DocumentaryComedy

Becoming Bond

- The name’s Lazenby, George Lazenby

The stranger-than-fiction true story of George Lazenby, a poor Australian car mechanic who, through an unbelievable set of circumstances, landed the role of James Bond despite having never acted a day in his life.

Release Date : 2017-03-11

Language :EnglishFrenchGerman

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Delirio Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : George Lazenby

Gender : Male

Character Name : George

Original Name : Josh Lawson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Belinda

Original Name : Kassandra Clementi

Gender : Female

Character Name : Maggie

Original Name : Jane Seymour

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harry

Original Name : Jeff Garlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Johnny Carson

Original Name : Dana Carvey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peter Hunt

Original Name : Adamo Palladino

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peregrine Carruthers

Original Name : Jake Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dyson

Original Name : Jonathan Slavin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ken

Original Name : Landon Ashworth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gundel

Original Name : Sofia Mattsson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charles Jenkins

Original Name : Beeny Royston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teenage George

Original Name : Matthew Josten

Gender : Male

Character Name : June Green

Original Name : Teressa Liane

Gender : Female

Character Name : Belinda's Father

Original Name : John A. McKenna

Gender : Male

Character Name : Belinda's Mother

Original Name : Roslyn Gentle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Belinda's Ex-Boyfriend

Original Name : Nicholas Popov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young George

Original Name : Jason Maybaum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chook Warner

Original Name : Nathan Lovejoy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Man Not Buying

Original Name : Brendan Parry Kaufmann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Customer Buying Car

Original Name : Ben Bowen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Johnny Horton

Original Name : Monty Franklin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard Bloque

Original Name : Mercer Boffey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Australian Friend

Original Name : Ben Seton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amelia

Original Name : Karina Deyko

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Receptionist

Original Name : Julianna Guill

Gender : Female

Character Name : Vocal Coach

Original Name : Karen Teliha

Gender : Female

Reviews

sykobanana

@sykobanana

2021-06-23

How does a non-actor become the lead in the highest grossing movie of the year and then not continue to act afterwards? Do we have a new genre of film – the Docody (can I call a documentary-comedy that, because it sounded better than commedary)? Is all of this just stranger than fiction? All of these could be used to describe this film, but there is so much more to George Lazenby's life story... especially the way he tells it... So, what is it then? Firstly, Becoming Bond is not the Thin Blue Line, Grizzly Man, Bowling for Columbine, Citizenfour or any of the Oscar winning documentaries that you've seen. In Becoming Bond, Lazenby talks about his life, at times brutal honesty and poignancy. Distilled from about forty hours of interviews, it could be surmised as boy meets girl, boy becomes man, man becomes Bond – but that sells it short. George has lived an interesting life and describes it in equally engaging ways. What this means for the narrative is that sometimes the truth is not always bland... so much so that 40 minutes in: Director: How much of this story that you’ve told me is true? George: Which one? Director: The whole story... George: Hey, how can I remember it if it wasn’t true? Becoming Bond is made similarly to Touching the Void with actors dramatising parts of the story. But where that doco was drama, this is more comedic and fittingly, the acting here is playful – reminiscent of the TV series and archetypes of that era (think Batman or the Brady Bunch). Technically, the film is solid, the directing and editing are sound and the score hints at Bond themes whilst staying individual (much like George's Bond). Josh Lawson has obvious fun (he picks up George's swagger and little mannerisms well) and little cameos also pepper the film (Jane Seymour, Dana Carvey). One criticism that can be raised is that the secondary characters are very one dimensional, but I feel this is in line with the narrative of the film – it's George's take on his own life. Becoming Bond is one of the most enjoyable documentaries I've seen. It's not a perfect film; Shakespearianly dramatic; nor is it covering a life changing topic. But what makes this movie special is that its just how I'd picture it if I happened to have the good fortune to ask George the same questions over a beer or six. And thats a credit to both the filmmakers and Lazenby.