Sean Connery's 10 Greatest Movie Performances
3. James Bond - Goldfinger
Not only was Connery the most iconic Bond, he was also perhaps the most consistent. While Roger Moore glides through his films expending little energy and Pierce Brosnan clearly loses the will to live during his run, Connery never lost momentum and always delivered. Picking his finest performance as the super spy is difficult.
It’s hard to look past Goldfinger, though, as the high point of his 007 tenure. While the first two Bonds are relatively straight laced and serious, Goldfinger is where the series switches to the high concept craziness that would come to define it, and Connery’s performance eases us into the new direction.
He is of course ultra smooth and unflappable, but he sells the peril well, and treats the story with respect. As an audience, we know that he’s going to get out of every scrape unharmed, but Connery never presents Bond as invincible or superhuman.
Goldfinger gives Bond some of his most memorable moments, not least the close shave with the eponymous villain’s laser cutter. This combined with Connery’s suave but human performance made the character an icon.