Does Skyfall fall a little flat, or is Bond 23 the best Bond film in the series so far? Read the review and weigh in!
James Bond, both the man and the legacy, has managed to seduce and satisfy movie-goers for half a century and counting. The many incarnations of Mr. Bond have weathered the last 50 years with a smile and a nod, and the release of Skyfall, the newest cinema outing for the suave master spy, has proven audiences worldwide still enjoy riding along with one 007 while he keeps Queen and Country safe. But is Skyfall the double-layered, heavy-on-the-icing, sparkler-on-top birthday cake like you’re hearing it is and expecting it to be? No, not necessarily, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not a pretty good piece of cake.
From the first bite (a simple shot of a silhouetted Bond walking toward camera up an empty hallway, stopping as a beam of sunlight reveals his face) it’s pretty clear that Skyfall’s icing is a little richer than what we’re used to. While Daniel Craig introduced us to a rough-and-tumble, freshly christened 007 in Casino Royale, giving us more of this brawler/spy with Quantum of Solace, Skyfall feels less like a Bond film and more like an image-heavy, meditative memory of sorts. From the not-so-subtle nods to Bonds of the past (you’ll know them when you see them) to the fresh faces bringing back old characters (three I believe) Skyfall is essentially a condensed glossary for the last 50 years of James Bond in cinema.
Bond girl/girls? Check. Flashy cars? Check. Fancy suits? Check. Bad guy Bond must beat to save the day? Check. A few gadgets to help him do so? Check. It’s all there, but it seems like the elements that make this movie a Bond movie (as opposed to any other Action Man Saves The Day film) are there as a wink to the audience more than anything. There are many “Hey, remember me” moments clearly meant for a laugh or a nostalgic clap, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the gimmick became apparent after the first few times. So what does one do with a Bond movie where all the Bond elements are simply winks to the audience? In the case of Skyfall, unfortunately, the answer is make sure you’ve got a great cinematographer creating some eye-candy, frame your gimmicks in a heavily-clichéd, half-decent story, give your great new villain only half a movie worth of intelligent motivation, and hope no one notices the shortcomings.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some very fine performances on display here. Javier Bardem will be praised for breathing new life into a Bond villain across the board, and rightly so. Bardem’s blonde baddy Silva is a powerfully flamboyant force that’s a pure joy to watch for most of the movie. His subtle winces, chuckles, and the all-around pleasure he seems to get from playing his hand are all nuances that have been missing in an antagonist for some time.
Unfortunately, and maybe this was intentional, Silva’s motivation and knack for being ahead of the game seem to wane and almost disappear by the film’s final showdown in a small church. There was a point around the 3/4 mark that had me thinking “all those well-laid, carefully orchestrated plans and this was how you intended to end it all?” and the thought kind of flattened any hope I had for Silva staying strong across the finish line. Like stuffing an entire pack of Fruit Stripe gum into your mouth Bardem’s Silva is an immediate gush of satisfaction followed, disappointingly, by a bland, over-chewed memory of better times.
As for Bond, Daniel Craig, in my humble, limited knowledge of the series opinion, exudes all things 007 should. A suave, almost reckless abandon for the female form and all things sophisticated make him, again, the rough-and-tumble manifestation of the man that I find very believable. Sure, he’s worn a suit and tie more than once, and that shows when he needs to class things up a bit, but he’s also new to the game and every move he makes isn’t polished and controlled.
He bleeds, breathes, and looks the part of a broken man when he’s taken a beating. (For some reason I loved the drugged, fighting-for-his-life-to-work-the-paddles moment in Casino Royale) It’s nice to see the shadows under the eyes and the pain behind them, and Craig’s Bond is as top-notch in this outing as you’d expect. Plus we get to learn a little bit about his childhood and whether or not the Bond title is a codename, both of which may upset some, and that’s kind of cool even if it’s not necessary.
Also noteworthy is Judi Dench’s performance as M, but since I’ve watched and re-watched seasons of the TV show Archer Dench’s M kept reminding me of a less-abrasive Mallory Archer. Take that for what you will. She’s solid throughout, but does seem like a tag-along character towards the end. Additionally, new faces abound, filling classic positions that have also been missing from the series for a while. Everyone brings their own quirks to familiar characters, with decent to not bad results, but there’s nothing particularly special. Hipster Q will most likely cause some discord between fans of the character and those who are seeing him for the first time.
Sadly, though, even great performances can’t keep the fires burning brightly when the story is littered with clichés and peters out into what some are calling Home Alone in the highlands. I’m choosing to steer clear of pointing out the familiar plot points to avoid spoilers, but the devices used to move the story forward are elements that have been seen countless times through film history, some as recently as last summer with the Mission Impossible franchise. The result is a mixed bag of real motivation coupled with simply going through the motions that feels half-assembled and a little light when all is said and done. Granted, I do think this breakdown leaves room for some extremely bizarre speculation on my part as to this being the death of Bond (I’ll explain below), but movie audiences who expect tight writing and a fully formed story to accompany fine performances and cinematography may feel a little cheated.
Overall, Skyfall is a movie that the general public will eat up. It’s a fine addition to the franchise, and for some will be the Bond they’ve been waiting for since the subjective golden days of 007. But for movie-goers who enjoy digging a little deeper into their film fodder it won’t be long after your viewing you’ll get that itch to start dissecting the shortcomings. While Skyfall is probably one of the better Bond installments in existence there is definitely room for growth. I’m excited to see where they continue to take the series whether with Craig’s Bond or someone new.
One thought on “(Review) Skyfall or Bond 23”
Comments are closed.