Skyfall: The Best Bond Film in Years!

Skyfall is likely the best Bond film that Daniel Craig has been involved with.  In fact, it is likely the best Bond film that anyone has been involved with for the past 30 years.  While it is certainly imperfect, director Sam Mendes  (Jarhead, American Beauty) finds a magical way of bringing the stinging, brutal modernity that has been the hallmark of the recent Bond films and meshing it masterfully with the lighter, even slight camp of the traditional films to generate one of the more fun, fascinating events of the genre.

Premise: As MI6 comes under attack, by a brutal enemy in the form of a ghost of M’s past, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter the cost. Result: A deeply entertaining film that delivers the best Bond villain in years!

Skyfall begins with scandal: the loss of a secret list of NATO agents currently infiltrating terrorist organizations.  Further, while attempting to apprehend the culprit Patrice (Ola Rapace), agentEve (Naomie Harris) happens to accidentally take out James Bond (Daniel Craig), adding insult to apocalyptic injury.  Of course, Bond is not dead but instead living out an anonymous retirement on sandy beaches with beautiful women and quaint taverns with scorpions (it’s a scene and very intense!) But just as not dead as bond is, the list is very, very missing and in the hands of an unknown nemesis.

Unfortunately for M (Judi Dench), who is already being pushed out as a result of the scandal as directed by her new boss Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the unknown who has the list isn’t interested in selling it.  Instead, he personally attacks M, tormenting her with his power, clearly signaling that his intention is not to simply reap financial reward for his acquisition, but to destroy her in the process.

And so after an attack on MI6, Bond resurfaces to support his lovely M, in a pattern that is both patriotic and somehow oedipal, a theme that runs throughout the film.  To help him on his way he is introduced to his new Quartermaster Q (Ben Whishaw), who continues another theme of “out with the old and in with the new” that annoyingly only grows in prominence as the film progresses.

“Mommy’s Been Very Bad!”

After securing Patrice, he is led to Macau where he encounters Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe)where he is able to deal with some nasty bodyguards and even more frightening Komodo Dragons.  But it is here where the film skyrockets from good to fantastic, after we are introduced not only to the alluring Sévérine, but her master, Silva (Javier Bardem).  Silva, is for all intents and purposes, a true Bond villain.  He is terrifying and amusing, almost at the same moment, filled with camp and cruelty that make him more interesting than virtually anything else in the film.At every turn he proves more cunning then he lets on and both Bond and M seem shocked by each twist and turn.  This element ultimately heightens the tension and entertainment the film delivers and audiences will no doubt be consistently thrilled by his status as worthy adversary.

Ultimately, Silva, a former MI6 agent is out for revenge and will do anything to destroy his long-time nemesis, M, whom he feels betrayed him in a former life.  And his motives, to avoid cliché, are heightened by a moment in particular that displays his otherwise unapparent disfigurement, suffocating the scene with foreboding and horror but somehow managing to keep the realism.

Of course, not everything goes perfectly in a film that has so much going for it.  First, the film required some editing, at least 20 minutes.  While there aren’t any boring moments really, the film feels like it goes on too long.  Second, several of the plot elements feel borrowed, rather than original – Silva basically steals his plot twist from The Joker and if I am not mistaken, there is a Culkinless home invasion scene that smacks of the 90s film (of course, without the laughs).

And there is certainly an element of subtlety that Mendes misses on the signature theme of the film: the old ways vs. the new.  The man is liable to have casualties in his audiences he hits us over the head with that so much and so obviously.  At one point M quotes Tennyson! Good Heavens, people!

Nevertheless, Mendes consistently delivers impact with his story, creating exciting action scenes as well as effectively using character development to keep audiences engaged in every scene, explosion or otherwise. And it is this character element that ultimately makes this film memorable.  Craig, once again is fantastic as the gritty but gallant Bond, and Dame Judi epitomizes caustic wit with virtually every line.  Their chemistry on screen is undeniable.

Mendes, in a casting boon, has added characters to this film which somehow take attention from these two leads with impunity.  Fiennes, of course, is stellar and makes a perfect addition to the cast.  Marlohe is divine, managing a sex appeal and deliberate strength that frankly should have had more time in the film.  Harris and Wishaw are both wonderful in their respective roles, holding their own amidst an all-star cast and at times even elevating scenes single-handedly.

Of course, despite this casting cornucopia, the real star in this film is Bardem.  He delivers one of the more intriguing villains of all time in Silva.  His slithering nature on screen, his quips, his facial expressions and gestures come together masterfully – it is impossible, I contend, for anyone to take their eyes off this character and not be thrilled by his decadent evil.  The only thing missing would have been a white-haired feline and a prominent scar to remind us more of the past while also so effectively inhabiting the present.

In the end, Skyfall exceeds expectations for a fun, memorable time.  While as a film it is imperfect and only partially original, it is the best Bond film in decades, and a good sign of things to come.

Rating: 8 – An expensive red wine and juicy steak