Saturday, November 24, 2012
I forgot to copy my classic review so that will be posted in the next few days.
For now, we must all rejoice, for Bond is back. Bond is classic.
Skyfall (M)
THE ENGLISH have had plenty to be happy about in 2012. Their
national pride and resilience, shaken in recent years through bomb attacks and
civil riots, was restored with their stellar home performance at the Olympic
Games. From there a ball was set rolling, which found itself in the land of
fiction as the world’s smoothest spy turned 50. And haven’t they celebrated.
James Bond (Daniel Craig) is, like his martini, shaken when
the definitive list of MI6 agents in global terrorist operations is stolen
under their noses. He is pushed out of the chase to get it back by a misfire
from fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris), and returns to action months later as a
near drunkard and unrecovered from the mission’s injuries.
It’s a Bond we rarely see, not only because he’s out of neat
dress. Brit Sam Mendes immediately draws the curtain to reveal uncertainty; not
just a man unsure of his standing, but an extension to a nation pleading for
mercy from villains in the shadows. You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking it was
akin to that of Bruce Wayne’s Gotham City.
Agents revealed from the list start to fall as Bond makes
his return to the field. The revelation that M (Judi Dench) is the target of
the man behind it brings sentimentality to the situation. Their relationship,
often represented with the potential for friendship and always containing
trust, is tested beyond their expectations.
This all derives from a villain who takes some time to
appear. But Mendes and director of photography Roger Deakins make no mistake in
estimating the importance of Silva’s (Javier Bardem) entrance. The film’s best
single shot sums up the bad guy as he introduces himself. The softly spoken
Bardem conjures a quietly maniacal being to put Bond into a spin.
This 007 story is one of an underdog with the villain
meticulous in remaining one step ahead. No doubt it will speak as symbolism for
many in a time where the average life contains financial uncertainty among
other dangers.
What Mendes and screenwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade (the
duo’s last Bond after five films) and John Logan set to achieve is a return to
the days of old. The characters are aware of time slipping away, as well as
impending change. But in restoring old King and country, their staunch belief
in an old-fashioned approach comes to work in their favour.
There is the return of some old favourites in the way of
gadgets, paying homage to Bond’s history with a bit of cheek. The return of Q
(Ben Whishaw) and introduction of intelligence and security chairman Gareth
Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) are welcome additions.
Mendes barely puts a foot wrong as he covers a lot of
ground. While completely separate to the arc of the last two features (although
Bond has never been one for continuity), this story still has much to reveal
about different weaknesses of a man most consider untouchable.
There are women Bond has loved, and those he protects. Skyfall is not about those he charms,
but saving those in need from peril. Harris and Berenice Marlohe as Severine
play second fiddle to the woman he realises is the only one who’s really stuck
around – to help him, and to help restore pride and security to their great
nation.
Rating: 4/5*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 17/11/2012
MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS? See what I thought of Breaking Dawn - Part 2.
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