Monday, November 12, 2012

Skyfall


The new James Bond film, Skyfall is a worthy induction to the throwback Bond. Which is to say, it is so easily reminiscent of the best that the franchise has to offer. Many times while watching the film, I kept remembering to be thankful that Skyfall didn’t take on too much. So many Bond films (which are, incidentally, many of the weakest films of the series) assemble themselves around plots that are so needlessly intricate.

And make no mistake, the main objective of a Bond film (of any Bond film) is to please. They’re supposed to be fun and entertaining, and sort of corny and pleasantly ridiculous. With Casino Royale, the producers wanted something different – darker and foreboding and new. Skyfall is all of these things – a fresh mix of the old and new and more.

Skyfall is a revenge film, plain and simple. Bond isn’t tasked with taking down an entire government or fighting off nuclear war – there’s nothing inherently grandiose about what’s happening here, because really, at its core, Skyfall is about nothing more than 007 having his boss’s back.
After Bond’s agency, MI6, comes under literal attack, it is shortly realized that an ex agent, Silva (Javier Bardem) has had a decades-long bloodlust for his former boss, M (Judi Dench) and has finally decided to cash in on it. Naturally, M puts Bond (who is coming out of a debilitating injury) on the mission, and old boy James crosses the globe trying to track Silva down.

Now, what Skyfall does, beyond the basic qualifications of the series, is remind us that just because we’re dealing with a franchise action film, that doesn’t mean it can’t be A.) Smart, B.) Technically masterful, and C.) Flawlessly acted.

To begin technically, director Sam Mendes knows how to make a great looking and great sounding film. His Best Director Oscar for American Beauty only solidifies that. And after his go-to cinematographer, Conrad L. Hall died, Mendes has developed a fruitful relationship with Roger Deakins, who may or may not be the best living DP currently working in film. The way Deakins lights and executes a fight sequence in Skyfall (it is shot in lush silhouette, all in the frame of one unmoving shot), for example, is simply spellbinding. Likewise the way he handles the grand introduction of Silva, from ludicrously far away, waiting patiently for the subject to come to him. If Skyfall deserves nothing else, it is limitless praise for Deakins’ work.
And how ‘bout that Silva entrance? About two minutes into Bond and Silva’s first scene together, I knew I was witnessing one of the very finest Bond villains in history. Bardem’s blonde haired baddie exceeded my wildest expectations and made me count the seconds for him to return whenever he was absent from the screen. Mark my words: their first scene will become as iconic as Bond and Goldfinger’s “I expect you to die,” moment.

But, for most, what a Bond film all boils down to is, “Is it better than the last one?” or, “Is it the best in the franchise’s history?” Yes and no. Skyfall is so far beyond the disastrous Quantum of Solace that we need not waste further time on comparison. But is it more accomplished than Casino Royale, which marked Daniel Craig’s first (and still best) performance as Bond? Nah. But you know what… that’s quite all right.

Skyfall is a little too long (and feels it), but it is a perfectly restrained addition to a franchise that could very well outlive us all. I’d be very surprised if you didn’t enjoy yourself here. B+

22 comments:

  1. Great review Alex! I'm glad that you noted that it feels a little too long. I watched it twice this weekend and I really felt that the 2nd time. It's certainly an enjoyable film though and Deakins' cinematography is amazing.

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    1. Thanks man! Oh yeah, completely enjoyable indeed, and Deakins' flawless work made it that much better. Glad you liked the flick!

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  2. Good review Alex. I didn't love it like I loved Casino Royale, but I definitely can say I enjoyed what I saw and look forward to seeing what they can do with the next couple of installments with Craig. Hopefully, they don't drop the ball like they did with Quantum of Solace, though.

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    1. Thanks man. Yeah, I agree, it was no Casino Royale, but few Bond films are. Definitely infinitely superior to Quantum, and I'm also pumped about future Craig installments.

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  3. Good review :D
    You know for me, the first time it felt a bit draggy, but it was fine the second time. Maybe because I appreciated the whole "Skyfall" thing more. Silva is kind of awesome. So is M. So is Bond. But the awesomest is Roger Deakins. If I ever had to fight someone on a high-rise building and then get killed in the process, I would want it to look like the Shanghai sequence. Seriously.

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    1. You have no idea how pumped I am that Deakins' work is getting so much love, both commercially and on the blogosphere. Be so cool if a Bond flick finally got him that Oscar.

      Interesting that it didn't drag as much for you the second time. I might give it another go. Maybe.

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  4. Nice review man. I agree Casino Royale is better. Still, this is one my favorite Bond films.

    That fight sequence is arguably the best shot in any Bond film. Deakins' work is phenomenal. If he's nominated, I don't think he will win, but he totally deserves it.

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    1. Oh this is definitely one of my favorite Bond films too. And I also agree that that shot is the best from any Bond film ever. Yeah, he won't win, but a nomination would be awesome. Such a fine achievement.

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  5. Great review. While I also believe that Casino Royale is still the better Bond film, Skyfall won me over with everything it had. Plus, I was one of those in the audience yesterday when Bond revealed the Aston Martin DB5 that marked out!

    Sometimes, you have to stick to the old ways and they always work.

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    1. Thanks man. Dude, my theater went NUTS when they revealed that DB5, it was awesome. I've been reading a lot of negative criticism about Skyfall for kicking it old school toward the end, but I agree with you: sometimes the old ways work.

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  6. Yes, those are basically my feelings exactly. A more than worthy addition to the franchise, went places that I didn't think the series would go (both literally and figuratively) and finally gave Bond an interesting character arc, but I was just underwhelmed as a whole. As you said the pacing was off, especially in the first half before we are introduced to Silva. I feel that Mendes really wanted to do something very different but was hampered by playing to the Bond beats we all know by heart, the globe-trotting, the sex, and the stunts. So he got all of that out of the way in the first half and then tried to tell HIS version of Bond in the second and better half. The climax was so radically different than what I was expecting that I'm still wondering what to make of it... not sure what to make of the 'Die Hard: Home Alone' style that was employed... I'll definitely be doing a review of it as I think it is one of the better Bond outings, just trying to nail down exactly what to make of it in the end. I think since this was the first Bond story that was actually about Bond more than anything else it's just a tad jarring as a true Bond fan. Good review Alex.

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    1. Interesting thoughts here, Jeff. I really find it fascinating that views are differing so drastically concerning the first and second half of this movie. I've mostly heard that people loved the beginning, but hated the second half. You're obviously visa versa, whereas I kinda dug it all, minus a few extra scenes that I thought were a tad long.

      Either way, I may be being a bit too critical... this was a superb Bond flick in any light.

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  7. Great review! I'm gla you enjoyed the movie, I thought the 3rd act was dragging a little but other than that it was deinetly one of the best bond movies I've seen. Bardem is definetly getting in my best supporting actor line up this year.

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    1. Thanks! Oh Bardem will be in my running as well, but I dunno if it's enough for the Academy's attention. Hell, I think most of my favorite performances this year aren't going to be enough for the Academy's attention. (sigh) Oh well!

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  8. Definitely looking forward to this one! As a huge fan of Casino Royale, I'll be interested to see how much I like this one. And I'm excited for all the praise that Roger Deakins is getting - maybe this could seal the deal for that Oscar he deserves?

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    1. I think this will definitely seal yet another Oscar nomination for Deakins, but I doubt he'll win. Shit, maybe I'll be pleasantly proved wrong.

      Be really curious to hear your thoughts on this one Stevee!

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  9. Churning out the reviews man!

    Haha, I haven't seen many bond films so I hope I still appreciate it. I haven't seen Quantum luckily, might avoid that one.

    Good review.

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    1. Thanks man! Seeing Quantum does nothing for anything, it only adds to your level of discontent. Just my opinion, but that one is a real wash.

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  10. Great review Alex, I also liked the fact that it didn't focus on unbelievable attacks on earth or crazy villains; it was, indeed, a tale of revenge and it had more emotion than most Bond movies.

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    1. Thanks, D! I love how reserved the plot was, it seriously kept the film grounded. Solid Bond flick.

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  11. Great review, I loved this film. You should check out my review.

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    1. Thanks, I loved it too. Just read your review, good stuff there. Seems we agree all the way.

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