Pierce Brosnan's Coldest Role | 'The Fourth Protocol' Review

[@CamPopplestone]

You know, seeing this, I actually think it's a good thing Brosnan didn't become Bond so early. He kinda looks too baby faced and young, and I think him aging a bit and gaining more experience was really good

[@DM-kv9kj]

Yeah and I'm really glad Dalton got his turn, even though it should have been 4 movies had it not been for all those years of MGM legal battles. Then again, if it had happened that way, Brosnan's first movie wouldn't have been Goldeneye, or at least not as we know it. And Goldeneye is my all time favourite, with that Dam jump, intro and SAS style covert sabotage mission in a cold war nerve gas facility are just peak Bond for me, as cool as it gets. I am even in a minority who think the score is mostly brilliant and very fitting and original. Also like how solid and genuinely tough Dench's M was in her first outing, the story has the perfect balance of hard edge and larger than life fun, and all the outdated traits of Bond are perfectly dealt with while still retaining the essence and escapist frivolity of the character/story.

[@SirHilaryManfat]

Along with Clint Eastwood's Firefox, I love this movie. Both poorly rated, but there's just something about 80's cold war movies that appeal to me.

[@kevint1719]

I love Firefox. There are so many great moments in it. I love Admiral Piett from Star Wars as the KGB bad guy. The look on his face when the stolen plane is taking off just as the Soviet Premier arrives!

[@PetersonZF]

You must think in Russian.

[@johnjames3286]

Oh god yeh, Firefox, great film

[@ganderman1]

The second time I saw The Living Daylights, it was on a double feature with The Fourth Protocol. Beforehand, I'd always thought Brosnan would've been too light in the ass to play Bond (mainly because Remington Steele was featherweight) and was relieved that the role went to Dalton. Afterward, I thought, "Damn, Pierce was a scary badass in that thing and probably could've played Bond, after all." I'm very glad he eventually got the role, especially after having gained a few years and a few pounds.

[@DafyddBrooks]

oh really??? wooow a double feature, thats an interesting trivia, cheers man oh but i reckon the living daylights would have done......marginally better at the boxoffice for an american audience knew who Brosnan was and fans across the world would have loved him so much as bond that they would have definitley have looked foward to the next movie no dought. no disrespect to Dalton ofcourse. i wish he did have his 3rd movie :)

[@spaceodds1985]

Wow double features were still commonplace in 1987?

[@spacemann1425]

The Living Daylights was made for Brosnan. Goldeneye fot Dalton. It's full circle. Not to mention both of them are among the best Bond movies of all.

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@spacemann1425 ah no thats wrong about Goldeneeye. the movie we ended up with wasnt the film that was being made while Dalton was onborad. there was no alec treveleyn and no EMP Sataliteits a common mistake thats made very often but i dont blame you for thinking that though :)

[@spacemann1425]

@@DafyddBrooks yea but initially when the planning and pre production and the writing started it was for Dalton. Midway through it they realized that Pierce is gonna be in it. Just like how it happened with The Living Daylights.

[@spaceodds1985]

I quite like The Fourth Protocol, yes it is somewhat of a rehash of Octopussy, but far more psychologically and character driven. Caine is good in his role, but Brosnan is stellar and honestly if he he brought some elements from his performance in this film to Bond, then he would have been a fantastic Bond IMO. The supporting actors from Ian Richardson to Anton Rodgers are fantastic. Director John Mackenzie (who directed Brosnan in his first film, The Long Good Friday, in a blink and you miss appearance) does a good enough 80s Cold War thriller. It is a shame that Brosnan will never bring this intensity to Bond, but I am glad that Dalton got the role and we got two great Bond films.

[@DafyddBrooks]

yeah i can agree on that :)

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Brosnan in recent years has said he wished he'd been able to play Bond in a darker, more serious film which is ironic given how his movies are often praised for the 'fun' factor. There were cold moments in his films [his killing of Dr Kaufman for example] which showed he could have done it and November man felt like his Bond in a more Bourne style serious film.

[@paulthomas3247]

Love the Long Good Friday. Just did a review on it yesterday. But yeah, Brosnan's two scenes are pretty brief - but he is really dark in them.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Definitely a better realized Octopussy.

[@paulthomas3247]

@@jamesatkinsonja Well yeah that and Electra King. Brosnan's Bond was really dark, but the movies were fluffy (except Goldeneye). If you want Bond to be a sociopath, Brosnan's your guy. Followed by Connery. If you want him to be a decent person who has to kill people for a living, you get Dalton and Craig.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

Given that it's one of Pierce Brosnan's most infamous roles, could a Mamma Mia review be possibly considered for the future?

[@zdunne]

One pre-Bond role for Brosnan that I’m curious to see this channel’s take on is the infamous Lawnmower Man aka the only film Stephen King sued to take his name off of.

[@spacemann1425]

Why's it infamous?

[@ThomasJeff1898]

@@spacemann1425 Mostly for his singing. I'm referring only to his performance in Mamma Mia. Sorry for not being specific.

[@zdunne]

@@spacemann1425 I was thinking of the lawsuit Stephen King filed against new line cinema due to the story not having very little relation to his short story of the same title.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

@@spacemann1425 Because he sung horribly in that film

[@johnwhitehead7693]

Thanks so much for this review. My memory of the "Fourth Protocol" is similar to your assessment: not great overall, but with some great moments. One of the most memorable scenes for the Brosnan character is during his introduction where he reads his instruction letter from the KGB and we get a great shot of him just contemplating the implications of what this mission requires. Then he very effectively goes into action to carry out the first part of it... And yes, the serpentine Ian Richardson was one of the most fun actors on the planet to watch play a villainous role.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Richardson rocked as Francis Urquhart in the original House of Cards.

[@markymark2819]

The late Anton Rogers (of UK tv's Fresh Fields and May to December fame) gives a stunning performance when he realises his actions have led to state secrets being given to Russia.

[@garybryant1501]

Peirce probably channeled his anger and frustration at losing the Bond role into his performance here and that adds a extra depth to s character that has to hide his true feelings and ironically fails at the climax supported by a fine cast including Michael Caine on fine form I recommend a series of tv movies made for ITV called Fredrick Forsyth Presents it's worth a watch

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Apparently this was filmed early in 1986 while 'Daylights' was filmed in September so losing the Bond role might have come after filming.

[@peterfranks6243]

It was a vehicle for Brosnan to prove that he could be more than the comic, lite Remington Steele character. The scene in which he kills his female fellow KGB agent is pitically nasty and ice cold. As a fellow Irish man who was gutted when he lost out on Bond, it's definitely one of my favourite Brosnan movie's

[@betamaxblocker]

I'm sure Pierce got some of the "psychotic, villainous" energy in this film from his movie debut as a ruthless (mostly silent) hitman in "The Long Good Friday." He is very good in that one despite having relatively little screentime. Nice to know that such a talented man can go from playing hitmen and cold-blooded killers to appearing in things like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Around the World in 80 Days," and voicing Thomas and his friends in "The Great Discovery." Great review as always!

[@yudhabagaskara98]

Please review another Brosnan flicks like: Live Wire (1992): Brosnan was assigned to investigate the series of multiple bombings I.T (2016, not to be confused with killer clown horror released in the following year): When Brosnan was bullied by a sociopathic hacker only because the hacker wasn't invited to the house meeting

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

I remember renting this from my local video store one weekend when I was in the eighth grade. Really enjoyed seeing Pierce Brosnan play against type as a cold-blooded killer. Also, I enjoyed seeing Michael Caine as well, since other than The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) I had not seen too many movies with him at the time. I do agree that the screenplay could have benefitted from trimming down the sub plots and the extra characters. Toward the middle of the movie, I was getting a bit fed up with these side tangents and was waiting for the story to get back the principal characters and what they were up to. Speaking of Pierce Brosnan movies, The Tailor Of Panama (2001) is worth a watch since it sees Pierce Brosnan play a villain again. Also, I really enjoyed seeing him in The Foreigner (2017) opposite Jackie Chan since he got to flex his acting muscles in his performance there as well.

[@sterix]

I first saw Brosnan in the 80s in a TV mini-series called Noble House. He played a pretty ruthless character there too (definitely worth watching if you can catch it - it still gets reruns). As for Caine, he was famous for saying - when asked if he'd seen Jaws: The Revenge (in which he starred) - he said something along the lines of "No, no I haven't. But I HAVE seen the mansion it payed for and it's very nice". He's one actor that doesn't take his acting that seriously.

[@generalilbis]

I think that it's less about him not taking his work seriously and more about looking at a role, deciding how he wants to tackle it and just gets on with doing the job he's being paid for. I certainly doubt he's a Method actor, so he's not going to obsess about people hating his work or the choices he's made re: performances because people didn't get what he was doing.

[@nrolofson]

Calvin, for a contrast, please review Fred Zinnemann’s film of Frederick Forsyth’s “The Day of the Jackal” adopted by screenwriter Kenneth Ross starring Edward Fox as The Jackal and Michael Lonsdale (six years before he would play Hugo Drax in “Moonraker”).

[@davidhealey3138]

Great film, very subtle performances. Nothing over the top or overstated. Very similar in style to The Andromeda Strain made around the same time if memory serves

[@bensneb360]

I know it’s later in his career, but I really think the November Man is a underrated spy film and performance from Brosnan, it’s a real stripper down and gritty film with Brosnan playing a more morally grey and hardened spy, I’d check it out if you haven’t seen it before

[@davidjames579]

It's directed by his old mate Roger Donaldson who he tried to get for TWINE. And Olga Kurylenko is in it. To quote Pierce "She started with Daniel Craig and she's gonna end up with Brosnan!"

[@menoflowicz]

When speaking about Pierce Brosnan playing an antagonist I recommend "The Foreigner " from 2017, very good movie btw.

[@chrishewson4283]

I read the book back in high school, and it was enjoyable, and exceptionally detailed as you can imagine from Frederick Forsyth! But not as overlong and dry as Le Carre, haha. From what I understand, the film is a little more sensational than the book, as you can imagine (and Kim Philby is somehow killed despite fine in real life), although still realistic compared to typical Bond shenanigans, haha.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

The bomb expert is a man in the book so they defo gender swapped it to get a sex scene in!

[@spacemann1425]

Le Carre is overlong and dry?

[@chrishewson4283]

@@spacemann1425 Well, from a layman's perspective I meant. 😅 Your average person might just wanna read a 180 page spy thriller, then they see a 650 page book that favours realism, bureaucracy, government, etc, and their head turns circles. xD

[@spacemann1425]

@@chrishewson4283 wait, I don't remember Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy being 650 pages is that true?

[@chrishewson4283]

@@spacemann1425 No, it's shorter. I'm thinking of Night Manager, and Constant Gardener.

[@captainz72100]

Great reviews....as always. I think the timing of this game es against the non casting in TLD due to conflicts with Remington Steele....

[@SuperGrumpyDaddy]

The novel is so much better. The initial discovery of the documents is totally different and so much more believable. And overall a damn fine read. Would also recommend (if you’ve not read them) Day of The Jackal, The Dogs of War and The ODESSA File, all have decent film versions but you can’t beat the books!

[@adamcollins915]

Caine said he thought the film was too 'talkie' with not enough action.

[@kasparolesen1515]

Death Train was pre Bond as well, but is very much in line with his protrayal of Bond. You should do a review of The Wild Geese at some point 😉

[@physmanir0]

Death train Wild geese Hot fuzz

[@lunat6952]

Death Train!

[@adamcollins915]

Pierce made a lot of turkeys & made for TV films between 86 - 95. This being one of them.

[@aaronleverton4221]

The Long Good Friday and Taffin.

[@adamcollins915]

'Shout at the Devil' has a number of Bond people - Moore, Peter Hunt, Maurice Binder Derek Meddings & John Glen. It was the most expensive film of 1976. Worth a review.

[@therusn8r10]

I literally watched this yesterday, and this came up on my feed. 😂 I loved the bit at the start with MC doing spy stuff…remembering to strip the insulation off the wire before applying the alligator clips.

[@sipope70]

There's always Brosnan's 1993 film Death Train to look at

[@robvegas9354]

Good thrilling cold war movie, Pierce is on fire in this. They used to put this on the TV a lot here in Australia when it was raining at the cricket and the game got called off back in the 80's

[@GhostRider-on6bz]

It's about time you reviewed "The Tailor of Panama". Pierce Brosnan as a rouge, disgraced MI6 agent. Can't think why it would be relevant. 😛

[@robgronotte1]

Pretty sure he has reviewed that one. Edit: can't find a review by Calvin. Might have been remembering his review of The Thomas Crown Affair.

[@the16thGemini]

We are thinking along the same lines. That was a great performance by Brosnan. A more abrasive character and less likeable character. More of that coldness he channels into Bond.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

It was a very bold choice for Brosnan to do that film during his stint as Bond given Le Carre is very 'anti-Bond' in his settings/writing, although that film is more remembered now for featuring a young Daniel Radcliffe. Sean Connery also did one with Russia House but that was long after he' finished being Bond.

[@DierkHaasis]

Watched *The Long Good Friday*, yet?

[@andrewchapman4267]

Haven't seen the film but enjoyed the book and love the fact large parts of it are set in my home town, not somewhere that gets a lot of cultural recognition! Apparently they filmed some of the action scenes there too which is pretty cool.

[@DabionFreedom]

Very interesting review, Calvin. of a early Pierce Bronan film, I have heard of. but never seen. I think I will check it out, I loved your reaction to the Michael Caine interview at the beginning. a early Pierce Bronan film, I definitely remember watching on channel four. in the early 1990's, was The Deceivers. one of his best in my opinion, along with his Bond films. :)

[@notropey]

You should look at The Long Good Friday for another good but minor early Brosnan performance.

[@matthewpage848]

I enjoyed this film; saw it in the theater in 1987. At the time, however, it kind of confirmed for me my feelings about his having been chosen as Bond prior to losing it to Dalton: He looked too young and pretty boyish at the time to be a convincing Bond for me, and needed another 8-10 years and a few more lines on his face for Bond. When GOLDENEYE came out, I felt that feeling was vindicated, as, with a little more seasoning, he looked terrific in that film. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, I’d love to see a review of THE MATADOR, where I feel Brosnan gives his best performance.

[@adamcollins915]

Love this film. Caine & Brosnan. Although they barely share a scene. Good supporting cast as well.

[@Goldeneye1997]

A highly underrated film. My favorite bits are when Michael Caine is telling Julian Glover off since he’s a crappy boss. Brozza was good in his role too. My only disappointment is there weren’t more scenes with Caine and Brozza together/a better one-on-one fight with Caine and Brozza

[@jaquesshugossen9398]

I agree with you, amongst many other wonderful moments, like saying that the guy whose safe was broken into: Wanted to start the new year, with a bang". I have many times seen this as a "followup" to the Harry Palmer series. Same wit and also at same time, having a very crappy boss as in the Palmer series. It is a very underrated film!

[@johnyogaatthemovies]

The Fourth Protocol is actually one of my favourite movies

[@2ndltalfredludlow]

I like Brosnan in the Fourth Protocol. He looks so intelligent, smart, strong and handsome. In Goldeneye he had that same charm too but the other 3 bondfilms he looked much older (especially the last 2 ones). Was it his haircut? Did he get more wrinkles in a few years time? Were it his cloths? The way they filmed him? I don't know but i really enjoyed him in this film. Wish they had cast him as Bond in 1985 or 1987. How would that bed scene with grace jones would be like or how would he look on a horse in Afghanistan? Who knows but i know he would have done a great job :)

[@BenCol]

5:38 Foreshadowing a possible ‘Bullseye!’ review on this channel? His co-star was Roger Moore after all…

[@calvindyson]

I'm DYING to get to that one someday!

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@calvindyson And John Cleese is in it too!

[@StuartIvie]

I saw this on VHS when it was a new release after its initial run. It was a solid cold war flick.

[@loftlegacy]

Very underrated film. When on TV they always used to edit out the tube train scene when Michael Caine owns a couple of thugs. Needs a Blu-ray release. Pierce Brosnan is excellent in it as is all of the cast, particularly Caine.

[@daemonartursson5952]

One of two thugs would later voice Daddy Pig in Pepper Pig 🐷🐷

[@thelifedyslexic]

Really enjoyed The Fourth Protocol Brosnan give a cool detacted performance is such a constrats to his later Bond work Would also recommend Death Train (1995) with Patrick Stewarton abd Christopher Lee, although that is more Brosnan Bond audition reel

[@benjaminkerle1487]

There is a movie called Taffin that came out the same year (1987) that stars Pierce Brosnan, definitely check it out

[@benjaminkerle1487]

sorry 1988

[@WhiteJarrah]

Watching Brosnan's scenes in this movie, you can see why he was the first choice to star in _The Living Daylights._ I can't help but get the feeling that had Brosnan actually got the part of Bond in 1987, _The Fourth Protocol_ would have starred Timothy Dalton as Petrofsky.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

They actually shot 'Fourth' in April to June 1986 before Daylights started in September 1986 so Brosnan was supposed to do both. I get the feeling Brosnan was cast to sell this film to an American audience [due to his TV work] given how it's otherwise a very British film.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Pierce was pretty cold when he told Trevelyan “For me” before Sean Bean got killed yet again by the Arecibo telescope (which has since become defunct itself.)

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Fredrick Forsyth has written many enjoyable thrillers. The one's not mentioned in the review I'd recommend are Dog's of War [a novel about a coup attempt so accurate it was used in the planning of an actual coup!], The negotiator [hostages], Icon [taking on a Putin style tyrant written in 1996...] and Avenger [bounty hunters] and his autobiography 'The Outsider' is a great read too. While he's a master at plot and research [given his background as a journalist] he's quite weak with dialogue, often being clunky and functional so they brought in a writer called Richard Burridge to pep it up [Caine wasn't a big fan of the script according to his first autobiography]

[@pinkstinger]

After watching all Brosnan 007 movies, I've been craving for something with him much more in the line of his Long Good Friday's role, so this might be just up my alley (and plus, Michael Caine), I might just check this out. Great vid, Calvin!

[@calreid3208]

Good solid adaptation of the Forsyth novel. Great Schifrin soundtrack. If you want Brosnan going even more brutal as a spy, try The November Man! Another solid adaptation of an American spy novel series!

[@jamiem8680]

“Go with the Pizza’s Nigel” !

[@ChargerMagnum440]

Ok Calvin, you absolutely MUST review Taffin. If only for the unintentional hilarity.

[@markholohan4446]

Calvin, have you seen The Matador from 2004 I believe? In my opinion its Brosnan's best performance.

[@rolfagten857]

Good spy thriller! More believable than a 007 Bond movie.

[@jaquesshugossen9398]

It is a very GOOD spy thriller, in midst of what was then, The Cold War with all strange things being possible. Soviet Union wanting Nato out from Europe etc, and the setups are well placed within the Era. Bosnan plays the character very well and even the behind the scenes, both in the UK, as well as in Kreml finding discrepancies and looking into it all gives a very good suspense story.

[@rolfagten857]

@@jaquesshugossen9398 Yes, indeed. With a great performance of Caine & Brosnan.

[@jaquesshugossen9398]

@@rolfagten857 Greatly. Brosnan doing a very serious form of "Bond" without humour or one-liners. Just a cold-hearted agent. It is a wonderfull Cat & Mouse film. Everything in the film makes sense. Even the "demotion" of Caine to Harbour and Ports to carry the plot.

[@theunknowntimelord8494]

I would like to see what you think of Death Train , murder 101 & live wire. So I would like to see these reviewed

[@martynmorris8160]

Excellent choices.

[@HamanKarn567]

I'll have to check this out. I love Frederick Forsyth. Dogs of War and Day of the Jackal are two great books as well as movies.

[@the16thGemini]

Indeed another great spy thriller writer. It's amazing the actors who zig zag from the adaptations of Forsyth, Len Deighton, John Le Carre, Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. Many from our Bond world.

[@colinrumford2265]

Have you seen the Long Good Friday?

[@kylekemppainen391]

Definitely should check Mamma Mia!

[@spencerkindra8822]

This movie looks decent, I'll have to check it out. I always love a good British Cold War spy movie. It's interesting, there's so many famous people in this movie yet I've never even heard of it. Is it one of those British movies that despite having a famous cast just never crossed the pond to become popular in America? Maybe the fact that it came out in 1987 and was overshadowed by The Living Daylights hurt its chances of becoming a hit in the US. I've never seen the movie but you should review "The Long Good Friday" which was also directed by John Mackenzie. It's a British gangster movie that came out in 1980 starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren along with Pierce Brosnan who has a bit role as an IRA hitman. It was Brosnan's first movie so it could be interesting to compare it to his performance in the Bond movies. Great video! EDIT: I've looked at the poster on Wikipedia again and now I realize that I've at the very least seen that poster and had to have at least read the title and first paragraph describing the basic plot.

[@theaaroncarruthers]

Would you please make a video on Pierce's film Taffin its a must see movie because it has connections with Indianna Jones & Father Ted.

[@residentsteve]

Only just become aware of this movie because of the KZbin channel lampoonery! they do some funny bond vids too. I think I really should watch this movie.

[@ANobodyatall]

And Alan North, aka Capt Ed Hocken from 'Police Squad', aka Police Lt Frank Moran from 'Highlander' is in it. Brilliant!

[@adamcollins915]

You should review 'Shout at the Devil'. Peter Hunt's follow up to Gold. Displays it's big budget. Moore equal billing with oscar winner Lee Marvin & he challenges him!

[@TammmyO]

I'd love to see James Bond Brosnan take on Fourth Protocol Brosnan

[@menkomonty]

I can't wait for the day Calvin talks about Taffin

[@groundzerorocks]

Great film that I discovered thanks to John Rain's excellent "Smershpod". hopefully get a nice HD blu ray in the future of this classic, to go along with "The Long Good Friday"

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I do wonder if Brosnan took the part [which-because this was shot between April and June 1986 was before Daylights started filming in September that year] as he was often type cast as light hearted leading man in Remington Steel and wanted to expand his range [and he did have cold moments in his Bond's like his killing of Dr Kaufman], similar to Henry Cavill in MI:Fallout.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

He was also very clever in being versatile in his Non-Bond films during his time in the role appearing in Comedy [Mars Atacks], Biopics [Grey Owl, Evelyn] and even a John Le Carre adaptation [The Tailor of Panama as a much more shady MI6 agent than Bond].

[@adamcollins915]

Pierce took the part as it was a chance to star in a big film with a big star.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@adamcollins915 Fair enough, that was a big motive for him but this is such a departure from his light role in Remington Steele I can't help feeling showing he had more range than he was often given credit for was a factor.

[@adamcollins915]

@@jamesatkinsonja That would be another reason. Pierce was so lightweight in RS he made Moore look like Craig.

[@kevint1719]

I did read the book. It's a decent read although I think like other books Forsyth has written it gets a little bogged down in the detail. The Odessa File is my favourite of his books and was made into a really good, underrated film with Jon Voight. If you like a young Pierce Brosnan playing a villain, you need to check out The Long Good Friday. It's a smaller part but pivotal.

[@chase138]

I went into this film with low expectations and really enjoyed it. I think it is underrated for sure and cool to see Pierce playing the opposite sign of the coin as previously stated!

[@rishiksen5378]

It's a decent film - the thing is that the actors have been in more memorable films/TV series doing the same sort of thing - Caine as Harry Palmer several times, Brosnan in the Long Good Friday (with less dialogue though!) Richardson in the original Tinker Tailor in '79. Alan Judge's casting as Govorshin was a real surprise and took me out of the movie - as I mainly knew him as Ed in Police Squad with Leslie Nielsen😂

[@davidbull7210]

Glad you've seen this now. It's one of my favourites. One or two very nasty scenes indeed. If you like this I'd also recommend Defence of the Realm with Gabriel Byrne and Greta Scacchi

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Just saw Brosnan in The Ghost Writer and he was pretty good. Wish he was in more decent films.

[@calvindyson]

I love that film! Hope to talk about it on the channel someday

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I honestly think that is his best role. I also love The Ghost Writer which is basically a remake of Chinatown.

[@claratrevlyn5304]

Pierce Brosnan plays an assassin in The Long Good Friday. I believe it was his first film. It's a British gangster movie starring Bob Hoskins in his signature role, along with Helen Mirren, Bryan Marshall, Derek Thompson and Darragh O'Malley [Patrick Harper in Sharpe]. It predates, and predicts, the development of London's docklands, showing the Canary Wharf area while it was still abandoned docks. The story is gripping and brilliantly told, with rising tension throughout until a sensational final scene. A classic that you really need to check out.

[@meme-afied7400]

Pierce is my favorite Bond and one of top favorite actors so I always love it when you make a video about him....that said, Pierce is a big old ham and I love it

[@markbunn4376]

The original novel & the previous Forsyth novel "The Devils Alternative" are the two novels which got me into reading spy/action novels back when i was around 14/15 in the late 80's. The novel is great, and the film does make some changes, as others below have pointed out. (The novel often appears in charity shops, and public libraries and is worth a read if you can pick it up). Brosnan is great, and he certainly gets more to do in the movie than the novel. What was terrifying about the original novel was that it seemed real, and I lived not that from Ipswich from where the novel was basically set. I think the end part with the SAS raid on the house is so well done, and is actually handled better than the novel version. As for another pre-Bond Brosnan movie, try the TV movie "Death Train" from 1993.

[@willman85]

I quite like the romantic-psychological-mystery Victim Of Love. It has only the scope of a made-for-TV movie but it's solid entertainment. Some may find its steamy scenes too cheesy for their tastes, but I think it adds to the atmosphere of the film.

[@davidjames579]

I was going to mention this one. I really enjoyed it. And Pierce is great as you don't know until the end whether his character is a really nice guy or cold hearted and deceitful.

[@kazuhirala]

I usually tell folks to watch Taffin for the best Bronhom action

[@richardharibo]

I love this film. A guilty pleasure. Great acting throughout.

[@jasonorriss]

I saw The Fourth Protocol for the first time on ITV in 1996, shortly after seeing Goldeneye on video. It certainly was strange seeing Brosnan playing a Russian villain after seeing him debut as Bond, though it was also compelling for that reason (and later learning that Brosnan had originally been cast as Bond and that this came out the same year as The Living Daylights makes it even more fascinating). There is a very nostalgic 80’s feel to the movie which I also enjoy. Maybe not a great film, but it’s one I have a soft spot for and it scratches a certain itch for me. Definitely a film I like to revisit from time to time.

[@drjwww]

I remember seeing this in a cinema when it came it. It was underwhelming, to say the least, and really wastes much of the cast, especially the wonderful Ned Beatty. But this was pretty typical both of 80s British thrillers (The Whistleblower, Defense of the Realm, The Holcroft Covenant, The Jigsaw Man).

[@dansilvester7790]

I'm here for the epic Rover SD1 handbrake turn.

[@MarcAquino1095]

Fun fact: the author of the book, Fredrick Forsyth, was once commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber to write a sequel novel to his adaptation of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ called ‘The Phantom of Manhattan’. It wasn’t good and it basically led to the creation of ALW’s infamous sequel musical to Phantom, ‘Love Never Dies’.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Yeah, I'd probably say that was Forsyth's weakest book [written when he was in temporary retirement from his regular thrillers]. It's not a great start when he pretty much spends his introduction saying he thinks the original Phantom novel is rubbish! They eventually had to get Ben Elton in to help make the musical after his work in We will rock you.

[@jcm5863]

I watched this movie somewhat recently and looked on your spy/bond related movie reviews playlist to see if you had reviewed it but when I didn't find it there I assumed you hadn't. I was very pleasantly surprised to find this review scrolling through your channel today looking for a different video! It's interesting you say the bits about the MI5 and KGB higher ups were less than necessary side plots since although I haven't read the book either I felt one of the central ideas of the film was how both Caine and Brosnan's characters get more or less screwed over by their superiors' machinations for personal success rather than the patriotic convictions both main characters seem to have, despite Soviet patriotism of course being villainous here. I agree it was cool to see Brosnan play a villain. I watched this because I'm such a fan of him and as usual I wasn't disappointed by his acting or his sexiness. Another pre Bond movie of his which delivers in both regards is The Lawnmower Man from 1992, where he plays a character who while not a villain is definitely morally grey. It's a sci fi movie and has a very 90s sci fi vibe, which was a plus for me. I watched the directors cut since people on imdb seemed to think that was the thing to do.

[@AncientRealms1999]

Love your reviews of these kinds of things! I was thinking that you could review the Man who would be King (1975) with Sean Connery & Michael Caine which is one of the most amazing films with those actors. Also Bullseye (1990) with Roger Moore & Michael Caine which is a funny comedy. Keep up the good work!

[@The.Smiggle]

I love this film! Thanks very much for doing a review. Will you ever get around to reviewing more Harry Palmer films?

[@ClydeRowing]

The book has a ton of stuff the film lacks. Lots of it isn't missed, but I'm not sure what they put in instead was better. Interestingly, more or less all the politics was stripped out.

[@VonWenk]

The scene that stuck for me was the execution of Kim Phibe at the very beginning. The name sounded vaguely familiar to me at the time, but I couldn't place it. I think the interoffice politics of British Intelligence help set up Ian Richardson's betrayal of Caine toward the end, as well as why Caine goes to Richardson rather than through channels. I thought Brosnan was good on the big screen at a time when I knew him mostly for Remington Steele.

[@DafyddBrooks]

I know in the 1980's it was a low point in Michael Caines career. But I think he did a few good films like 'dirty rotten scoundrels', V for victory and Revenge of the killer shark 4............ wait.what??!!!!! While Channel 4 i can kinda agree on the 'greatest british actors list' for number 1 being Anthoy Hopkins, but I'm shoked that Michael Caine only came in at 7 given his fantastic film career and his dedication to film acting. you should read his book ' Acting in Film: An Actor's Take on Movie Making' and him teaching in on youtube. his take on Ebenezer scroopge was unexpectley fantasic and he didnt need to put in that effort for the role for a childrens movie with muppets, but the guy wanted to treat it like he's working for the RSC and it shows. he's scary but sad...... especially the song ' when love is gone' (which is deleted on DVD) and he's damn upset he never took the chance of love and cries during the middle, the line " Leave me" broke my heart :( As for Brosnan in this role. Maaaaaaaan, I always knew he could pull off the witty and romantic lines in The Living Daylights, but it would have been fantatstic to see what he could of done based on this movie when Bond pops the Balloon, gets angry and how he intimidates Puskin for answers. He has very cold, fierce eyes!!!! Screw waiting till he was older for Bond, the man had everything planned to go back to England, put the kids in school and start a new life, only to be trashed for 22 more episodes of Remington Peel :( I like this movie but it doesnt give that sense of urgency or danger that the film needs in order to make me wanna watch it again. But fun none the less, although this was made when UK films werent all that exciting and fun to watch so this was kinda nice it was made. Thanks man :)

[@calvindyson]

Kind of hoping for an excuse to talk about Jaws: The Revenge on this channel someday ;)

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@calvindyson Do it man :)

[@Doctor180185]

Calvin, a Brosnan film that I find myself going back to, yet I think is underrated, is Live Wire. Have you checked that one out?

[@stevesmith3515]

This is a great film and it convinced me that Brozza could play Bond after Dalton.

[@andrewpragasam]

It's very on brand for Frederick Forsyth to open a movie with real life traitor Kim Philby getting shot in the head. Given how often Pierce Brosnan cites Robert De No to in Taxi Driver as a favourite acting performance I've had the impression he was always searching for his Travis Bickle role. He's played psychotic killers several times since leaving Bond.

[@greedycapitalist8590]

I read the original novel when it came out, and later I watched the film. I like both versions, and I definitely recommend you read the novel sometime. Although the basic plot is unchanged, the book give you more detail about how MI5 and the KGB operate, what Harold Philby's involvement with the plot is, and exactly what the Reds have in mind for Britain after the bomb goes off. I'd say the book's more procedural than the film, but of course that's only to be expected with them being different mediums. As I said, they're both good.

[@steb4205]

Have you seen The Long Good Friday? Early, minor, none speaking role for Pierce but my does he come across as deadly and threatening. 'Arrys been carved up!

[@fatsnbul]

This is one of my favorite spy films of all time. Bought an all-region player just so I could watch it anytime.

[@Dead_Hitori]

is that the windows xp screensaver in the background

[@MrPlannery]

This is a kind of film that used to appear late at night on the BBC when they had nothing else to show. Which is how I first saw it and it certainly felt more "real" than a james bond film, which was more about spectacular set pieces, stunts, gadgets and girls. Even as a teenager I enjoyed it, in a quiet, unassuming way. Maybe you should review Pierce Brosnan's role in superb The Long Good Friday?

[@tllaw]

Being a kid when I saw this I knew nothing about Brosnan, or that he was in the running for Bond. I immediately went around telling everyone I'd found the perfect person to play Bond. Years later when he was announced as Bond I went around telling everyone I'd predicted it years earlier, and of course no one believed me.

[@splintergectornathan9045]

1:24 well.....you said it almost normally, i don't blame you, its all written on English so it lost some sound letters, and for some reason in his second name there is Petro F sky, even though they should be Petro V sky (Petrovsky), i don't know if it even was done for more right sounding (Im Russian user if somebody didn't get it, and also, Calvin, great video as always, subscribed at your channel a long time ago and pushed Like button here)

[@harrysemps]

Unrelated note but would you ever consider reviewing mission impossible fallout?

[@JackLeDoux_]

Mrs Doubtfire review coming soon?

[@spectreelectronics1280]

Great review, but what about Taffin?

[@rodneyclarke6477]

He did a movie called Taffin in 1988 .He's a debt collector/martial artist who helps some townsfolk to fight off greedy land developers. A very popular theme in a few movies from the 80's. A guilty pleasure to say the least.

[@generalilbis]

Pretty sure Calvin has reviewed Taffin....and mocked certain moments of Brosnan getting hammy in it.

[@CaminoAir]

Didn't John McTiernan direct Brosnan in 'Nomads'? Never seen it, but if anyone has......what was it like?

[@jamesatkinsonja]

He did direct it in his debut film [before Predator] and also wrote it [his only writing credit] though i've not seen it.

[@KravKernow]

Another excellent video. You make some very salient points. Subjectively though, I have a different view on the pace and tone of the film. I like it as a more stale beer and cigarettes narrative rather than Champagne and dinner jackets. The back corridor political elements remind me of the excellent Sandbaggers. The tradecraft accuracy provides for some very tense moments. But I like that it's effectively 'good old fashioned coppering' rather than flashy gadgets and action scenes that win the day. You get the impression these are real professionals doing their 9 to 5 jobs. It's not a spy thriller for them; it's just work. One of my favourite lines in cinema is just the casual way the scientist describes the object Caine's character discovers. "It's a trigger for a bomb. An atomic bomb." But now do ''Who Dares Wins'! It sort of has a Bond connection if you go down the 'who might have been cast?' route.

[@kelvinriviero9630]

Do a review of Brosnan's "The Deceivers" (1988). It's a dark film in which he plays an 1800's British Officer stationed in colonial India as a regional governor, he finds himself having to investigate the same murderous cult featured in "Temple of Doom". Dark and psychological thriller.

[@lordofthereels6790]

Have you seen After The Sunset? It's a pretty damn fun Pierce Broanan, Salma Hayek, Don Chedelle and Woody Hareleon blockbuster about a thief in retirement drawn into one last job. If you can get past Brett Ratner directing it it's a pretty damn fun flick.

[@davidjames579]

This actually is a film Pierce put together. It started as a sequel to his hit, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Pierce requested Salma Hayek as he wanted her as Jinx in Die Another Day, and Brett Ratner to direct that film.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

​@@davidjames579 A story that emerged after Sean Connery's death was from the script writers of a proposed post 'League of Extraordinary gentleman' film where Connery was going to get a massive payday to be directed by Brett Ratner. The writers said they loved working with Connery but Connery couldn't stand Ratner. When Ratner wasn't at a script meeting but Connery saw him in the crowd at the French Open Tennis on TV, he told the writers he couldn't take anymore, passed up the payday and quit on the spot! I think Hayek was a better casting choice for Pierce than Monica Bellucci was [given she wasn't a big name in 97 and MGM clearly wanted a North American for the part] and I think she probably would have done a good job though Jinx's was always hampered by the script whoever was going to play her.

[@davidjames579]

@@jamesatkinsonja That's interesting. Was that LOEG 2? I'm guessing Ratner was at The French Open as he was dating Serena Williams. I think Monica Bellucci would have been a great Bond Girl in the 90's. She was in Bram Stoker's Dracula.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@davidjames579 It was a project called 'Josiah's Canon' where Connery was going to play a Holocaust survivor robbing a bank with Nazi Gold. That will be why he was there [he was in the Female Players box] but he hadn't told anyone where he was going leading Connery to remark ''I agreed to be in a movie directed by a fraud'. I think League 2 was still just about on the agender then but that incident seems to have been what finally persuaded Connery to retire and both projects collapsed without him. Given Ratner's reputation has always been pretty negative, I wasn't that surprised by the story. I know they wanted Monica Bellucci for League [probably inspired by her Dracula role] by which time the Matrix and Tears of the Sun made here a bigger name. I think MGM were pushing for American leading ladies in Bond in the Brosnan era to appeal to that market [allegedly they wanted Sharon Stone for Elecktra-which would have made the twist super obvious!] so Paris was always going to be American and Bellucci had no chance but these things happen [and I think Teri Hatcher did okay with what she was given]. They clearly wanted a 'name' for the extended Spectre cameo role as allegedly Penelope Cruz was also considered if Bellucci said no.

[@yorrickwi]

he was THE antagonist in mrs Doubtfire!