MOVIE NEWS – Pierce Brosnan, best known for his portrayal of James Bond in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and other films, has a career spanning decades, genres, and various productions. He’s appeared in numerous classics, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Mamma Mia!, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Mars Attacks!
Now, Brosnan takes on a unique role in The Last Rifleman, a film based on the true story of Bernard Jordan, a WWII veteran who escaped from a senior living home to honor the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Beneath the surface, the story delves into the inner struggles of a man whom Brosnan describes as “wrenched and thrown into gunfire and death.”
Artie Crawford, the character loosely based on Jordan, sees Brosnan aging up about 20 years (he’s 71, while Crawford is in his 90s). Brosnan masterfully portrays this older man haunted by his past, the loss of his wife, and the passage of time, delivering a standout performance among his many notable roles. We inquired about what inspired this portrayal, his choice of the film, and the direction of his career; Brosnan offered insightful reflections on the industry:
The Last Rifleman marks a departure for Brosnan, portraying a character much older than himself. We were curious about what attracted him to this challenge and character. He mentioned that the story “had a deep poignance for me” and reflected on “the pain of war, the loss of youth, and the nightmares that you live with from the damage of war.” He added, “It was a love story about a man who’s trying to find some meaning to his life as his years are ticking fast by, and he’s grieving a wife that he’s had by his side.” What resources did Brosnan utilize to embody this character?
“I lent heavily on a documentary called We Fought On D-Day, and your readers can find [it]. I just watched the documentary over and over again… transfixed by the deep emotion, the conflict, the pain, and the suffering that each of these men had in the documentary. Every man in the documentary was Artie for me.”
