Skyfall – Film Review

Posted on 23rd October 201224th October 2012 by

Director: Sam Mendes

Starring: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, Bèrènice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem and Judi Dench

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Action heroes today are either pointy eared vigilantes with unenviable childhoods or hard-as-nails mercenaries that can blow up buildings while looking effortlessly cool. The majority are all cut from the same cloth. And the first time that cloth was cut, it was to make a tuxedo. James Bond, the original and the ultimate action hero. He manages to save the world time and time again, and he always, always, looks good while doing it.

In the 50 years that Bond has been gracing the cinema screen, he has always spared a few moments in his busy schedule to give the audience a sly wink. Just to remind us that, while the world may be ending onscreen, it’s our job to just enjoy the ride. Casino Royale shook up (not stirred) that formula by giving it a bleak makeover, with a heavy emphasis on grittier action and more complex characters. Audiences welcomed the change, but with 2008’s Quantum of Solace, it was generally perceived that they had gone too far. Respect for the franchise is important, but it just wasn’t fun anymore.

In response to this view, Skyfall bounces happily onto the silver screen to celebrate 50 years of Bond, and it is just fantastic!

Anyone who has seen the trailers will know by now that the central hook here is how Bond (Craig) is supposedly killed in action (“No Mr, Bond, I expect you to die!”), but returns from the dead when England is under threat from a cyber-terrorist attack. As it was M (Dench) who gave the order that resulted in his near-death, this has put something of a strain on their relationship. Bond begins to question his loyalties, a situation exacerbated when he is confronted with cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva (Bardem), who shares a dark history with M.

Craig can be a little wooden at times with the character of Bond, nowhere near as charming as some of his predecessors. His style is more cynical, more prone to deliver witty retorts than suave chat-up lines. Luckily, the script acts as a safety net in this regard, giving him material that has been adjusted around his own mannerisms to make this iteration of Agent 007 a believable character. The sense of fun so commonly associated with the franchise is present yet again, but is more self aware than before. The not-so-subtle references to previous Bond adventures will most likely have fans squirming with delight.

The gritty nature of the film, which fans of Casino Royale welcomed with open arms, remains somewhat present (it’s a little lighter) and lends a sense of depth that makes the narrative easy to invest in. Bond is depicted as being a little more run-down that usual here, which very much quells the notion that he is invincible. Despite that, he still has no problem engaging in fisticuffs on the roof of a train, so it’s a likable enough balance between sensational and believable.

The narrative structure is particularly impressive, in that it denies expectations. To go into any detail here would be to spoil the film, but rest assured that A) you are in for a fun adventure that twists violently and enjoyably at the right moments and B) the screenwriters bloody well earned their pay.

Performances throughout the film have a tendency to hit the spot, just like a Vodka Martini after a hard days espionage. Dame Judi Dench, as always, is terrifically cast as the dry and practical M. Ben Whishaw is very likable as the new Q, sliding comfortably into the role with apparent ease. He gives the impression of a modestly brilliant college student, a stereotype that the film quickly subverts. The tendency to play around with the archetypes is made more explicit with the use of the now obligatory Bond girl. Bèrènice Marlohe does a decent job, she ticks all of the right boxes, but unfortunately, out of necessity, feels underused.

It is Javier Bardem, however, who really stands out, as the slightly camp yet thoroughly unnerving Silva. His character is built up admirably and the moment in which he and Bond first confront each other is particularly memorable. As well as a terrific performance and dialogue, the camera work at this point functions to instill a magnificent sense of dread that is all the more unsettling due to how nonthreatening Silva initially appears.

This is not the only area that framing is used with considerable prowess. Skyfall has moments of true beauty interspersed into it’s dirty locations. An intense rooftop brawl is shot in the dark, with silhouettes visible on a neon backdrop. The Chinese Boat Party is sublime. And of course, the opening montage, accompanied with the film’s theme song sung by Adele, almost warrants the ticket price alone (especially if viewing in IMAX).

So the important question, is Skyfall better than Quantum of Solace? Yes, it is a terrific action film that openly promotes everything we love about James Bond, while adding intriguing elements that set it apart from its predecessors. Some hardcore fans may not appreciate these aspects, but they cannot deny that 007 is doing a good job of staying modern….