Is toughness cowardly? Daniel Craig has attracted praise for playing an emotional, desperate character. Some think that true strength comes in openly embracing your weakness.
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Bond actor vulnerable in new gay film
Is toughness cowardly? Daniel Craig has attracted praise for playing an emotional, desperate character. Some think that true strength comes in openly embracing your weakness.
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PreviousNext
Daniel Craig is back on the silver screen. But not this time as James Bond, the most famous tough guy in cinema history.
Queer, his new film, is very different. Craig stars as William Lee, an American man idling his days in 1950s Mexico City.
Lee is a desperate man addicted to drink and drugs. Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes calls him "tender" and "embarrassing". Craig's Bond, on the other hand, was a brutal trained killer who rarely showed emotions.
In real life, James Bond would probably not be very interesting to talk to. He hides his feelings and emotions behind a stony expression.
More vulnerable characters like Lee might be more absorbing. They might also have a greater strength than those who put on a tough front.
Perhaps those who act tough are really cowards, putting on a mask that stops them from forming real, honest relationships.
Perhaps it is possible to be both tough and brave.
Is toughness cowardly?
Yes! Tough guys bury their feelings, but true bravery comes in being open and honest.
No! Not everyone who adopts a tough pose is truly a coward, and toughness can help us navigate challenging situations.
Bond actor vulnerable in new gay film
Against type: Craig’s performance in "Queer" which, according to The Guardian is "touching, unguarded and funny", has earned him a Golden Globe nomination and made him one of the favourites for a best actor nomination at next year’s Oscars.