"Skyfall" Review

 

"Skyfall"

Directed by Sam Mendes

Starring Daniel Craig, Naomi Harris, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem

 

RATING
7/10

It's no secret that I'm not that big of a Bond fan. Although I've had my fair share of 007 in the past ("GoldenEye" and "Diamonds Are Forever" are good), I've just never hooked myself onto the franchise as hard as some fans did. I could never understand the hype. Then a few years ago, I gave "Casino Royale" a shot because the hype around "Quantum of Solace" was tremendous (and from what I've heard, severely disappointing). Little to no shock, I was amazed at how great it was. Daniel Craig embodied the character superbly, and it was directed with such style and wit that I couldn't help but admire its aesthetics. I backed myself out of watching "Quantum of Solace", but hyped myself for the next coming, "Skyfall".

 

The film tells the story of secret agent James Bond who, after being hit by a stray bullet on a mission gone wrong, falls to his demise off a bridge and assumed dead. His agency, MI6, comes under attack internally by a former agent named Silva, and every person involved in the agency is faced with a major threat against their lives. This forces Bond to come out of hiding and defend Great Britain once again.

 

Firstly, let me touch on the great things about this film. Its principal cinematographer is the legendary Roger Deakins, so it is a stunning looking movie. The shots are immaculately framed to perfection, and the tone of the film is simply beautiful. Also, helming the directors seat this time is Sam Mendes, who directed a few great films in the past, "Road To Perdition" being my favourite. His transition to full-blown action is surprisingly smooth. Everyone in the cast also brings their A-game. Daniel Craig as the enigmatic and suave agent 007 is better than ever. Judi Dench and Javier Bardem bring dramatic depth to their characters never before seen in any Bond film, and it's great to witness their strengths and flaws stretched very thin. The action sequences are superb too, filmed in a very fluid motion to give it a smooth, visceral thrill. Perhaps the standout scenes are the Shanghai showdown, in which Bond tracks and confronts a sniper, and of course, the gripping climax which, let's face it, felt like Home Alone: Bond Edition. It was awesome. However, as much as the aesthetics and technicality of the film is great, I felt there was much left to be desired in the plot.

 

For fans of 2008's "The Dark Knight", the plot may seem like all too familiar territory. Javier Bardem's performance resonates not much as a Bond villain, but moreso in vein of Heath Ledger's Joker. It's diabolical and crazy. Well, that's an argument you could have about any Bond villain, but with a plot that involves internal destruction and anarchy in the U.K. (lol), one can't help but feel like Christopher Nolan was somewhere on set throwing around ideas. You can expect it to therefore branch into very dark moments, which will divide many viewers who still expect the campy pleasures of classic Bond. At heart, it's probably the most mature of the 007 films and I liked it. It's nice to see it done in the Bond franchise, but it also runs a thin line of being a bit predictable. Also, the film seems to drag on at points. Perhaps it was to emphasize a character or situations' importance, but it takes you out of the films dynamic flow quite often. Not too great for the pacing.

 

"Skyfall" is a great entry into the Bond franchise, and technically one of the best films of the year. It's both thrilling and provocative, with plenty of dark themes. Having drawn its obvious inspiration from Nolan's Batman, it tends to lose its focus as a Bond film and becomes an epic instead. This will possibly divide fans hoping for a straight-forward, slick spy film, but it also breathes new life into a vastly campy franchise. It's not as great as "Casino Royale", but it's definitely worth a watch for Bond fans and filmgoers hoping to see a refreshing spin on this beloved spy icon.