The 23rd installment in the longest running movie franchise in cinema history is built to satisfy fans from every era of the brilliant film series, as spun from Ian Fleming’s popular books. Sam Mendes directs with the action-based espionage with a unified quality that gently shifts gears between a literary approach that combines wit, style, personality, and spectacle.
“Skyfall” stands as one more shrewd blast of cinema ecstasy in a long history of compelling 007 spy movies. Another flawless trademark credit sequence — this time featuring an evocative title song powerfully sung by Adele — follows a mind-blowing mano-y-mano chase scene, between Bond and baddie, that travels across foot-wide rooftops on motorcycles before going on-foot across the roofs of a fast-moving train. Audience heart rates go up. This is super-cool-action at its best.
The first act is a nod to the leaner and grittier modern James Bond — as exquisitely played by Daniel Craig. This time around Bond has to return to work after being thought dead for several years. He’s been busy drinking booze — sometimes with a live scorpion sitting on his drinking hand as the slugs down a glass in a tropical island bar.
A computer-hacking genius villain named Silva launches an attack on Her Majesty’s Secret Service’s — with M (played by the irrepressible Judi Dench) in the crosshairs. Javier Bardem introduces the film’s second act as Silva, with a ridiculously entertaining monologue entrance that hip drama students will be doing at auditions. Bardem’s effeminate Silva carefully measures his steps as he walks toward his prey — a momentarily confined James Bond. Javier Bardem spits and chews scenery in Tarantino-worthy scenes. Talk about a case of perfect casting — whew.
The third gives a retro vantage point — Bond pulls his old Aston Martin out of the garage — treats the audience to a gloomy bit of nostalgia-defying action set in the Scottish mansion where James Bond lived when his parents died. Bond says he “never did like the place.”
The bottom line is that it’s taken too long for “Skyfall” to come out. Four years is too long to not be witnessing the best incarnation of James Bond ever. If you’re one of those people who don’t think Daniel Craig is a good James Bond; you’re wrong.
Rating by Mr. Exclusive
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