Also outside of James Bond, Daniel Craig has played some terrific roles. The darkest one is on TV today. In the gripping thriller of a directing legend.
We have already published this article in a similar form for the TV broadcast on 20 May 2022.
The James Bond role often outshines other acting performances. After his exit from the 007 franchise, it is therefore all the more worthwhile to take a closer look at his other great performances. One of the best is on TV today with Dazzling by master director David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club).
A lot of human abysses lurk in the thriller highlight with Daniel Craig
This is a remake of the recently released film Blinded, itself an adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s book of the same name. This may seem suspicious to some. But the story has found its perfect director in Fincher, from whose thriller sensibilities the cast around Craig and Rooney Mara also benefits immensely.
Watch the trailer for Dazzling here:
He masterfully directs this disturbing story about a sinister family clan and a girl who disappeared four decades ago. Verblendung alternates between an Agatha Christie revelation thriller and the jet-black, almost traumatising pull of a thriller about human cruelty.
The cast plays perfectly into the hands of this cocktail of tension and atmosphere. Mara, who was quite rightly nominated for an Oscar for her performance, rages through the film with a unique blend of anger and fragility. Craig as investigative journalist Blomkvist is in a sense her canvas, her negative: withdrawn, controlled and unassuming, he gives her space to soar.
Possibly Craig has benefited from the self-assurance of his Bond role. But between Fincher’s gritty thriller and Netflix’s mega-project with a Guardians of the Galaxy muscle pack, one thought suggests itself: The actor is better off without Bond. The versatility proven with films like Dazzling finally has time to flourish.
When is Blindsight with James Bond star Daniel Craig on TV?
Disappearance will be on ZDF this Monday, 28 November 2022 at 10.15 pm. On 30 November 2022, the film will be repeated at 0.45 am. In addition to Mara and Craig, the cast includes veteran actors Stellan Skarsgård and Christopher Plummer.
