Bond's Allies


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Valentin Zukovsky
(Robbie Coltrane)

Experience
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Nuns On the Run,
Mona Lisa,
Absolute Beginners, Cracker (tv),
GoldenEye.

In one of the most inspired decisions ever to have been made by the casting dept and/or Michael and Barbara, Robbie Coltrane was called back to play Valentin Zukovsky for the second time. Originally seen in GoldenEye, Valentin was the head of the Russian Mafia in St. Petersburg who owned three defunct helicopters and resided in a shabby warehouse.  Although once Bond's enemy, the two now seem to have an alliance of sorts (motivated solely by Valentin's greed). In TWINE, Valentin appears to have moved up in the world, and now, instead of operating from a warehouse, he owns a Casino (in which most of his shady dealings take place) and a caviar plant. No doubt due to the success of the character in GoldenEye, the scriptwriters will have given him a more important part in this film, and hopefully we will see him become a new companion for Bond, or at least someone Bond can go to for help or information (usually by appealing to his wallet).
As Michael G. Wilson (producer) explains, he is not a particularly evil person, as many perceive him to be. He is merely greedy and will pounce upon any opportunity to increase his wealth and status.
I personally expect that Coltrane's performance will be the highlight of the film.
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Ever since news of Valentin's return, people have been asking "Will Minnie Driver return?" Minnie played Irena, Valentin's mistress and his Nightclub chanteuse, in GoldenEye. During the nightclub scene, Valentin confides in her: "The Free Market Economy- it'll be the end of me".
I think we can be pretty sure now that Minnie will not be coming back, which is a shame because she is rather appealing, in whichever role she plays!
Everyone loves Minnie Driver!
The Joe Don Baker character of Jack Wade is definitely not going to return in TWINE. This decision is understandable. Wade was fun in GoldenEye, but in TND, he became an irritating, loud-mouthed buffoon instead of the CIA agent he was meant to be. Felix Leiter, on the other hand, is alive and well, if only in the 007 books, not the films. There is a possibility of him appearing in the future.
It looks as if the compulsory "007 Ally" this time round will be Valentin Zukovsky. If rumours are to be believed, then Valentin will become Bond's ally and friend much like the charismatic Columbo (Topol) in For Your Eyes Only, and Kerim Bey in From Russia With Love.
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