Skyfall | Review
‘Skyfall’ is the 23rd film in the longest running film franchise ever. This is the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series and yet this film shows there’s still much more excitement and surprises to be had. Having never seen a Bond film other than ‘Die Another Day’ (that was ten years ago when I was just nine years old, so let’s just say I didn’t really care for James Bond then), I was thoroughly impressed by how much emotional depth this latest installment had in store – and the action. It’s impossible to forget about the action.
Daniel Craig returns as agent 007, and the film’s introductory action sequence has him in pursuit of a man who has stolen a drive containing the identities of every undercover MI-6 agent. As Bond has the enemy slightly subdued on top a moving train, M (Judi Dench), the head of MI-6, orders a fellow agent to take a risky shot that ends up hitting Bond instead of the enemy. Falling to the lake below, Bond is assumed to be killed in action. M is under fire for losing the drive and her position at the organization is at stake. The undercover agents’ identities are slowly revealed day by day, resulting in their deaths. This is a dead serious James Bond film and it captivates from the get-go.
This is not simply a Bond who makes love to women and looks cool while killing people. No, ‘Skyfall’ depicts a broken Bond, one who’s will and spirit is damaged. He’s drunk, unshaven, and in poor physical shape. Upon returning to the spy game after his apparent death, Bond is not mentally ready to do so. This film delves into Bond’s interior and tries to find out what makes him tick. It explores his backstory, which apparently no other film has done. It’s a powerful storytelling choice because it humanizes a character who’s been around for decades.
Judi Dench’s M is made more than just a supporting character this time around; she probably gets just as much screen time as Bond. Her shameful loss of the drive and almost killing Bond forces her to re-evaluate her standings as commanding officer of MI-6. The new chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes, ‘Harry Potter’), pushes for her immediate and “honorable” retirement and soon she’s put on trial to take responsibility for everything that’s happened. M is portrayed here with emotional complexity and sympathy, a welcome addition to the series.
Supporting the film includes Naomie Harris (‘Pirates of the Caribbean) as Bond’s partner, Eve, and the return of the tech wiz Q to the series, this time portrayed by a young Ben Whishaw (‘Cloud Atlas‘). The most important new addition is the villain portrayed by Javier Bardem (‘No Country for Old Men’). His joyously maniacal Raoul Silva is an ex-MI-6 agent who holds a strong grudge against M for a past incident. Bardem appears with bleach-blonde hair and pale white skin and portrays Silva with dark humor and glee. He steals every scene he’s in, pushing the envelope for the typical villainous role. Honestly, Bardem’s powerful performance as Silva is almost as memorable as Heath Ledger’s Joker from ‘The Dark Knight’, though I only wish Bardem had more screen time than what he was given.
Director Sam Mendes (‘American Beauty’ & ‘Revolutionary Road’) has reestablished the Bond character and reinvigorated the series. This film packs breath-taking and thrilling action from beginning to end. The cinematography is gorgeous, especially during the scenes in China filled with eye-popping neon lights and visuals. It explores new territory in the form of Bond’s psyche and his shaky relationship with M. I’m truly excited to see what’s in store for the next Daniel Craig Bond film.
Four out of four Kent's.
Extra Notes:
Adele sings the theme song for the film and it’s beautiful. The title sequence used along with the song in the film is also pretty gorgeous and mesmerizing. This was a great pairing.
