Quantum of Solace (2008)

Directed by: Marc Forster | 106 minutes | action, thriller, adventure | Actors: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Stana Katic, Giancarlo Giannini, Jesper Christensen, Neil Jackson, Oona Chaplin, Anatole Taubman, Tim Piggott-Smith, Rory Kinnear, Fernando Guillén Cuervo, Simon Kassianides, David Harbour, Joaquín Cosio, Jesus Ochoa, Glenn Foster, Laurence Richardson, Tracy Redington, Chris Wilson

After Daniel Craig’s eventful choice from ‘Casino Royale’, seasoned Bond fans will be a bit nervous again with ‘Quantum of Solace’, the latest in the series. The almost sacred “My name is Bond, James Bond” is nowhere to be found here, with its 106 minutes the film is one of the shortest Bond films ever and for the recognizable tune you have to wait until the credits. Is Bond still the real Bond?

The film picks up the story where ‘Casino Royale’ left off. James Bond found himself betrayed by his beloved Vesper, who maintained ties to the mysterious Mr. White (Jesper Christensen). In ‘Quantum of Solace’, the organization behind Mr. White is many times more powerful than expected and Bond becomes involved in large-scale criminal affairs in his mission. French businessman Dominic Greene (Matthieu Amalric) has a big finger in the pie and, as usual, his own safety and that of entire world populations are at stake.

Aware of the brevity, the story takes off immediately. Bond is involved in a wild car chase that he coldly puts an end to. “There is something horribly efficient about you,” Camille (Olga Kurylenko) remarks later between nose and lips. Director Marc Foster (of ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘Monster’s Ball’ among others) seems to have bombed efficiency to his main goal in ‘Quantum of Solace’. Packed with a multitude of characters and entanglements, the story races from one location to another. From the brackish roofs of Tuscany’s Siena to a decadent Austrian opera house, from London’s high-tech spy rooms to desolate desert plains; everything will pass. The Bond formula is completed with the necessary witty one-liners, fleeting flirtations and a lot of bullets.

It may be a bit difficult to imagine, but after a while, in all the hustle and bustle, the need for a little peace and emotional depth arises. The comparison with ‘Casino Royale’ naturally arises quickly. Where in the predecessor much attention was paid to the psychological development of Bond’s character and tension was also created in less spectacular ways, ‘Quantum of Solace’ – in addition to a handful of short moments of warmth – mainly relies on the cold action. Superbly portrayed, of course. But perhaps today, with serious competitors like Jason Bourne, something more can be expected from the tough Brit.

In any case, the bar is set very high, especially after the strong ‘Casino Royale’ and the latest Bond venture is by no means a bad or boring film. Craig proves once again that all the initial criticism of him was unjustified and the rest of the cast does a great job here too. It is a pity that Amalric (‘Le scahandre et le papillon’) cannot be seen more on screen, because he plays a beautiful role as the cold bad guy. And hey, Bond is really James Bond here and violence is simply more entertaining than moral scruples. And as for the well-known tune: it will pass before you know it.