Becoming Bond

2017

1h 32m

Documentary

List

78%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Josh Greenbaum examines the life and career of George Lazenby, the actor who played James Bond for the first and last time in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

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Critics Consensus

Becoming Bond is an uproarious recreation of George Lazenby's colorful stint as Britain's greatest spy, evidencing that the gregarious Australian may be a greater raconteur than he was a 00.

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outsider N

Remarkably and unexpectedly good. Jaw-dropping stories, well told. Relentlessly entertaining. A pleasant surprise and highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really enjoyed this. It may not be totally factual, it shouldn't be categorized as a documentary, but it is very entertaining. George's narration is dynamic and Josh Lawson is hilarious reenacting George's exploits. Its very well conceived and executed. George is a natural raconteur. His life has been extraordinary, so he is a worthy subject for a film. His walking away from the James Bond franchise alone is nearly inconceivable. The fact that doctors said he wouldn't live past 12 must have given him a very different attitude in his whole perspective and understanding of life. He knew it was far more valuable and important to live life on his terms since he was a child, that rules were made to be broken and go for what he wanted because another chance might not come along. It's a light, funny and perfectly Aussie film that makes me want to buy a ticket to Australia so I can meet some of these crazy characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

k g

Super interesting. worth checking out if your a big fan of Bond.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Taking over the James Bond role after Sean Connery's departure, George Lazenby recounts the highs and lows of stardom in this often hilarious retrospective documentary from his time growing up in Australia, to being a model in England, to briefly becoming the world's most famous secret agent, and to controversially turning down a seven-film contract.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It'ss not just about Bond and the James Bond world, there is a lot of that of course, but there's a love story that's played out, I think there's a lot of regret in George's life. Not just with relation to being James Bond, I think in a sliding doors life, he would have continued his love interest instead of falling to the trappings of fame. And I wonder that's probably a theme that could resonate in all of us. Maybe there is the one that got away. There is the one that you would treat better, if you had another go around. This film explores that. The love interest is actually the beating heart of this film set on a backdrop of Bond.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

david f

This is the story of George Lazenby, the man who played the role of James Bond in only one film before he embraced a more hippieish lifestyle and turned down the Bond producers who wanted him to make more films. It's largely an interview of him supplemented by a lot of acted out recreations and some period footage and man has he got an amazing story to tell. It's rags-to-riches-to-rags with some amazing anecdotes. He went from a dropout to a mechanic to a prodigy of a car salesman. Then modeled before getting the Bond part with no acting experience. I only wish that the film had kept going and told the rest of his life after Bond in as much detail as the runup to his appearance in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. I'm sure he's got more stories to tell.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Josh Greenbaum

Director

George Lazenby

Self

Josh Lawson

George Lazenby

Dana Carvey

Johnny Carson

Jane Seymour

Maggie

Kassandra Clementi

Belinda

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

Sufficiently winning.

Jun 2, 2017

Full Review

Chris Klimek

NPR

Very funny.

Jun 2, 2017

Full Review

Steve Greene

indieWire

"Becoming Bond" is a delightful dip into someone's own version of their past. It might be light on tuxedo talk, but the biggest takeaway is how much more there is learn.

Rated: B+

May 28, 2017

Full Review

Dan Scully

Cinema76

Like any life well-lived there are plenty of detours into humor, drama, success and regret, and hearing it all from a wizened man with an admirable outlook is exactly the type of feel-good material which makes for a fun flick.

Mar 26, 2020

Full Review

Marisa Carpico

The Pop Break

George Lazenby is an interesting guy, but as a complete picture of his life, this movie is woefully inadequate.

Rated: 5/10

Dec 25, 2018

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Telling his tale direct-to-camera and in his own words, Lazenby makes for a hilarious and charismatic guide to an incredible story.

Jul 18, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Josh Greenbaum examines the life and career of George Lazenby, the actor who played James Bond for the first and last time in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

Director: Josh Greenbaum
Producer: David de Rothschild
Screenwriter: Josh Greenbaum
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 20, 2017
Runtime: 1h 32m

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