Daniel Craig [Paperback]

Daniel O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

When Daniel Craig was formally announced as the new James Bond, debuting in Casino Royale, not all fans were delighted. But Craig proved them wrong, winning universal acclaim for his riskier, grittier Bond—inexperienced, insecure and troubled by killing. Beginning with his early career, Daniel O'Brien traces the provocative choices Craig has made along the path to becoming one of the world's most famous film icons. When a BBC television performance brought film offers, Craig opted to co-star in Love is the Devil, as artist Francis Bacon’s violent, self-destructive lover. The much-derided Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film raised his US profile, but Craig passed on the sequel. His subsequent Hollywood career did not follow the expected route. O'Brien shows how Craig shunned lead roles to establish himself as a forceful character actor. In Road to Perdition, Craig played a cold blooded child killer. Back in the UK, he co-starred in The Mother, having an affair with a woman twice his age. His Hollywood choices remained dark and edgy: feminist hate figure Ted Hughes in Sylvia and a troubled Mossad agent in Munich. Intriguingly, Craig avoids the show business circuit: "I don’t believe in self-promotion, really I can’t be arsed."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daniel O'Brien is a film critic and journalist, and has written several acclaimed biographies, including Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman. He is also a regular contributor to Film Review Annual.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn; 1St Edition edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905287445
• ISBN-13: 978-1905287444
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,189,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Actors Life On The Surface, June 6, 2008

By 

Michael C. Smith "[e-mail]" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Daniel Craig (Paperback)

"Daniel Crag Ultimate Professional" by Daniel O'Brian is a dry and very spare telling of the life so far of the fine British actor Daniel Craig. If you are looking for an in-depth study of the man you will not find it here. What you will find is the bare bones of his life strung together between synopsis of his films, TV and stage work.

This is not to say that it is a disappointing read but rather a good place to begin. I came to the book interested in learning more about this fine actor who shot to international prominence with "Casino Royale". With this book I now have the cliff notes of his life. To be fair to Daniel O'Brian, Mr. Craig seems to be a very private, serious, and down to earth person who is living a very un-movie star lifestyle, so what we have here is not a sensational life played out before the cameras as you might find in a biography of a star such as Frank Sinatra or Elizabeth Taylor but the work-a-day life of an actor on the rise.

The book is full of wonderful photographs in both black and white and color and there is a complete listing of his filmography at the end. Overall the book was light and informative on the surface. Perhaps what is missing are more in-depth interviews with colleagues in the film world who can shed more light on the personality and workings of this fascinating artist.

Mr. Craig is in the middle of his career so we are likely to see in the future more interesting turns along the way both professionally and personally but we will have to wait for time to pass before we get the definitive biography on his life and work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daniel Craig Biography, April 16, 2009

By 

J. P. Benda "james bond lover" (Woodbury Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Daniel Craig (Paperback)

Daniel Craig is surprised people are writing biographies about him and wonders where they get their information. From the research I have done this book seems factualy true and does not read like the tabloids. His movies are discussed one by one and in a flattering light and that consumes most of the book. His private life and personal information is scarce since he won't talk about it. I enjoyed this book very much.