Last night Sarah showed me the recent Johnny Walker Blue Label commercial 'The Gentleman's Wager' which I found quite fun, smart and very stylish. Thinking I was quite 'up on things', I showed it to a young, hip female colleague at work who watched it quietly and then dismissively said that Tom Hiddleston's 'Villain' ad for Jaguar was much better. At first I was a bit gutted, but then I recalled that this particular staff-member believes Mr. Hiddleston is hands down 'The Perfect Man' striding upon this green earth and so I surmised that he could be selling radium-infused baby seal eyes, gift-packaged in hollowed-out elephant tusks and she'd still be enraptured with whatever he had to say.
Nevertheless, I went home and watched the Jaguar commercial to see for myself.
Well, it's very good. It has great presence, it's sleek in a bond-like way and is unashamedly cheeky. I freely admit that Tom adds a lot of sex appeal to the ad (and that F-Type Coupe sounds bloody amazing), nonetheless I think it lacks the subtlety, depth and elegant restraint that Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini bring with their performances in the Johnny Walker commercial. [Spoiler] If you watch 'the Gentleman's Wager' again you'll see from the start that these two men have probably been trading this boat back and forth for years. There is a charming playfulness between the two that is very fun to watch.
Tom Hiddleston's 'The Art of Villainy'
Law & Gianni's 'The Gentleman's Wager'
Sorry JF, I really think Hiddleston gets pwned in this matchup. But, hey, that's just my opinion. What do you folks think? Give a click for your favourite on the panel to the right.
I'm going to have a nice, neat glass of whisky on Sunday while I wait for the final votes...
Addendum: The final vote tally was: 14 votes for Law & Giannini's 'The Gentleman's Wager' whereas 7 votes were cast for Hiddleston's 'The Art of Villainy'. I think the dancing girls buffered the votes a bit (and why not), but there you have it.
Addendum: The final vote tally was: 14 votes for Law & Giannini's 'The Gentleman's Wager' whereas 7 votes were cast for Hiddleston's 'The Art of Villainy'. I think the dancing girls buffered the votes a bit (and why not), but there you have it.
Thanks for posting these- a most enjoyable way to accompany breakfast...
ReplyDeleteNom, nom, nom... You're welcome!
DeleteI found it a perfectly acceptable way to wait for the electrician to arrive.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the playful 'gentleman's wager'.
With you being a man of rare taste and fine sensibilities I am not surprised by your choice. Clink, clink m'dear... :)
DeleteI'm in the "Gentleman's Wager" camp as well, although I wouldn't buy the product being advertised.
ReplyDeletePoint taken Tamsin. I'm not too interested in the product but more on how well they 'sell' their respective characters and themes.
DeleteIt's got to be the "Gentleman's Wager". Tom just wasn't villainous enough for me and there weren't enough sexy dancers in his ad either!
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree. Tom's still a bit to young and pretty to be an arch villain. Give him a couple years, an addiction or two and he should be in a good spot for serious villainy. This being said, I quite liked the Mark Strong version of the Jaguar ad. Now, that man makes a very 'nice' villain...
DeleteNot even close - Gentlemen's Wager 'cause it's got a sail boat and an extremely nice one at that Who in their right mind can take a Jag F-Type over a handcrafted wooden Schooner?
ReplyDeletechin-chin!
Haha! Coming from a man with anchorage on the Chesapeake I'm somehow not surprised of your choice, Miles. ;) It would be nice to play a variation of that scene on your barge one day! We must make plans...
DeleteI like both but c'mon, the whisky ad is better by far.
ReplyDeleteI would tend to agree with you Paul. Thanks for dropping by with your opinion!
DeleteWell I shall buck the trend. Being English I have got to play the Villain.
ReplyDeleteGood man! I do like a contrarian (and movie villains in general). ;)
DeleteJohnny Walkers hands down
ReplyDeleteNoted PK!
DeleteWhisky beats cars every time.
ReplyDelete...and don't drink and drive kids! :)
DeleteGentlemen's wager is much more clever, whereas the Jaguar ad is vulgarian. However, it's a pity that they're on that lovely boat and all they can find to drink is a blend.
ReplyDeleteBeing the Idle Rich I would assume they were slumming...
DeleteI have to go down the Villainy way on this one. Lovely ladies were close to pushing the vote in favor of Mr. Law and blended whiskey, but you just can't beat Jags spiced up with some villainy.
ReplyDeleteCompletely understandable Samuli. A vote well cast.
DeleteWhile it is true Brits do indeed make great villains and the Jag is a beautiful car it has to be the Johnny Walker for originality and style.... oh and the girls of course.:-)
ReplyDeleteChristopher
I know, when you really think about it poor Tom has a hard row to hoe here - quite unfair really. Jude has some very lovely ladies backing him up during his dance number. That asian dancer on the left is a real corker...
DeleteI agree, the Johnny Walker add is better (although they should have chosen a proper single malt and not a blend!). The Jaguar is a great car, but I like the version of the commercial that features Ben Kinsley.
ReplyDeleteits a close one... but i just love listening to a good engine! The Jag for me.. but perhaps a good old malt might have won...
ReplyDeleteCurt, perhaps you're not surprised that the Jaguar won this one for me hands down. I have a way to go before cultivating an accent like Tom Hiddlestone's!
ReplyDelete