THE OTHER FELLOW Review: Matthew Bauer’s Newest Doc Will Leave You Shaken AND Stirred
The Other Fellow arrives in U.S. theaters and on-Demand from Gravitas Ventures beginning February 17.
Enthusiastically pursuing this review was predicated on the very title as much as it was the fascinatingly engaging trailer.
For the uninitiated or perhaps those who are unfamiliar with the Bond of generations past, one of the most memorable moments in ‘HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE’ (1969) has Aussie 007 George Lazenby famously breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience. He does this with the very decidedly Australian vernacular, a boldness that is imbued with the cheeky larrikinism that does form part of the endearing Aussie DNA. Simultaneously, as Lazenby’s Bond utters this quip he immediately addresses an element of Bond lore than is often raised but never formally confirmed. That is to say, that James Bond and the associated 007 designation is neither exclusively owned by a singular person – but rather a signature that is adopted by different specialists working for MI5.
Initially, Director Matthew Bauer’s masterful documentary not only investigates the code name and the various men that have proudly held it, but also refers to the historical contexts and origins of Fleming’s famed creation. The narrative steps between dour and serious but also hilarious and entertaining, as typical talking heads provide distinct insights and whilst laced with some intellectualism it is easy to follow and highly enjoyable. Despite being a documentary and not a work of fiction, the presentation is slick, much like any Bond movie with clean editing and excellent pacing.
The moment of archival footage of creator Ian Fleming discussing how he procured the name ‘James Bond’ will leave viewers amused, confirming what many in Bond circles have known for the longest time. The basis of the name has literally nothing to do with espionage or intelligence agencies, that translating to something far less remarkable or exciting – unless of course you are passionate about ornithology aka exotic birds.
Yet Bauer does something truly remarkable and unexpected, thereby utilizing the name ‘James Bond’ as a point of discussion to offer a commentary on the supposed benefits and disadvantages of the name, as well as exploring the concepts of male identity within the constructs of real life and not a fictional universe. As the name is so synonymous with pop culture, Bauer uses this to actually interview various people around the world that carry this name; each of varying social standings and backgrounds yet holding the name of the most famous fictional super spy. Whilst the point may be labored to a fault, it does emphasize the unintended social oddity if one has the name but of course not the likeness. Consequently, the notions of hyper-masculinity that are associated with Fleming’s character may be challenged if recontextualized using this thematic element. Similarly, the antiquated features of misogyny prevalent in the bygone era illustrate a potent reminder that the cultural touchstone created by Fleming will also be open to as much interpretation as it will be revised for every subsequent generation.
The normal folk interviewed are bound by the same spy name, but most live ordinary lives that of course don’t share any resemblance to the glitz, glam, or even gritty lifestyle of the fictional assassin. As such, it is apparent that most of these people resent the association and through Bauer’s lens we view something akin to a cinematic exposure draft – gathering market feedback within a consultation phase, that presents the issues arising from one singular base component, the very name of James Bond. The clear distinctions between each interviewee are just as stark as the various actors that have played the famous super spy over the decades. Regardless, each of these real-life ‘Bonds’ is evidently burdened by the very name whether it be from the devout preacher, gay theatre owner, museum curator, or even a man accused of murder. Each of these individuals carries a famous name that is a social albatross around their necks, reminiscent of a part in ‘OFFICE SPACE’ (1999) referring to singer Michael Bolton. Whilst that was played for laughs, the stories presented in ‘THE OTHER FELLOW’ depict a range of consequences ranging from disbelief and mockery to the absolute peril of embracing this title.
It is perhaps somewhat ironic that these distinctions are almost life imitating art, given that each Bond actor played the 007 guises with their own idiosyncrasies whether it be the perpetually suave Sean Connery, the campy cheesy Roger Moore, or even the darker and more serious Timothy Dalton – seemingly emulated with decidedly greater viciousness in Daniel Craig. However, as each famed actor would temporarily assume the persona of a highly skilled intelligence agent, with a ‘license to kill’ the real Bonds encounter all manner of social issues that they cannot escape. Thus although there is some light-hearted and jocular fun to be derived from this phenomenon, Bauer illustrates how each is enveloped by a tragic darkness that has been unfairly thrust open them. It would seem, prima facie that although the name might have some rudimentary benefits (such as acquiring gratuities like movie tickets), the detriments far outweigh the former with even a threat to livelihood being a real possibility.
The additional strength of this documentary is how it subverts expectations, both for the viewer and within the narrative framework. The initial assumption of this critic was that Bauer would be elaborating more on Fleming’s ‘Bond Lore’ thus capitalizing on the aforementioned line uttered by Australia’s only 007. And yet instead of a fictional character study, Bauer has achieved an impactful social commentary on masculinity and social dichotomy presenting this with real poignancy. By extension, he has composed something more nuanced and thought-provoking, harnessing the work of fiction but making it relatable to reality.
THE OTHER FELLOW ultimately challenges the axiom from Hagakure: Secret Wisdom of the Samurai which asserts that ‘A man exists for a generation, but his name lasts to the end of time.’ Yet like many of the real-life Bonds interviewed, it’s the notion of transcending one’s name that bears the most weight and the most significance.
This was indeed a most intriguing documentary, and recommended viewing to commence 2023.
Vance Ang has primarily been professionally published in bodybuilding and fitness since 2005, having written extensively for hardcopy publications such as Australian IRONMAN and FLEX; but also for e-publications such as RAW Muscle and more recently the media platform, The Evolution of Bodybuilding. He is a Melbourne based policy and strategy consultant currently undertaking his post graduate study in Law. In addition to bodybuilding, conservative politics and Savate (French Kickboxing), he has long been a fan of movies and cinema of all genres – subsequently prompting an interest in modern story telling, that being script writing. He is in the process of writing his first horror novel ‘Providence’