James Bond films, in their 50th year and
with ‘Skyfall’ being their 23rd film, are currently the longest running
franchise in the history of cinema. With Academy-award winning director Sam
Mendes helming the project, ‘Skyfall’ has been touted to be the game changer as
far as espionage thrillers are concerned. In the film, Agent 007 returns to
protect the MI6 head, M, from one of her adversaries.
The screenplay of the film is immensely
engaging. There’s not much beating around the bush and the plot stays to the
point till the end. Daniel Craig has delivered his best performance as James
Bond, while Judi Dench, whose character M is way more significant than it has
been in the other films of recent times, does a brilliant job. Javier Bardem cuts
across as one of the most menacing Bond villains. The opening chase sequence,
shot in Turkey, pulls up the curtains for an entertaining two hours ahead. The
opening credits, voiced by Adele and comprising ethereal signature ‘Bond’
visuals, also wonderfully shape the start of the film. The film, albeit more of
an action-thriller rather than a typical Bond affair, is a refreshing take on
James Bond films and will certainly be liked by audiences all over.
MI6 agents, James Bond (Daniel Craig) and
Eve (Naomie Harris), who are on a mission in Turkey to recover a stolen
computer hard drive comprising details of all undercover NATO agents in
terrorist organizations, fail to nab the criminal Patrice (Ola Rapace), a
French mercenary. On the chase, Bond is shot in the shoulder and during his
altercation with Patrice, is accidentally hit by Eve and is considered
“missing, presumed killed”.
MI6, meanwhile, gets attacked by a
terrorist organization. The security systems of the organization get hacked and
an explosion at the offices kills a number of employees. Bond, who has been
using death to take a break from his usual services, returns to London to get
back on duty.
Upon learning about Patrice’s location, he
flies to Shanghai where he kills him, and another clue takes him to Macau. Here
Bond meets Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe).
What Bond thought would end up as a
short-lived romantic liaison, turns out to be his own abduction. The gorgeous
Sévérine is an employee of Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), a former MI6 agent, now
M’s principal nemesis. The war is pretty much declared as Silva, playing the
eccentric villain, can go to any extent to get M, and now his newfound foe,
Bond.
The screenplay of the film deserves a lot
of accolades. The film revolves around M, Bond and Silva, and it stays that
way. Although there are important characters on the side lines, such as Ralph
Fiennes’ Gareth Mallory, Naomie’s Eve and Ben Whishaw’s Q, the story belongs to
the three principal characters.
Bardem is a maverick, who hides the horrors
of his past behind his fake smile. He cuts across as an excellent villain in
the film. Although, you look at him as the antagonist, your heart does go out
to him when you learn about his painful past. The character of Raoul Silva stays
with you long after the film gets over.
Daniel Craig gives, by far, his best
performance as Agent 007. Although he opts to stay as understated as he was in
the previous two films, the character has notched up some wit and upped the
action quotient as well. Judi Dench,
with a remarkably long role in the film, does a fine job.
‘Skyfall’ does not follow the typical Bond
films’ route. Although it’s as action-packed as its predecessors, the story
assumes equal importance. Logical conclusions be damned, this film keeps you
gripped not just for its ‘action’, ‘gadgets’, ‘bond girls’ etc., but the ‘plot’
and ‘performances’ as well. Sam Mendes has made a fine Bond film and this will,
hopefully, set the precedent for all future ‘action-thrillers’. Writers, Neal
Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan, deliver a fairly taut story. The visuals
are augmented, thanks to brilliant cinematography (Roger Deakins) and
production designs (Dennis Gassner).
The film has its thrills, here and there.
The finale, although not as spectacular as the beginning, has a big, big twist.
Watch the film to find out.
Sam Mendes’ stupendous direction puts
substance into what was everlastingly stylish, ‘BOND’!
Shivom
Oza
Forgive me for not reading through the whole review. Im a big bond fan and want NO spoilers.
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