Bond Reborn // "Skyfall" Movie Review

In 2006 we were reintroduced to James Bond in the movie Casino Royal. This represented more than just the occasional change in actor we've grown use to over the years (Daniel Craig taking over for Pierce Brosnan in this case), but was an entire reboot to the series, bringing the longest running movie franchise into the 21st century.  I loved it.  Craig's grittier, more realistic Bond seemed to break the old formula that was weighing the franchise down (I write this even though I thought Brosnon was a fine 007).  Part of Casino Royal's job was to give us Bond's origin story, a common tactic used these days to breath life into an aging series.  But there were many elements of the James Bond legend left out, and that it's disappointing follow up, 2008's Quantum of Solace, didn't bother to address.   Now we have the 50th anniversary edition Bond, Skyfall, that sees Craig return for his third round in the lead role, and that in reality should be counted as the true follow up to his first effort.  Here the task of explaining how James Bond became 007 is completed, with Bond's story brought full circle, paradoxically developing the character beyond what we're use to while simultaneously rooting him firmly in the familiar mythology.  And more than that, it's a movie that stands up as a movie, not simply as a part of a franchise.

After going missing for several months, presumed dead but really on an unauthorized vacation after a mission goes wrong, Bond returns when MI6 headquarters is attacked by terrorists.  He's got a broken relationship with his boss M (Judi Dench, the last holdover from the Brosnan days) to go along with his wounded body and shattered psyche.  It's figured out that the attack was perpetrated by the same people who stole a disk containing the names of all the NATO field agents that Bond failed to retrieve during his earlier botched assignment.  Now 007 must find out who has the disk and get it back before more agents are exposed and killed.

This is a fairly standard spy movie plot, true, but what makes this one different is that here we have a Bond who has some self doubt, who is wondering if he can trust the people he's working for, and if he has any kind of future in the spy game at all.  He has to make moral decisions, and is truly haunted by their consequences.  Sure, you've got plenty of things blowing up good, martinis, shaken not stirred, along with the "Bond Women" that you would expect.  But our favorite British agent also has a soul; he seems to be in it for love of country, not just for the perks, he feels loss, and struggles to come to terms with his past.  If I'm keeping things vague it's because unlike most Bond movies there are spoilers that I don't want to give away, and none of them have to do with gadgets.  

We can argue over if this is the best Bond movie ever (if pushed I would have to say no, though not by much), but I don't believe there is one that's been better made.  It's directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and filmed by the legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins (A Beautiful Mind, No Country for Old Men).  Bond screenwriting vets Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are joined by Oscar nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo).  Skyfall also has the most accomplished cast in the series' history, featuring Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney, joining Dench who has a statuette of her own.  Oscar winner Javier Bardem's performance as the villain Raoul Silva, while not on the same level as Heath Ledger's Joker, is still worthy of a supporting actor nomination.  All this combines for a beautifully filmed, intelligently written and well acted movie, that is not only a great Bond film, but simply a great film.

Without giving anything away, by the end of Skyfall all the loose ends from Casino Royal are tied into a nice bow, old names are associated with new faces, and we learn things about our hero we may not have known before.  All this adds up to us being made ready for more adventures from James Bond.  I've read that Daniel Craig's future in the role is uncertain, but I hope he comes back for many more installments.  He may not be the best Bond since Sean Connery, but simply the best James Bond, period, as Roger Moore himself has attested.  With Skyfall we have the "old Bond" back, in some respects, but nonetheless renewed and ready for the future.   

I'm linking to a commentary by Fr. Robert Barron who, like myself went to the movie for fun, but left seeing a lot more than just vodka and handguns.  In Fr. Barron's case he ended up finding unexpected spiritual messages, and a possible Catholic connection to the James Bond story, and that of its creator Ian Fleming.  But I have to worn you, IT'S FILLED WITH SPOILERS!  If you have any intention of seeing Skyfall please wait to watch Fr. Barron's take until after you do so.  Consider yourself warned.