Posts Tagged ‘James Bond’

Meridian Hall: SKYFALL in Concert with the Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra.

TO Live and Glatz Concerts are proud to present Skyfall in Concert, produced in association with EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) on November 25, 2023 at Meridian Hall in Toronto on November 25, 2023 at 7 pm. Daniel Craig returns as the legendary secret agent in the franchise’s most successful film to date. Now you will be able to experience composer Thomas Newman’s BAFTA-winning original score performed live by the TO Live Orchestra in sync to the picture!

Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall pits 007 against one of his most formidable foes…the ruthless cyberterrorist and former MI6 agent Silva (Javier Bardem). The action begins when a hard drive containing the identities of every undercover British agent is stolen. Bond’s mission to recover the stolen drive takes him from a thrilling chase across the rooftops of Istanbul to the violent underworld of Macau, and ultimately to the streets of London and the very heart of MI6 itself. As the stakes grow higher, his pursuit of the villainous Silva leads to an epic showdown at Skyfall Lodge, Bond’s remote family estate in the Scottish highlands.

Judi Dench returns once again as the steadfast M, and Skyfall introduces two familiar and beloved Bond characters: the ingenious quartermaster Q (Ben Whishaw), and the charming and resourceful Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris).

This event features the TO Live Orchestra conducted by Evan Mitchell.

Richard Crouse hosts a special preshow event before the screening!

Buy tickets HERE!

Meridian Hall: CASINO ROYALE in Concert with the Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra.

TO Live and Glatz Concerts proudly present Casino Royale in Concert, the first installment in the James Bond Concert Series, produced in association with EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) at Meridian Hall in Toronto on November 24 at 7 pm. Audiences will be able to experience Bond on the big screen accompanied by the power of a full symphony orchestra performing composer David Arnold’s thrilling musical score live and in sync to the picture!

With Casino Royale, EON Productions and MGM launched their wildly successful reboot of the Bond franchise, and at the time of its release in 2006, it became the highest grossing film in the series’ history.

It also marked Daniel Craig’s first appearance as the legendary MI6 operative, and he earned high marks with fans and critics alike.

Directed by Martin Campbell, Casino Royale brings us Bond at the start of his career, having just earned 00 status and his licence to kill, and pits him against the ruthless terrorist financier known as Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). From the jungles of Madagascar to the white sand beaches of the Bahamas, Bond’s pursuit of Le Chiffre leads to a showdown in a high-stakes poker game at the luxurious Casino Royale in Montenegro, and ultimately to a jaw-dropping finale on the Grand Canal in Venice.

Along the way, Bond meets the beautiful British Treasury agent Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), assigned to keep a watchful eye on 007 as he risks it all to bring down Le Chiffre. Giancarlo Giannini stars as René Mathis, Bond’s mysterious MI6 contact in Montenegro, and Judi Dench returns as M.

This event features the TO Live Orchestra conducted by Evan Mitchell.

Richard Crouse hosts a special preshow event before the screening!

Buy tickets HERE!

RICHARD’S WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FROM CP24! FRIDAY FEB 17, 2023.

I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres.  Today we talk about the MCU adventure “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” the hardboiled “Marlowe,” the “What’s-in-a-name” documentary “The Other Fellow” and the documentary “Cat Daddies.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

CKTB NIAGARA REGION: THE TIM DENIS SHOW WITH RICHARD CROUSE ON MOVIES!

I sit in with CKTB morning show host Tim Denis to have a look at the MCU adventure “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” the hardboiled “Marlowe,” the “What’s-in-a-name” documentary “The Other Fellow” and the documentary “Cat Daddies.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the MCU adventure “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” the hardboiled “Marlowe,” the “What’s-in-a-name” documentary “The Other Fellow” and the documentary “Cat Daddies.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

THE OTHER FELLOW: 4 STARS. “an intriguing and well packaged look at James Bonds.”

There’s an old proverb that reads, “Words have meaning, names have power.” “The Other Fellow,” a new documentary now paying in select theatres and on VOD, examines the power, along with the blessings, curses and the potentially life changing effects, of sharing a name with one of the most famous fictional characters of all time, super spy James Bond.

Like any good 007 film, “The Other Fellow” hops around the globe from Canada and the United States, to Guyana, Baghdad and Sweden, among other exotic locales, to tell its story. But unlike the proper Bond movies, this globe-trotting doc isn’t about high tech gadgets or supervillains. This is a study of identity, of the power of a name, thrust upon the film’s subjects at birth, to influence the path of the bearer’s life, particularly in our digital age.

From the amusing—several “Bonds” complain about hearing the same “shaken not stirred” jokes everyday of their lives—to the sinister—an African American Bond describes being jailed for 60 days for obstruction of justice for “playfully” saying his name to a police officer—director Matt Bauer examines the issue from several viewpoints.

The result is a funny, yet poignant film that entertains as it tackles big societal and personal issues. There’s a murder mystery, a story of abuse and a name change, all woven together to complete a portrait of how the aura of masculinity of the associated name comes loaded with challenges and unwanted attention.

Some have capitalized on the name. A New York theatre director reluctantly does a Bond style commercial for a casino, even though he has nothing in common with the character except the name. “He has a six-pack. I have a keg.”

Gunnar Schäfer, a Swedish man abandoned by his Nazi deserter father, filled the familial gap in his life with Bond, changing his name and adopting a 007 lifestyle and even opening a James Bond museum. In the embrace of the name, his story differs from the rest, but his obsession sheds light on the way a name can change the path of a life.

“The Other Fellow” isn’t a James Bond film, or a film about James Bond films. Instead, it is an intriguing and well packaged look at what it is like to be James Bond, or at least carry his name.

TORONTO STAR: THE FIVE BEST and most unusual GETAWAY CARS OF ALL TIME!

Richard looks at the five best and most unusual movie getaway cars of all time!

“A former homicide detective and a crime expert for Bell Media, Mark Mendelson said an ambulance, given its sirens and size, is a bad choice if you want to escape a foe or the police. His getaway car dos and don’ts are all about being inconspicuous.

“Common sedans are what works best. No SUVs. Smaller is better. In short, low key is the magic component. I’m thinking Honda, Subaru or Hyundai,” Mendelson said. “Pick a car that isn’t flashy. Boring is good. Don’t squeal on the way out. Nice and easy does it. You don’t want to attract attention.”

“Of course, directors like Bay want to attract audience attention with unusual getaway cars, like the ones listed below. Here are a few of the interesting cinematic choices that have appeared in past movies…” Read the whole thing HERE!

 

LAST CALL PODCAST EP. 1: Return me to Harry’s Bar, 5 Daunou.

On this episode of “Last Call with Richard Crouse” we visit Paris and James Bond’s favourite bar. The home of the Bloody Mary and “An American in Paris,” Harry’s New York Bar at 5, Rue Daunou, is one of the world’s most legendary cocktail bars. With the help of cocktail historians Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller of Mixellany, Richard traces the history of the bar where real life “International Bar Flies” like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Humphrey Bogart, Edward VIII and George Gershwin all bent elbows. Join us for a story of a disgraced sport superstar, cocktails, and a New Year’s Eve wild goose chase around Paris.

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

TORONTO STAR: Hollywood vehicular royalty: Cars made famous from movies

Richard writes about five cars made popular by the movies.

“Often the biggest star in a movie isn’t the one with their name in the title. Will Smith, Kate Winslet and Tom Cruise are big stars, but the cars they drive frequently get as much attention as they do. Many of the bestselling cars in history vaulted to iconic status after appearing as product placement on the big screen. It’s called “brand awareness,” and Mike Jackson, GM North America vice-president for marketing and advertising, said that the right car in the right movie “represents the perfect intersection of entertainment, marketing and design.” It can also lead to big sales, as these examples show…” Read the whole thing HERE!