Daniel Craig: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to welcome iconic English actor Daniel Craig in person for a retrospective featuring seven of his most renowned performances, including the premiere of his newest role as an American expat named William Lee, who wanders Mexico City in Luca Guadagnino’s QUEER, adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel, and a career conversation preceding the screening of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Just as he has for decades, Craig’s charismatic performance on screen breathes a new life into the character first etched on paper by one of the vital authors of the postmodern period.

The legendary actor’s name will undoubtedly remain forever synonymous with that of James Bond, his most prolific role where he has consistently perfected the delicate balance between rugged machismo and an English gentleman’s class. The franchise kicked off in 2006 with his debut performance as the sophisticated hero, in the franchise’s masterpiece, CASINO ROYALE. Although Craig may be best known for his personification of Bond, his career and screen presence across decades transcends any single role. With a uniquely wide-spanning collection of performances, from indie treasures like LOVE IS THE DEVIL, ENDURING LOVE, and THE MOTHER, or cult favorites like LAYER CAKE and ROAD TO PERDITION, Craig’s effortless versatility and commitment to his roles are evident in each frame he appears in, leading to universal admiration among the wide variety of audiences who continue to enjoy his craft with each new film.

Over the course of his career, Craig has also enjoyed many collaborations with some of the great auteurs of his generation, including Steven Spielberg, Roger Michell, John Maybury, Steven Soderbergh, Luca Guadagnino, Sam Mendes, and in perhaps one of his most pristine performances, with David Fincher, as Mikael Blomkvist in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Furthermore, in the last 5 years, Craig has committed to a new collaboration with filmmaker Rian Johnson, playing the role of Detective Benoit Blanc in the hit murder-mystery franchise, which began with KNIVES OUT, allowing a brand-new generation of moviegoers to witness his incomparable charisma on screen.