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  1. 'Quantum of Solace' Cast And Crew Video Interviews

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-27

    Just days before the theatre debut, catch up with the key cast and crew members of Quantum of Solace in a series of newly released video interviews.

    The following actors and crew members from the 22nd James Bond film briefly discuss their involvement as well as working alongside others:

    • Marc Forster – Director
    • Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson – Producers
    • Mathieu Amalric – “Dominic Greene”
    • Gemma Arterton – “Agent Fields”
    • Anatole Taubman – “Elvis”
    • Dame Judi Dench – “M”
    • Giancarlo Giannini – “Rene Mathis”
    • Jeffrey Wright – “Felix Leiter”
    • Jesper Christensen – “Mr. White”

    Marc Forster – Director

    On Locations…

    ‘There were a couple of locations I felt that were very, very one-of-a-kind. You know, there was the observatory in Chile, which I thought was a very unique location. The architecture and look of it set in the desert I really loved. I also loved that idea of having Bond in the desert because it would sort of isolate him from everything and you would feel like he is by himself, set in the desert. I think it would reflect Bond’s state of mind.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    On Daniel Craig…

    ‘Initially when I first met him, we just spoke generally about Bond and got to know eachother and I just got this feeling that the two of us could work together really well and once I agreed to do the film and we sat down and started working on the script I proved to be right because he was so smart and so intelligent and we both saw eye-to-eye. We both had similar sensitivities towards the character and what the character should do and how he should act and react towards things. It was a very positive working relationship.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson – Producers

    On James Bond…

    ‘You know, in Casino Royale, he sort of started off as this military machine who was kind of hellbent on destruction. And of course, he met Vesper who stopped him in his tracks and he opened up emotionally to her and fell in love and was actually considering giving it all up to try and have a normal life. And with her death and her betrayal he decides at the end of that movie, when he says “the bitch is dead”, he just totally shuts down emotionally. This movie is about the conflict he has. The personal conflict within him versus the challenge to go out and find out who was behind it. And I think the emotional journey he’s on, by the end you really feel that he’s regained his humanity.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    On Daniel Craig…

    ‘Ian Fleming wrote a very complex character in James Bond. So much so that the character’s been able to morph through the various actors who have played him and through various generations. In the books, he internalizes his feelings a lot and that is something that I think Daniel is able to portray, how Bond is feeling and thinking, without really saying very much.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    On Mathieu Amalric…

    ‘He was the first person we met and we said “OK. That’s done. Got him.” And usually that’s one of the big problems, to get the right villain. And we hadn’t had anyone particular in mind. We didn’t have a specific view in mind. He just walked in and he mesmerized us. He’s just mesmerizing. In person and on the screen. He’s just extraordinary. One of the most extraordinary actors you could ever work with.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Mathieu Amalric – “Dominic Greene”

    ‘The bad and the good are inside James Bond because from Casino Royale, to be 007 it’s because you killed two persons. Is he an assassin or is he a secret agent? You feel that inside of Daniel Craig. He plays that. A sort of intimate struggle.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    Gemma Arterton – “Agent Fields”

    On Her Role…

    ‘I play Agent Fields and she works for the consulate. She’s sent to just to send Bond on his way back home, but she ends up getting charmed by him and she sort of gets caught up in Bond’s business without really knowing what’s going on… and ends up in a sticky situation.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    On Daniel Craig…

    ‘I was sort of nervous at first because I thought I’m a bit younger than Daniel and I think I’m one of the youngest Bond girls ever. And that’s quite intimidating. But when you’re actually there doing it, it’s quite fine and he’s a really nice down-to-earth guy.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Anatole Taubman – “Elvis”

    ‘Elvis is a weird character. He is just really something else. He loves his clothes, but he’s always a bit off with his taste, never really on. It’s never like “Wow! He looks really dashing!”, it’s more like “Wow! Um… OK…” So he’s always a bit off and worried about his look and very vain and in love with himself and overdramatic and thinks he’s all that, but he’s not all that. So yeah, Elvis is a very colourfu tapestry and it makes Mathieu (Amalric), who is my king in the film, Dominic Greene, it makes him shine more. And he can be proficient and subtle and precise.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Dame Judi Dench – “M”

    On The ‘M’/007 Relationship…

    ‘He’s kind of a loose canon in her eyes and has to prove really that he is somebody that she can trust. And that he trusts her.

    Watch online at YouTube.

    On Daniel Craig…

    ‘We knew eachother and you know, when you know an actor, it makes it that much easier. You understand how they work and they understand you can kind of shortcut things. He’s hugely good fun and unbelievably concentrated. It’s a great mixture.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Giancarlo Giannini – “Rene Mathis”

    ‘My character is the same as he was in Casino Royale. Mathis was ambiguous in that movie. It was difficult to understand if he was a good guy or a bad guy. The audience, even Bond, didn’t really know. But I think that a true spy is always more intriguing if he remains ambigous.’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Jeffrey Wright – “Felix Leiter”

    ‘There’s a parallel between Felix and Bond in that they both share a common sense of right and wrong. Not necessarily based on an institutional idea, but based on their own morality and so in that way there’s a bonding between them. Felix acts out of that sensibility as opposed to the company line. I suppose that works to the advantage of everyone at the end of the day or maybe that’s giving too much away…’

    Watch online at YouTube.


    Jesper Christensen – “Mr. White”

    ‘This is sort of the second instalment of what happened in Casino Royale. That film ends by Bond shooting me in the knee and he has learned his lesson that you don’t kill people before you ask the questions. And this films starts five minutes after.’

    Watch online at YouTube.

    Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.