“American
Beauty” director Sam Mendes has just done the impossible; he made a better
James Bond movie than “Casino Royale.” That one set the bar for Bond movies so
high that it shouldn’t have been a surprise “Quantum of Solace” didn’t fare as
well, but “Skyfall” gets my vote for being one of the very best in the long
running series. It continues with giving us a darker and more edgy 007 as
portrayed by the terrific Daniel Craig, and it also brings back some of the
things fans felt were missing from the last two films like the gadgets, the
gags and (of all people) Q.
“Skyfall”
starts off with a bang as we catch up with Bond in Turkey where he is on the
trail of a man who has stolen a hard drive containing the identities of
undercover agents. While trying to retrieve the drive, Bond is accidentally
shot by fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris) and presumed dead. But this being the
beginning of the movie, we know that isn’t the case as we soon see him in
retirement getting drunk off his ass and deeply resentful of the situation M
(Judi Dench) has put him in. But when MI6 is suddenly destroyed, Bond forces
himself to come back to active duty, and
he soon discovers that his and M’s nemesis has a very personal connection to
them both.
The movie
does take its time to get going which is the only real beef I had with
“Skyfall,” but in retrospect it was worth it. Craig’s Bond has never been a
superhuman hero but a vulnerable agent with weaknesses he can’t fully hide. As
we watch him retrain, Craig shows us that his Bond is deeply troubled and
almost bent on self-destruction. It’s his duty to the country of England which
manages to keep him relatively sane. This is Craig’s third outing as 007, and I
still think he’s the best thing to happen to this series in a long time.
But this
time Craig has a little more fun playing Bond as he gets to crack a joke or
two. At the same time, he thankfully never lets 007 descend into camp or turn
him into a standup comedian with a gun. For the most part his take on the role
has been deadly serious, so seeing him loosen up (if only a little) here has
its advantages. I don’t think it’s too much to say that Craig should get an
Oscar nomination for his work here.
When it
comes to my favorite James Bond movies, they are usually the ones where things
get very personal for 007 and those around him. When that happens, they become
more emotionally involving and exciting for me to watch as there is more at
stake than just defeating the bad guy or gal. That is especially the case with
“Skyfall” as it delves into the past of its main characters in a way I don’t
think any Bond movie has done before. The script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
and John Logan (“Hugo,” “Coriolanus” and “Gladiator”) places most of its
emphasis on relationships, especially on the one between Bond and M. It is that
emphasis that makes this film all the more riveting to watch.
Dame Judi
Dench, who has played M since Pierce Brosnan first played 007 in “Goldeneye,”
benefits here especially as her character is given a more severe complexity
than what we have seen previously. Dench has always been superb as M, but ever
since Craig came into the series she has been a fireball as she starts out with
a powerfully brazen attitude which never ever lets up. But here we see the
seams in her controlled nature as the past catches up with her in an especially
nasty way. Dench nails every moment she has in “Skyfall” perfectly, and she
makes M an especially fascinating character to watch this time around.
“Skyfall”
also has the advantage of having not just one but two terrific Bond girls:
Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe. Harris, best known for her roles in “28
Days Later” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, shares a sizzling
chemistry and playfulness with Craig especially in the scene where she gives
him a very close shave. As for Marlohe, she’s a knockout as she makes her
character of Sévérine as enigmatic as she is beautiful. When Bond asks for the
name of her employer, that look of utter fear which crosses her face is an
unforgettable acting moment as it sets up the grand introduction of the movie’s
chief villain.
That chief
villain is Raoul Silva, and he is played
by Javier Bardem in such a deliciously evil performance. It should be no
surprise that Bardem is so brilliantly unnerving here as this is the same actor
who won an Oscar for playing Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men,” but
Silva is an especially twisted soul to witness in action. This isn’t a villain
bent on world domination but instead on avenging a betrayal which made him what
he is today. Bardem actually doesn’t make his first appearance until well into
the film, but he has an unforgettable entrance where he tells a story involving
rats. The villains in Bond movies always have great stories to tell, and
Silva’s proves to be one of the series’ most memorable.
And yes, we
do get to see the return of Q to the series as played here by Ben Whishaw
(“Cloud Atlas”). Whishaw is splendid in the role as he skillfully underplays
the role to where he successfully makes it his own. Unlike the late (and still
missed) Desmond Llewellyn,
this Q is not quite in a position to admonish Bond on a regular basis. Whishaw
however is able to match wits with Craig and hold his own in a way Q has not
always been able to do previously, and he is a lot of fun to watch here as a
result.
Mendes
remains a masterful director, and he manages to balance out the action and the
story in “Skyfall” to great effect. I also applaud him for not letting this
Bond adventure turn into a clone of a Jason Bourne movie. That proved to be a
big problem with “Quantum of Solace” as the shaky cam got to be a bit too much,
but Mendes is perfectly aware that while Jason Bourne is Jason Bourne, Bond has
been around long enough to where he doesn’t need to copy him. The opening
sequence gets the movie off to a thrilling start, and it shows that Mendes has
a talent for filming adrenaline pumping action scenes as he does in directing
actors to great performances.
The movie
also features a terrific score by Thomas Newman and one of the best Bond theme
songs in a long time performed by Adele. The song “Skyfall” brings back the
classic Bond song sound that singers like Shirley Bassey made famous with
“Goldfinger,” and it fits the movie’s
story perfectly. And while I miss David Arnold who has composed the music for
the Bond movies since “Tomorrow Never Dies,” Newman’s work here is exceptional
as it sounds unlike any score he has done previously. It’s always a thrill to
see a composer step outside of their comfort zone to do something a little
different.
I don’t
think that I have ever seen a James Bond movie I didn’t like, and even the
worst of them prove to be very entertaining to watch. But it is such a thrill
to see a 007 adventure where all the elements come together in a way that feels
so fulfilling. “Skyfall” is not only one of the best Bond movies ever made, but
also one of best films of 2012. It took four years to get this 007 adventure to
the big screen, but it was well worth the wait.
* * * * out of * * * *
