NO TIME TO DIE, the 25th film in the James Bond 007 franchise and the fifth and final outing for lead actor Daniel Craig, has seen more than its share of problems on its way to the big screen; ranging from awkward press events, production problems and delays…and being shelved for nearly two years thanks to a mis-managed pandemic. But none of that really matters, because all that goes in the rear-view mirror once the big screen lights up.
James Bond (Craig), is called out of his retirement and romance with Dr. Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), to stop Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek), a terrorist leader looking to unleash a DNA-based virus upon the world.
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, NO TIME TO DIE serves as a near-direct sequel to SPECTRE (2015), while wrapping up many threads left behind by the previous three films in the Daniel Craig era that began way back in 2005. On the surface the plot seems simple, but underneath that is a complex, yet cleverly layered story that takes Bond not only across the world but into his past, present, and future. After a thrilling (and shocking) cold open, the film surprisingly jumps ahead five years, and has Bond pulled back into the world of espionage which reunites him with old colleagues such as M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw), Moneypenny (Naomi Harris), CIA Agent Felix Leiter (the always reliable Jeffrey Wright), CIA Agent Paloma (a delightful, show-stealing Ana de Armas)…along with new double-o agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch), and old adversary Blofeld (the always dull-as-nuts Christoph Waltz).
The plot then moves into a series of globe-trotting adventures packed with many twists and turns and surprises. The idea behind Safin’s attack on the world is unique and is a clever combination of the old Bond-villain wacko schemes and relevancy with today’s technology. But more importantly, for the first time ever James Bond has a true arc that has carried through five films, and in NO TIME TO DIE the character is taken to new and fresh places for the first time in 50 years. It’s the most impactful thing the character has done since Sean Connery first introduced the last-name first.
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga films a gorgeous looking movie on a wide scale that demands to seen on the big screen. Action sequences are an absolute thrill with perfect buildups. The old standard template of past Bond films is out the window (Bond doesn’t get back on her Majesty’s payroll until deep in the film), which makes the movie unique and provides its own identity. Hans Zimmer’s score is outstanding.
Daniel Craig gives Bond the right amount of emotion and truly sells the arc the character has been on. Rami Malek seems to mumble too goddamn much and his villain is a bit stock. Lea Seydoux is excellent. The show is stolen by Ana de Armas who can seduce just as easily as she can kick a bad guy in the head in heels.
NO TIME TO DIE takes many cues (and provides clever winks), from previous Bond entries, and sharp-eared fans may pick up on where the film is headed after it’s outstanding, 30-minute final battle to save the world. Even if the end is guessed, the final minutes are an emotional wallop that will leave 007 lovers staggering out of the theatre. The final wrap could have used a little more ceremony, but it’s no dealbreaker, as NO TIME TO DIE allows Daniel Craig to go out at the very top of the James Bond legacy.
BOTTOM LINE: See it
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.