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Spectre (2015)

I have actually been lamenting putting this one together because I don’t know where to start or finish. I finally decided, what the hell – I might as well put it out there and say I did not enjoy Spectre as much as I wanted to.

In fact, my level of ambivalence was so great, that during the screening and in its immediate aftermath, I was left going through the list of exactly what is it that I really like about the Bond franchise as a whole (still pondering this one). But I guess this particular discussion is best left for another day and time, that way I can focus on what worked and (mostly) didn’t work for me in this latest installment.

I had very high hopes coming off my enjoyment of 2012’s Skyfall. We had a returning director (Sam Mendes), scribe (John Logan) and of course Bond (Daniel Craig). Add two time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz to the mix, along with the other returning supporting actors (Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw) and you could not go to wrong, could you?

Daniel Craig stars as James Bond in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions’ action adventure SPECTRE.
Daniel Craig stars as James Bond in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions’ action adventure SPECTRE.

Well, I got some good news and some bad news in that regard …

 

Good News

It’s a pretty picture – All the stuff you see on the screen sure is nice to look at (imagine it looks better in IMAX – I saw it on a standard screen). I was particularly taken with the “Bond visits Hoth” set piece.

It ticked all the boxes – In addition to the aforementioned, you have all the ingredients to make this a Bond film:

  • Pretty people wearing pretty clothes, sometimes under the most unbelievable of circumstances. And yes, I do realize this is a Bond film so suspension of disbelief comes free with purchase, but still….
  • Product placement. At once a distraction for me has now become a fun game really. Figuring out which sponsors were able to insert their brands into the story passes the time well.
  • Nice cars n stuff. The cars and gadgetry were pretty cool. Not too over the top but still kinda neat.
  • Some self-effacing humor. Maybe a little too on the nose at points, but at least the film recognized the ridiculousness of some of the situations that were taking place.
  • The opening sequence. While I am still undecided on the theme song  (maybe I need to listen to it a few more times to make a final determination) I liked the opening credits sequence. Cool.

I like Craig as Bond – Craig plays Bond with a level of aloofness/world-weariness that I can really appreciate.

 

Bad News

The plot – I feel like I knew what they were going for but in the execution, it just fell flat for me.  The objective I supposed was to take the very personal story of Bond (introduced in and told to better effect in Skyfall) and expand upon it. Great idea since I kind of like the idea of understanding James Bond’s backstory. And I got a taste of that, but on the whole I felt like it (the script) was a bit aimless.

Blink and you might have missed it – In what I can only describe as a cameo and not a featured performance, we have the lovely Monica Bellucci in the role of quickie paramour/plot propellant. Can she even be categorized as a “Bond Girl” is my question. Side note: “Bond Girl” is a problematic term in its own right, but I digress.

Speaking of love … – I get it, Bond always gets the girl, but in this case, the romantic element seemed kind of forced. The “damsel in distress” (played by Léa Seydoux) could hold her own; upon her introduction she did not come off as someone who would necessarily fall under the spell of Mr. Bond. But alas …

A bit of a waste, really – On paper when you think “perfect Bond villain” Christoph Waltz would seem to fit the bill. While I commend his ability to ham it up in this role, his motivation seemed a little incongruous for the acts he is responsible for perpetrating.

I guess if I had to point out one thing above all others identified above, I would have to say that the story (script) really let the side down on this one.

Think what I might, at the end of the day, and despite what I or any other naysayers have to say, and, as the Sunday B.O. reports suggest,  Spectre will do gangbusters and give MGM/Columbia Pictures the desired results ($$$$). Which is fine, but all I can say is that is not anger I am feeling, just disappointment.

Daniel Craig stars as James Bond in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions’ action adventure SPECTRE.
Daniel Craig stars as James Bond in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions’ action adventure SPECTRE.

 

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When the Sky falls …

It has been nearly two weeks since I first saw Skyfall in the cinema. In that time, I have read a lot more on others’ positive (or negative) reaction to it. After all is said and done, one thing remains abundantly clear for me about this film: it is an exhilarating, action packed film that in my estimation is one of the finest 007 outings that has been produced.

From the onset, we know we are in for an exhilarating (literal) ride, with our intrepid agent chasing down someone who has information that if placed in the wrong hands (as presumably his are) spell disaster for M (Judi Dench) and her band of spies. As the story unfolds, it is apparent that this time, the end game is much more personal, closer to home – even as we enjoy the bits of globe trotting thrown in between. However it is the United Kingdom, and London in particular, that featured prominently. I think this made Skyfall more grounded in terms of time and space.

When I first heard Sam Mendes was coming on board to direct the next James Bond film, I was slightly bemused; surely I did not doubt his ability to direct, but my concern came from his ‘action-y’ bona fides. Any skepticism on this matter was shattered by my satisfaction with the big action sequences that blended so well with the dramatic action taking place around it.

In terms of the performances, it’s official – Daniel Craig has supplanted the Bond that marked my coming of age, Roger More. I know he might not be everyone’s cuppa, but I quite like his grizzled, world-weary and weathered British agent. On the flip side, Javier Bardem’s Silva had a gravitas and purpose to his villainous ways that did not have to resort to the caricature “wanting to take over the world” baddie that we all but expect to see in these types of films. For their part, the ‘supporting’ players – including Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw – up-and-down the line made the film all the more enjoyable for me.

And now, the bad news 🙁 , a couple of quibbles …

Of course the ever-present, shoehorned product placement is something that I can ignore, but when my guard is down, there are those moments when I am jolted by the crass commercialization so clearly exhibited on screen. We can get past that.

One thing that bothered me a bit more was the role Berenice Marlohe’s Severine served – her presence in the film only seemed to serve 007’s pleasure, and when her ‘work’ was done, she was no longer be required. Perhaps, the further away I get from the film it is something that I have thought about a little more, but in the moment, it sort of washed over me because I was so invested in reaching the end point of the film. Then again, maybe I am overthinking this whole thing – it is a Bond film, albeit a grand, well crafted one, after all …

So, one may ask, was this observation enough for me to NOT recommend the film? After some thought, I feel comfortable in saying that for 007 fans this is a must-see film. Even if you are not a devotee of the film franchise (incidentally celebrating its 50th year with release of this film), I think there is enough in here – with all the drama, explosive action and yes – even a couple of punchy one-liners thrown in for good measure –to make Skyfall an enjoyable night at the movies.

 

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Tuesday’s Overlooked: Layer Cake (2004)

This week’s ‘overlooked’ selection is the 2004 feature Layer Cake, which is based on a novel of the same title by J. J. Connolly (he also adapted the screenplay). Layer Cake marked the  auspicious debut of Matthew Vaughn’s (Kick Ass, XMen First Class) directorial debut. The all-star cast includes a pre-Bond Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon.

Daniel Craig stars as the unnamed protagonist XXXX, a drug dealer who is pulled in to do one final favor for an associate prior to his retirement.

This ‘assignment’ leads him into the increasingly complex and perilous London underworld; the irony being that this is a world that up until this point, he has been able to successfully avoid.

I first saw this film around the time that Craig was announced as the next 007. Having not heard of Craig prior to the announcement, I took it upon myself to do a little research and check out a couple of films in his filmography.

I subsequently prepared to watch Layer Cake with the lowest of expectations. In fact, when I read the movie synopsis, I almost immediately dismissed this a yet another one of those ‘guns ‘n geezers’ offering in the style of Guy Ritchie. As coincidence would have it, Vaughn produced two Ritchie features – Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. While there is definitely  the common strain of crime thriller to the proceedings, in the case of Layer Cake, as the title suggests, there are many strata to be rervealed as the story progresses. And for all the intensity and violence of the film, there are some moments of levity that arrive at the right moments.

Layer Cake is a slick, sharply written ensemble piece that is sure to entertain.

Please be sure to check out other overlooked titles at Todd Mason’s blog.

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