Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Worst and Perhaps Dumbest Career Move

After much thought and debate, I have decided that the actor who made most ridiculous and dumbest career move in my lifetime was.....Timothy Dalton.

After the successful License to Kill movie in 1989, Dalton walked away from the franchise telling producers and the press that he was afraid of getting typecast. Typecast as what? One of the most recognizable and lucrative names in movie history? Typecast as James Bond? Yeah, being portrayed as a suave, handsome action star is a real career killer. And what cinematic masterpiece did the empty-headed Dalton choose as a vehicle for his new and versatile career?

Beautician and the Beast with Fran Drescher. You just can't make this stuff up. Hmmm, make a third movie in the most sequeled franchise ever, or make a cheezy comedy with the screechy and perpetually annoying Fran Drescher. Tough call.

And who, exactly, has had their careers derailed by playing JAmes Bond for too long? Sean Connery? Nope. Roger Moore? Nope. You could make the case that Moore was never really seen again, but in fairness he was pretty old when he left the franchise and had a decent career before it. He was of an age where new films were going to be hard to come by anyway. How about Pierce Brosnan? Well, he made 3 films while he was James Bond and IMDB lists him as having 5 in various stages of production.

So Mr. Dalton gave up his Bond career in favor of....pretty much nothing. The man had charisma and undeniable presence, he could have been something, but no. Of course his achilees heel with Bond fans of the time was his sort of over-dramatic approach to the character. The usual dry wit that made Bond what he was for many fans was sorely lacking while Dalton portrayed him. Bond becamse something a little darker as in the new Batman mold. I found it refreshing and am in the minority when I say I liked Dalton as Bond. He certainly could have continued on in other roles.

Hats off Mr. Dalton, for winning the first annual MovieMojo "I killed my career" award.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dalton sucked. He was the worst Bond ever. I don't know why they would even want him back. Thank God Brosnan took over for him. Brosnan was clearly the second best Bond ever. Sean Connery, of course, was the best Bond.

But Dalton? Honestly, who liked Dalton?

sanpiper said...

Dalton wasn't all bad. I think "The living daylights" was one of the best bond films ever. Great action!!!