Christoph Waltz: I didn't nail the role

http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/spectres-christoph-waltz-unsure-if-hell-return-to-bond-franchise-reflects-on-okay-blofeld/

Interesting. I have much respect for Waltz - he's a great performer - but I wouldn't call him the best Blofeld out there. He could have been, but the writing let him down. I think he did justice to what was given to him, but the "inspiration" that he was required to work with was the terrible writing of his character.

Such. A. Waste.

He was a terrific choice but, as you say, he was let down by a poor script.

Exactly. Waltz could have easily been the definitive Blofeld if they hadn't ran with such an underwhelming depiction of SPECTRE and Blofeld. I don't see why they couldn't have just given Waltz a Blofeld resembling the one in the books especially the one in YOLT who would be just ripe for someone like Waltz to play.

Strangways&Quarrel wrote:

Exactly. Waltz could have easily been the definitive Blofeld if they hadn't ran with such an underwhelming depiction of SPECTRE and Blofeld. I don't see why they couldn't have just given Waltz a Blofeld resembling the one in the books especially the one in YOLT who would be just ripe for someone like Waltz to play.

Would have easily been one of the best Bond villains. Such a quality, bizarre and dangerous villain played by one of the best actors in world? Yes please.

Added a poll to see who we think is the best Blofeld. Will need to have a think - I really do like the first 3.

I voted Telly. Sufficiently slimy, yet disarming.

And once more, I'd just like to say that the "Blofeld is Bond's step-brother" concoction is about the worst thing to ever happen within the series. CASINOROYALE in his wildest, moonshine-soaked dreams couldn't come up with something as laughably juvenile. It makes me think that I ought to rank SPECTRE lower than QOS. The latter was a terrible picture, but the former pulled down its dacks and took a steaming shit on the franchise and actually prompted existential questions about the whole James Bond 007 operation 24 films in.

CJB wrote:

I voted Telly. Sufficiently slimy, yet disarming.

And once more, I'd just like to say that the "Blofeld is Bond's step-brother" concoction is about the worst thing to ever happen within the series. CASINOROYALE in his wildest, moonshine-soaked dreams couldn't come up with something as laughably juvenile. It makes me think that I ought to rank SPECTRE lower than QOS. The latter was a terrible picture, but the former pulled down its dacks and took a steaming shit on the franchise and actually prompted existential questions about the whole James Bond 007 operation 24 films in.

Yeah, it's funny that after spending three films avoiding it they wound up wading into "Austin Powers" territory with such an unnecessary and lazy attempt to add some sort of personal angle which only succeeded to take a slight piddle on the overall arc they were going for. Hell, even in the third Austin Powers the big Dr. Evil twist had more meaning than the rubbish they tried with Blofeld.

Also voted for Telly. It was a close choice between Pohlmann/Dawson and Telly but Telly has the right look and vibe to play crime lords and megalomaniacs.

I went for Pleasance ... there's something marvellously sinister about him. Love the way he pronounces 'annihilated' in YOLT.

It's so hard to choose... I love the enigma that surrounds the first incarnation of the character and I love how slimy and still Pleasance is, not to mention the impact he makes during the reveal in YOLT.

But Savalas is much more active, seems a lot more rounded, and possesses a psychosis that is makes him seem all the move dangerous. I especially love when he places the tinsel over the Christmas tree as he downplays his threat.

I'll vote for Savalas, but only just. Only just, because he seems more involved in the story.

I voted for Pleasance, but that's because my first choice, Von Sydow, was not listed.

Having said that, Waltz's Blofeld is the worst of any that we have too chose from. He has an awful script to work from and what's worse, he and the film both commit the cardinal sin of not being entertaining. I'll explain.

Most people here that know me know that I, for a long time, ranked LTK as the worst Bond film for a long time (or at least tied with NSNA and TMWTGG). Bad acting...bad title song...bad plot.....But as bad as those films are in parts, they at least have compelling, interesting characters, some interesting action sequences, good use of locations, memorable dialogue. Not so with SPECTRE. It fails on every conceivable level; it does not engage the viewer. It is instantly forgettable. It feels like a film with no clear vision; a film that takes itself too seriously (and yet lacks the situational self-awareness to realize that the Bond-and-Blofeld-are-"brothers" story was a path that should never have been taken). SPECTRE is now *THE* worst Bond film I have ever seen.....by miles. Not even close.

I can remember one line from SPECTRE. I can remember about 30 or 40 from NSNA, the entire script for LTK, and most of TMWTGG.

SPECTRE is such a colossal failure that people legitimately deserve to lose jobs over it. The treatment of Bond and Blofeld as foster brothers was just inexcusable. One has to wonder if any script doctor was truly sent in to salvage the film, or if the studio just put that info out there to try and calm the fans.

SPECTRE is in my "basket of deplorables."

I voted Telly - OHMSS works on so many levels and becomes more than the sum of its parts - Savalas' Blofeld slots in perfectly conveying the ego and danger that makes the character so much more than just the head of SPECTRE.

I probably rate SPECTRE higher than most but I confess the usually lauded elements like the PTS and Waltz are not among its saving graces for me.

Had a look at MI6 Cummunity and found this gem from what appears to be a resident troll:

Quote :

Bond goes to a nightclub in Japan to take his mind off dead Madeleine.... but all he hears in the deep disco dance beat is Ernst Ernst ERNST.....

That is the best thing I've read all year.

lachesis wrote:

I probably rate SPECTRE higher than most but I confess the usually lauded elements like the PTS and Waltz are not among its saving graces for me.

Not a fan of the PTS? What are the saving graces of SP for you?

And I wouldn't say Waltz has been lauded... He does well enough with the part, but as we've all said and read, it's the writing that holds him back.

FieldsMan wrote:

That is the best thing I've read all year.

lachesis wrote:

I probably rate SPECTRE higher than most but I confess the usually lauded elements like the PTS and Waltz are not among its saving graces for me.

Not a fan of the PTS? What are the saving graces of SP for you?

And I wouldn't say Waltz has been lauded... He does well enough with the part, but as we've all said and read, it's the writing that holds him back.

I think SPECTRE has a better more palatable tone than we had with CR and QoS (less self obsessed or laboured), the locations are (sometimes) given some character and function beyond the superficial, I like that MI6 is shown to have more competent personnel than we often see (too often in CR and QoS the script belittles the other characters to attempt to make Bond look vaguely professional)...... SP falls short of SF in pretty much every regard but it is those aspects that separated SF from its immediate predecessors in terms of approach that are the ones that make me enjoy SPECTRE that bit more.

I do agree with those sentiments, but I have to say, the PTS is amongst my favourite sequences in Craig's era.

Before Spinctre, I thought Waltz was a major talent. Either I was wrong or something went badly awry with his performance. I wonder whether Waltz is talking about Mendez here? Odd situation when both the best and worst of the recent Bond films have been directed by him.

Waltz wrote:

I’ve worked with a director—I’m afraid you’ve seen the movie where I was baffled about the ignorance on every level. He’s a lovely guy, but he should do something else.

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/246227/christoph-waltz-good-mood-humorous-sparks-fly

Der Waltzenfuhrer's takedown of Mendes is subtle in its brilliant Krautishness.

Again, he could've made a great contemporary Blofeld but, alas, he was given a pile of horse-shit to feast on.

That's Mendes alright. 

Waltz is a major talent. Waltz' performance is fine in SP; it's the writing that didn't deliver. The writers wanted a charming, dangerous villain like Hans Landa, but the difference is that there was an evil context and subtext to each scene. SP is as shallow as CR06. They wanted discussions about meteorites and 'cuckoo!' to have the same impact as Waltz asking for a glass of milk, but it didn't, because SPECTRE's endgame was the least villainous plot of the series, and pales in comparison to the Nazi 'Jew Hunter' playing games with farmer hiding Jews beneath the floor. Ridding of that context in IB, Waltz asking for a glass of milk would not have the same power to it. So I maintain that Waltz' performance is fine - he does what the writing asks of him - but what his character wants isn't exactly wicked. Google and Facebook are doing it.

That the script is bad is incontestable. However, even if it had been better-written, the central idea of Spectre could not have worked.

Blofeld is a pantomime villain. He’s larger than life and needs a spectacular backdrop.

Nine Eyes, whilst contemporary and sinister, was not that. Datamining is the least visual activity, which is sort of a problem for the most visual medium.

I don't get it. Mendes has a background as a stage director.
Shouldn't working with actors be something he is good at?

After the SPECTRE conference which Bond infiltrates, Waltz's Blofeld just isn't sinister or intimidating. Not even when he's torturing 007, strangely.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Not even when he's torturing 007, strangely.

I was going to add this, but thought that perhaps the sheer stupidity of Bond and Blofeld's shared history distracts me from being affected by Waltz's performance.

His manner in the torture scene was much like a dentist. As said, he could've been the best but fell short.

Not to mention that the comic book scar he gets from the explosion is the goofiest thing in the series since that time Bond fucked a bird in zero gravity while the Queen, Pope etc. watched on.

Well, we never got an explanation for Pleasance's. Or where it had gone with Savalas.