So that marks the end for the great Sean Connery, one of the last great Hollywood actors. It’s all over the InterWeb from a story in the Scottish newspaper Scotland on Sunday where he announces that he’s had enough of “idiots” in Hollywood.
“I’m fed up with the idiots, the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and those who green light them. I don’t say they’re all idiots – I’m just saying there’s a lot of them.”
Is pretty much what he said, which I’m sure we can all whole heartedly agree with. There are a lot of idiots out there, you just have to look at the remake or videogame fodder at the moment. So much out there is being ripped from other stories and thrown together without a thought other than “projected audience”. Where have all the good movies gone…and where are all the great actors going?
Still, he’s not going to close the door, good man.
“It would almost need a Mafia-like offer I couldn’t refuse to do another movie.”
This guy is a legend, and putting aside my personal, political thoughts on him, I think he’s had a superb career and is one of those actors who just steps on a screen and demands your attention from the second you see him. A true great, the best Bond, and perhaps our last chance to see him will be as Indy’s Dad.
What are your favourite, and worst, moments of his career? Indy senior? Irish Police? Naked futuristic gunfighter? Bond? Scottish madman? Protective Soldier father? Spanish swordfighter? Nasa scientist? King? Train Robber?
Raise lights. Roll credits. Thanks for the many great movies and moments Sir Connery.
Well all I can say is, I want someone to offer him a “Mafia-like offer”!
I think he still has two or three great movies left, or well I hope he will – he could have just been p*ssed off when this came out…
hmmm Food for thought…
I still admire him from having the nerve to go straight from James Bond 007 to Zed the Exterminator, in Zardoz. That told me: “here is an actor with no fear.” I would also say Zardoz is a genuine high point, because it’s so different and memorable. And it’s about stuff, there is meat on it.
Name Of The Rose was great.
From Russia With Love is also great, I would say an even higher point than The Untouchables. James Bond’s fight with Red Grant on the train is one of the greatest movie fights ever: it’s no frills and pure brutal desperation. And it’s filmed well – you can see what’s happening.
The Man Who Would Be King, with Michael Caine – I think that was the very best of a truly great career. You had the actors, the story, the comedy, the drama, the exotic stuff. It’s a feast.
Worst? Highlander II: The Quickening. A dishonourable mention to the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
The Untouchables, for me, was his greatest film. Ok, as with most of his movies the accent was a little dubious but the role in that particular film was so strong and was just what was needed alongside Costner and De Niro.
I loved him in The Untouchables. But every role for him after that seemed weaker and weaker in comparison. Apparently he just didn’t know how to pick the best roles for himself.
He was hit and miss with me. But I always thought he was one of the sexest men on earth. Him and Paul Newmen are such sexy older men. Not to many sexy older men out there.
Donna A.
Has he been talking to Liam Neeson and Anthony Hopkins? I’m sure he’s retiring… He’ll make twice as many movies now as before.
I know i havent read the whole interview, but reading this i see a possiblility, and a strong one, that he’s just done with HOLLYWOOD… he could go clean house as an independant film actor. He would be able to pick his roles… of course, how would he make those big paychecks? who knows. I just wish i could erase the crapfest that some know as “entrapment” from my mind.
i’m in a warm place. i’m remembering indy sr.
Heh, well said sunnydunny. Spanish living and Japanese whisky, a great Scot.
“This guy is a legend, and putting aside my personal, political thoughts on him, I think he’s had a superb career”
Spot on. Oh, and the politics, spot on. This Spaniard will be missed off the screens.
Vonhonold I hardly think we’re unfairly negative. We’re writing about the news stories coming out of Hollywood, we are not deliberately ignoring the good stories, you only have to look through the archives to see, or the reviews.
We’re also doing lot’s on independant film makers, and it was a surprise to see the lacklustre reaction to a recent post on the small movie Painkiller. Their website tracked who referred them, and they only recorded two click throughs from our site, and I know one of them was from me when I wrote the story.
So I’d hold you to task on the issue that we are overly negative. We’re not specifically highlighting the remakes, and bad adaptations. We’re perfectly balanced with what the movie industry really is, and we’d be more than happy to write more positive stories, we just need the material…and the readers!
As for Sean on Matrix and LOTR, I never knew how concrete these were, but Adam hits it straight there. Who was to know what these movies were going to turn out to be? After LXG I would be perhaps somewhat unsure of picking such roles. Who would have thought that LOTR could have been pulled off by the director of an indie horror flick that was a grossout (literally) or that Keanu Reeves was going to be headlining a movie of such impact (just the one of course!).
There’s a huge list to his career by the way, you should check it out. More than just two turned down roles and LXG (which I quite liked!).
He had a good run, and has made a whole lot of fans to boot. A great man and a great actor, you gotta love him. It seems he just gave Hollywood a slap and the face, maybe they will wise up and not act like such “idiots”.
He said he turned them down because he didnt understand them, he also said he didnt understand LXG but took it because he missed out on two great films. Perhapes he sould have asked his grand kids to read the scrips.
Sad to hear for sure. He’ll always be the best Bond, hands down. His roles in Highlander, Red October, The Rock, and Indy Jones were some of my recent favorites. Hell, I even thought he was great in Gentlemen. As far as Matrix and LOTR, those were kind of surprises for everyone. I don’t know when he was offered a role in the Matrix series but the first one came out of nowhere. And LOTR was a huge gamble starting out because Jackson was still unproven at the time. Sure, with hindsight, turning down a role in either of those franchises seems stupid but who knew beforehand that they would be so successful?
Sean is a legend.
To be honest though I often see your negative outlook and attitude over ride what really is. There are many good actors right now and though I think the movie folks are corrupt there are many good movies being developed. The independant film makers are cropping up everywhere. I think your blog is great though often… its full of negative perspectives rather than balanced with what really is. Its tough not to be that way… admist the movie industry… but I would like to see you try a bit harder… the whinnig gets a bit much sometimes.
Hold on! I am not knocking Connery’s career, but don’t lump his problems with Hollywood all because of idiots. He turned down roles in The Matrix and LOTR, but accepted the one in LXG, who is the idiot now? I am sure half his problem is he can’t get a good role, be it his fault or somebody else’s, probably both. Of course, most of Hollywood is..well, idiots.
Surely you mean Egyptian swordfighter, he also happened to be chief metallurgist to King Charles V of Spain.
Sad news. Great actor. Quite a legacy he leaves, it’ll be hard to beat.