come from these ten – especially when you consider that the winner of the PGA has gone on to win the best picture statuette in 16 of the last 23 years.

The full list is below, but among the notable absentees from a list, that included many of the names being touted around the film industry for Academy recognition, were Peter Jackson’s new J R R Tolkien adaptation epic The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the Joaquin Phoenix-starring The Master and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Continue reading: Skyfall Producers Guild Of America Awards Nomination Heralds Possible Oscars Fortune

Skyfall, Sam Mendes' critically acclaimed James Bond movie, has taken more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The latest film is now the most successful film in British box-office history, though it remains at No.2 on a list of movie gaffes spotted by eagle eyed cinemagoers. They had to go and spoil it.

According to the online list at moviemistakes.com, Skyfall contains 35 gaffes, second only to Men In Black III with 63. Among the most glaring errors include during the opening 'train scene' when Bond's footwear changes from black lace up shoes to black slip on ankle boots. During the thrilling Istanbul chase scene, Eve knocks out of the windshield of her car, though for the rest of the chase, half the glass is back in the frame. In the chase through the tube station, both Bond and his enemy Silva (Javier Bardem) slide down between the escalators, though the London Underground has hard vertical signs to stop people falling. In one of the movie's concluding scenes, Bond reaches the chapel and plunges into the icy water, though he appears to be perfectly dry just seconds later.

The 23rd official Bond film became the first movie ever to take £100 million at the British box office this past weekend, ($1 billion worldwide). Daniel Craig's third Bond movie is STILL on general release more than two months after its release, such is the continuing demand.

Almost everyone loved Skyfall. Critics and audiences alike were enthralled by the plot and characters, and the collaboration between Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig has been lauded. In many ways, therefore, it's no surprise that it has become the most successful Bond film of all time. Though this may be blasphemous to say, but Craig's Bond is just as dazzling as Sean Connery's. Proving its worth with enormous fiscal success, Skyfall has taken over £100m in British cinemas- the first film ever to do so, and has taken over $1b world wide. 

The highest grossing film in the UK before Skyfall was Avatar, which had taken £94m in a year. But as the Guardian reports, it took just 40 days for Bond to surpass that number. As for the billion dollar mark, which sounds all the more impressive- it is in fact far more easily attained it seems. This year saw both The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises smash through $1b of sales. 

Sales numbers can be misleading, however, and levelling out numbers with inflation would certainly see many of the older Bond movies seem more successful. Numbers of tickets sold have in fact flagged largely from the hey-dey of the postwar era which saw an enormous boom in cinema, as it had become the medium by which to entertain troops and to keep up moral during the depression. No films have ever out sold Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1938), The Sound of Music (1965), or Gone With the Wind (1940), which sold 38 million, 30 million and 35 million tickets respectively. At the time, those numbers included almost two thirds of the population. 

Think of yourself as the next Daniel Craig? Inspired by James Bond's crime-fighting efforts in Sam Mendes' Skyfall? Well then it's probably time to ditch the day job and apply for the role of "target elimination specialist," recently advertised on the Direct.gov.uk website.

Ok, so it appears to have been the work of pranksters, rather than, say, the Secret Intelligence Service, but it probably fooled thousands. The advert stated that the country's top spy bosses were seeking someone prepared to "remove people whose continued existence poses a risk to the effective conduct of public order." Suppose that's better than pressing buttons, huh? According to The Register, the advert - which has seen been removed - told prospective applications they needed to be "resourceful in finding ways to accomplish their missions and, in some cases, to leave foreign countries by non-conventional means." The successful applicant would be paid a salary of £50,000 to £60,000 though would have the benefits of special watches, a company submarine and a Walther PPK - Bond's famous firearm. There was no mention of a pension plan or a lunchtime break, which is slightly disappointing. 

Unfortunately for any would-be James Bonds, the listing was confirmed as being purely fictitious, with a spokeswoman for SIS/MI6 saying it was a fake. 

Continue reading: James Bond Wanted: Skyfall Style Job Appears On Official Government Website

It will be of little surprise to many that Skyfall topped the US box office this week but the staggering box office returns will still raise a few eyebrows. The latest movie in the legendary spy movie franchise – directed by Sam Mendes – took a whopping $87.8 million in the United States of America and Canada. It’s the biggest ever opening weekend for a Bond movie, which has now taken a staggering $518.6 million since October 26.

Skyfall is the third movie to star Daniel Craig, following Quantum of Solace four years ago. QoS was widely regarded to be something of a disappointment for many Bond fans, yet Skyfall has been a serious return to form for the franchise. Rory Bruer, the president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures told Reuters “We've always been very bullish about the film, but I don't think anyone expected the kind of stunning numbers that we've seen… How many pictures in just over two weeks have earned more than half a billion already?”

To put the achievements of Skyfall into context, the movie that topped the US charts last week was Wreck It Ralph, which slipped into second place this week with $33.1 million. According to Reuters, Denzel Washington’s thriller Flight came in with just $15.1 million. Obviously, the lion’s share of this week’s ticket sales were always going to Daniel Craig and the newest Bond venture but regardless, this is may well be a disappointing turnout for the makers of Flight who will have been hoping that the Oscars buzz surrounding the film – and the hugely positive critical response to Washington’s performance – will have been enough to entice a few more moviegoers away from Skyfall. 

Continue reading: Skyfall Continues To Impress: Best Ever Bond Opening In US & Canada

James Bond star Daniel Craig has been warned that his hair loss is starting to become a major concern for network executives, who have warned the actor that he needs to curb his hair loss in order to keep his job as Her Majesty's finest agent.

Reports have emerged online that the actor is been told to get a hair transplant in order to maintain Bond's sex appeal and believability as his hair continues to recede back. It appears that Skyfall's massive success and appraisals may mean nothing to the films producers, as they are more concerned in having a Bond with a full head of hair as apposed to a Bond that is already been touted as the best there's been.

In other Bond news, it has emerged that Skyfall director Sam Mendes wanted the original 007, Sean Connery, to make a cameo appearance in the hit film, that is still performing strongly at the box office. Although he regularly likes to reiterate the fact that he is retired and has no plans to return in front of the camera anytime soon, Mendes was apparently desperate to sign up to veteran actor (who has long rocked the hairless look) when the film was in production, but the Scot would not budge.

Sam Mendes has been doing the U.S. promotional rounds for his James Bond movie Skyfall, ahead of its stateside release this week and gave one golden nugget of information away to the The Huffington Post. The Oscar winner has received unanimous praise for Skyfall though at one point he considered having not one, but two Bonds to star in the movie.

The filmmaker revealed that there was an idea to have Sean Connery - the first Bond - to appear in a cameo role!  "There was a definite discussion about that - way, way early on. But I think that's problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too ... it would take you out of the movie," Mendes explained. We think he's right: Mendes and Daniel Craig have been applauded for moving Bond into a modern setting whilst still protecting the original idea - bringing Connery back would have been nostalgic and frankly unnecessary. "Connery is Bond and he's not going to come back as another character. It's like, he's been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract," added Mendes.

Connery has pretty much retired from acting now anyway, safe in the knowledge that he's generally considered the finest ever Bond. He's also distanced himself from the franchise, recently being the only Bond not to participate in the "Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 documentary. Skyfall opens in theaters nationwide on November 9th.

Continue reading: Sam Mendes Considered Sean Connery For James Bond Skyfall Role

OK, so the majority of the US public have just one race on their minds today and that’s the US Presidential race. But once that’s been decided in a few hours, all thoughts will surely be turning to the all-important albums chart race… surely? Can any of this week’s releases threaten Taylor Swift’s position at the top or will she get a second term at number one?

Aerosmith have returned, after an 11-year hiatus from writing any new material. Time appears to have stood still on Aerosmith-land in those eleven years and Music From Another Dimension is pretty much as you would expect an Aerosmith album to sound. Of course, Steven Tyler’s presence on American Idol has brought the attention of Aerosmith back to a new generation of fans, so much of this material may well even sound fresh to them.

Read our review of Music From Another Dimension

Continue reading: Out Now: US Album Releases (Nov 6) Aerosmith, Ne-Yo, Skyfall OST, Third Day

The 23rd incarnation of James Bond: Skyfall has been voted the best Bond ever, but its commercial success is not subject to bias or opinion - it is officially the most successful British film (in one week).

Surpassing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, with first week sales of £37.2m, Skyfall is proving an unprecedented success, The Sun reports. MGM chief Gary Barber said: "The continued record-breaking success of this film is a true testament to all involved and the global power of this 50-year-old franchise," while the film's producers - Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli -released a statement after the impressive figure was delivered. It said: "We are very grateful to the Bond fans and all UK cinema audiences for making Skyfall the biggest opening week ever during our 50th anniversary year." The £23m set by the final Daniel Radcliffe wizard movie still holds the gong for weekend sales, though, as Bond only managed £20.1m for that particular record. 

Entertainmentwise also ran a poll, and in light of these figures, revealed that fans voted this the best Bond ever. 34.89% consider Skyfall to be the best outing for 007. 32.66% thought that it was Daniel Craig's best outing as 007. 15.21% thought it was 'good' and 7.1% thought it was average. 5.07% said it was 'poor', and an identical 5.07% thought it was the worst Bond ever.

Continue reading: James Bond Skyfall: A British Box Office Record Breaker And Voted Best Bond

Following on from the success it achieved over its opening weekend last week, the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, has broken yet another record by becoming the highest grossing film over its opening week in the UK.

The new Bond film, Daniel Craig’s third as 007, has so far taken in £32.7 million since it opened last week, overtaking the previous holder of the record Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Around £30 million of the takings came in the opening weekend, but the gradual increase of taking – over a Halloween weekend that saw few attend the cinemas – has cemented it’s place in the history books already.

In regards to the achievement, Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at MGM said: "The continued record-breaking success of this film is a true testament to all involved and the global power of this 50 year old franchise." 

Continue reading: Skyfall Shoots Down Harry Potter To Become Top Grossing UK Movie

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano appears to have given the latest James Bond movie Skyfall its seal of approval. Despite 007's womanising and murderous lifestyle, the newspaper dedicated no less than five articles to Sam Mendes' box office smash.

According to The Independent, the newspaper even featured an interview with Daniel Craig in which it said the film contained everything you could possibly want from a Bond film, including, "adrenalin-pumped action to exotic locations, beautiful Bond girls, and the inevitable vodka Martini - shaken, not stirred." Another article compared the merits of previous James Bond actors, while another discussed the various soundtracks. L'Osservatore Romano was founded in 1861 as the mouthpiece of the Vatican. Up until five years ago, it would typically publish theological pieces and information about the Pope's various engagements. However, in recent years the broadsheet has established a more populist slant, covering films and television. 

Skyfall has received unanimously positive reviews from critics, with most declaring Daniel Craig amongst the best ever Bonds. He will star in two further movies before handing the reins over to another actor. 

Continue reading: The Pope Loved James Bond Skyfall, Apparently

Daniel Craig has always been pretty upfront about playing James Bond. He's savvy enough to realise his time playing 007 will be remembered fondly by both fans and critics and has made no secret of his intention to get out in the near future.

Craig, now 44, is contracted for two more films after Skyfall - which premieres in London tonight (October 23, 2012) - and the smart money would be on the British star walking away after that. "I am contracted for two more and that seems like a fair few. But I am not going to outstay my welcome. Someone else will have to have the chance to have a crack at this," he told the Metro. After joking that he agreed to the new movies for the money, Craig backtracked, "'No, not even slightly. I love playing it. It's an honour to play it. I really get a big kick out of doing it. I had an opportunity when they gave me Casino Royale to wipe the slate clean because they said we're beginning again." Craig's tenure as Bond has certainly had a fresh feel about it - Casino Royale was the shot in the arm that the franchise badly needed; Quantum of Solace was intriguing, and all the signs point towards Skyfall being one of the best Bonds in years. With Sam Mendes as director (who Craig apparently coaxed into the role while drunk at a party), Skyfall has genuine claims for the major movie prizes this year.

The British star represents a superb piece of casting by the Bond team but will it be another outsider who replaces him? Though Sam Worthington is the hot favourite to take over as 007 in a couple of movies time, don't rule out the likes of Alex O Loughlin and Tom Hardy.

Sam Mendes, the director of the new James Bond film Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig as 007, has hinted that he is more than happy to take the reigns for Bond number 24.

Speaking to Time Out, Mendez said, "I've enjoyed it enough to do it again. I think the choice is in the audience's hands. If people love the movie and they want to see another one from the same people who brought you Skyfall, then that would mean a lot to me. I would feel like, 'Well, actually there are people who really want to see it'." Given the positive response to the film so far, were sure a lot of people would like to see him return. For such a British institution, it may come as a surprise that Mendes, 47, is the first British director to take the reigns of a Bond film since 1999's The World Is Not Enough. Mendes plied his trade as a theatre director, before breaking into film with American Beauty, winner of five Oscars in 2000.

But don't go thinking Mendes will latch onto the Bond franchise and bleed it dry for all it's worth, whilst simultaneously jeopardising his artistic integrity, no; he'll only do it if it's worth it. "I feel like I've put everything I want to do with a Bond movie into this Bond movie. I would have to feel the same again to do another one. So, it would take a lot of thought to try and make it as special to me as this. I'm knackered, but I've loved it."

The reviews are in for Sam Mendes' James Bond movie 'Skyfall' and they're good. Very good. 007's latest outing has been described as the "least Bond" of all the Bonds and it appears critics have reacted warmly to the Oscar winning director's fresh take on the long running franchise.

Set primarily in London, Skyfall follows a Bond described by Mendes as suffering from "[a] combination of lassitude, boredom, depression [and] difficulty with what he's chosen to do for a living." A Bond down-on-his-luck is an interesting concept and we already know he's swapped his Martinis for bottled Heinekens (thanks to a lucrative product placement deal). Writing in The Independent, Geoffrey McNab said, "Craig again impresses as Bond. He switches without fuss from Roger Moore-style self-deprecating comedy (adjusting his cuff links in action sequences) to the darker, more intense scenes which focus on Bond's childhood traumas." Den of Geek.com refused to give out spoilers in their review "because there's so much that deserves to be kept under wraps." Critic Katie Muir of The Times simply called Skyfall a "resurrection," predicting that it will "go down as one of 007's best."

With such positive reviews, it begs the question whether or not the Academy will reward Mendes and his team for Skyfall. Early rumblings around Hollywood suggest the movie could make the nominations for Best Picture, and with Craig on top form, Mendes at the helm and Oscar winning cinematographer Roger Deakins on set, it's not difficult to see why.

'Skyfall', the new James Bond movie directed by Sam Mendes, hits cinemas on November 9 and already attention is turning to whether or not the picture could snag a surprise Oscar nomination.

'Oscar bait' is a term often used to describe a movie awash with all the key themes that the Academy so readily rewards. For example, they're suckers for epic dramas (Titanic, Gladiator), romance (Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient) and movies packed full of previous Oscar winners (Traffic, The Kings Speech). Oscar bait movies usually hit cinemas at the same time each year- in November or December, wafting themselves under the noses of the Academy just weeks before nominations are announced.

This year, Sony seems to have thrown 'Skyfall' into the fray as Oscar bait, so does the film have a realistic chance of a nomination? Well, as HitFix.com rightly points out, the movie has attached an Oscar winning director in Mendes, an Oscar winning and three time nominated actor in Javier Bardem and an Oscar winning actress and six-time nominee in Judi Dench. Its screenwriter is a three-time nominee while cinematographer Roger Deakins is a nine-time nominee who is almost certain to scoop the prize come February if industry insiders are to be believed. Deakins - best known for his work on just about every Coen Brothers movie - is revered in the movie business and often considered the finest cinematographer of all time. On top of all this, Skyfall's production designer, art director and second unit director have all been handed nominations in the past: i.e - the movie has all the bases covered.

Continue reading: Why ‘Skyfall’ Could Land James Bond An Oscar Nomination

Adele’s ‘Bond’ theme will see the London songstress follow in the footsteps of singing greats Shirley Bassey and Nancy Sinatra, both of whom are responsible for recording some of the most recognizable 007 tunes in the secret agent’s 50 years in film.

The multiple Grammy award winner had long been rumoured to be handed the prestigious role for Sam Mendes’ forthcoming ‘Skyfall’ – again starring Daniel Craig – and Total Film.com confirmed the speculation this week. Adele’s single, named after the new movie, will be the first release from the star since ‘Turning Tables’ from her much-feted ‘21’ album. Given her phenomenally successful couple of years, Adele will certainly be a popular choice for the job and she boasts the kind of heavyweight soulful voice synonymous with the theme tune. One thing’s for sure: it’s almost certain to be an improvement on the poorly received tune ‘Another Way to Die’ by Jack White and Alicia Keys from 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’.

‘Skyfall’ – set to open in the UK on October 26 – stars Daniel Craig, alongside Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw.