Bond 24 Finds Cinematographer

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/her-cinematographer-hoyte-van-hoytema-to-fill-roger-deakins-shoes-on-sam-mendes-bond-24

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BAFTA-nominated cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema has been turning heads ever since his stunning work in the stylish Swedish horror film "Let the Right One In" crossed the Atlantic six years ago. And lately, he's just getting all the good gigs, having stepped in for Spike Jonze regular Lance Acord on last year's "Her" and for Christopher Nolan's right hand man Wally Pfister on the upcoming "Interstellar." Well, you can add another big pair of shoes for the talented director of photography to fill. With Roger Deakins exiting the James Bond franchise after 2012's "Skyfall," we can confirm that director Sam Mendes has tapped van Hoytema to shoot the still untitled 24th installment of the series.

Deakins won the ASC prize for "Skyfall" two years ago, but as is often the story, he watched someone else take the Oscar (in this case, Claudio Miranda for "Life of Pi," which is equally exceptional work for completely different reasons). I actually just watched the film again recently and the photography in that thing just sings. It was a true showcase for what's possible with digital and belongs on any list of Deakins' best output. Which brings me to this…

I can't confirm it but I've heard that the Bond series will also be going back to film with this installment. Van Hoytema obviously shot "Interstellar" on film, given that Nolan remains one of the most outspoken worshippers of celluloid there is, as well as "Tinker Tailor." "Her," however, was filmed digitally via the Arri Alexa. All of that just goes to show that he knows how to give you an arresting image whatever the medium, so if the new Bond indeed goes back to analog, so be it. I'm sure it will be beautiful.

When I casually dropped that Deakins wouldn't be returning for another 007 stint back in February, I didn't expect it to be the Tweet heard 'round the world, but it was picked up all over the place. People were bummed, probably because the work done on that film was so extraordinary and added such an edge of panache to a brand that really needed it (as odd as that is to say about Bond). But they can relax because this is probably the best possible fit there is.

And Mendes sure knows how to pick 'em, eh? Outside of a brief stint with Ellen Kuras on 2009's "Away We Go," the director has only collaborated with the late, great Conrad L. Hall (Oscar winner for "American Beauty" and "Road to Perdition") and Deakins thus far in his feature career. Van Hoytema is easily one of the most exciting DPs in the game today, so bravo. He remains without an Oscar nod but BAFTA and ASC gave him some "Tinker Tailor" love. And he'll likely crack that nut finally with "Interstellar" anyway.

We've been admirers around here from day one, though. You might recall van Hoytema landed at the top of our annual "top 10 shots of the year" list for a jaw-dropping image from "Right One" in 2008. He's shown up twice more besides (in 2011 for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and again in 2013 for "Her"). If I had to wager a guess I'd say that later this year he has a great shot (no pun intended) at becoming only the second DP to land images from four different projects on the list.

The only other person to do that? Roger Deakins.

"Bond 24," if you will, is currently being scouted overseas. Production is expected to start in December.


Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/her-cinematographer-hoyte-van-hoytema-to-fill-roger-deakins-shoes-on-sam-mendes-bond-24#ChfVbSyjaFijlGyT.99

Really impressed by his work in HER… Can't really remember TTSS in detail, but I don't remember being blown away by it. Still waiting for Seamus McGarvey do a Bond flick, which I'm sure we'll get when/if Joe Wright directs a Bond movie. Along with a Dario Marianelli score! :)

This is excellent news. Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Cunt both had very evocative looks.

The 007 films have been ugly since the 1970s, with the notable exception of Skyfall. Good to see someone attempting to put the style back into Bond.

Excellent choice. Loved his work on TINKER TAILOR.

I'm glad they didn't fall back on someone like Phil Meheux.

I would have been happy with Phil Meheux. His work on GE is better than CR I find, but both a major step up from the 80s flicks.

DAD, CR, QOS all suffered from what went on in the digital intermediate. Overgrading.

And SF´s cinematography suffered from overcooking, but who am I, worshipping the 80s Bond cinematography...

Roger Deakins was let down by the catering department?

They have a daredevil rep' at best.

I saw INTERSTELLAR last night, and van Hoytema's influence is quite evident; it's really quite distinct from the Nolan-Pfister collaborations to the point where I forgot I was watching a Christopher Nolan film at times. It's much more downplayed than the likes of INCEPTION and the Dark Knight trilogy.

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Van Hoytema is now fully in London preparing for the 24th James Bond adventure.

"For now, I'm busy with the new James Bond film. I have almost daily discussions. Hopefully we start filming this year. But I can't say anything about it. "

Van Hoytema did not accept the job necessarily because it's James Bond. "No, I always look first to the director. I did that with Interstellar too. In this case, it is Sam Mendes, who I admire a lot and with whom I really wanted to work. The fact that I'm now part of the James Bond franchise is a lovely thing. If you have to work on a film franchise, then why not James Bond"

http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1023/Film/article/detail/3781973/2014/11/04/Nederlandse-cameraman-wel-hot-in-Hollywood.dhtml

Sounds like he has his head screwed on, and is enthusiastic. :)

Interesting that he feels he can't say if he starts filming this year… I thought it was common knowledge it was Dec 6.