As great as it is for an actor to take on an iconic role with a built-in fan base, there is always a challenge for these stars to work on other projects where they attempt to do something different.Christopher Reevewill always be best known as Superman, even though he did some fascinating work outside the superhero genre; the countless viewers who went to seeChris Evansin theCaptain Americafilms didn’t show up forGiftedorBefore We Go. There aren’t many movie characters more iconic than James Bond, and many of the franchise’s leading men have struggled in their post-Bond years to be seen as anything but 007.
However,Daniel Craighas managed to avoid these issuesby embracing his true nature; he’s really always been a character actor in a leading man’s body.
Sean Connerytook on mostly action-centric roles after exiting the Bond franchise, whileRoger MooreandGeorge Lazenbyseemed to disappear from the industry entirely.Timothy Daltoncertainly did some interesting work after setting aside his role as 007, but he was no longer the “draw” that he was during his tenure as Bond.Pierce Brosnan’s hit-and-miss run of films afterDie Another Dayincluded a lot of generic action vehicles, many of which were released directly to VOD services.
It’s safe to say that Craig’s depiction of Bond is the most emotionally nuanced of the franchise. By showing the constraints of Bond’s profession, his tragic childhood, and his evolving relationship with women, Craig treated the role with an actor’s diligence, rather than just sliding into clichés of the series. In between these emotionally and physically demanding mega blockbusters, Craig was able to relax and have fun by taking on goofier character roles in films likeLogan LuckyandKnives Out. Surprisingly, these are the roles that are most predictive of where he could be headed next; audiences are just aswilling to embrace Craig as a bit of a weirdoas they were when he was the world’s most famous spy.
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Signs Of A Great Actor
Craig was always a bit of an odd choice for the role of Bond when he wasfirst cast inCasino Royale.Although he had some experience with blockbuster cinema after his role inLaura Croft: Tomb Raider, Craig’s earlier work cast him as complex, morally challenged characters. He got to be a slimy mobster inRoad to Perdition, a remorseless drug runner inLayer Cake, and a relentless anti-terrorist agent inMunich. Throughout his run as Bond, it was clear that Craig wasn’t going to be easily plucked from one franchise and put into another; he failed to stand out in the intended franchise startersThe Golden CompassandCowboys & Aliens, and even his nuanced work inThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoowas overshadowed by the Academy Award nominated work of his co-star,Rooney Mara.
However, Craig has shown an ability to poke fun at himself that many action stars do not; whether he’spopping up as a goofy stormtrooperinStar Wars: The Force Awakens, appearing in a comical short film for the2012 Summer Olympic Games, or doing late night routines asBond withStephen Colbert,Craig has always indicated that he doesn’t take anything he’s doing too seriously. Ironically, one of his most interesting roles at the time was his villainous turn as Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine inSteven Spielberg’s motion capture animated filmThe Adventures of TinTin; rather than bringing the gravitas of Bond, Craig was able to chew the scenery as a comically absurd villain.
Transition To Camp
Craig’s breakthrough comedy role came in 2017 withSteven Soderbergh’sLogan Lucky; in a film packed with goofy Southern accents, Craig’s performance as the ridiculous career criminal Joe Bang is easily the scene stealer. Since he wasn’t the star, Craig got to handle some of the wackier physical gags asChanning Tatum, Adam Driver,andRiley Keoughtook on the more emotional moments. Craig was generous with his co-stars, and had excellent chemistry with his on-screen brothers Sam (Brian Gleason) and Fish (Jack Quaid). While Joe is simply a fun side character that showed that Craig could do something different, it was his role inKnives Outthat proved it wasn’t just an anomaly.
Benoit Blanc is a sleuth for today’s audiences; he lacks the self-congratulatory ego ofKenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot orBenedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes, as he actually cares about the innocent people that are caught in the midst of these crimes. It’s Blanc’s sincerity that makes him so endearing, and it’s also why he feels so out of place in the world of high society. When looking at those that use their wealth and influence to hide their faults, the soft-hearted goofiness of Blanc’s strange explanations is a lot more charming.
Among the many strengths ofGlass Onionthat make it a superior film compared to its predecessor are the details we learn about what makes Blanc tick. He has a hard time adjusting to the time spent between cases, he’s embarrassed by his reputation as a great detective, and he’s genuinely furious that an absolute imbecile like Miles Bron (Edward Norton) is able to hold such a role of influence. Without sacrificing the quirks that make Blanc so entertaining, Craig showed that he was interested in giving fully realized depictions of odd characters. There’s also a self-referential quality to his work that should please some of his committed fans; the sight of Craig’s Bond emerging from the ocean inCasino Royalecompared to watching Blanc awkwardly swim in Bron’s pool couldn’t be any more different.
Considering thatGlass Onionbecame a sensation in both its limited theatrical release and debut on Netflix, it’s clear that audiences are invested in “weird Craig,” as he’s the only character carried over from the first film. WithKnives Out 3confirmed for a Netflix release and Craig’s decision to sign on toLuca Guadagnino’s next filmQueer,it’s clear that his experimentation hasn’t stopped. After playing the most famous hero in film history, why not become equally beloved as characters that couldn’t be any more different?
