Skyfall (2012)

Directed by: Sam Mendes | 142 minutes | action, adventure, crime, thriller | Actors: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Helen McCrory, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench, Ben Wishaw, Albert Finney, Ola Rapace

It has been fifty years since the world with the film ‘Dr. No’ (1962) first saw action hero 007 on screen. No one could have imagined in the 1960s that this series would become the longest-running franchise ever. Yet with the release of ‘Skyfall’ we are already fifty years, twenty-three parts and six different actors who played the role of the main character James Bond. And the end of this franchise seems far from in sight with at least two more parts in the pipeline. Good news for the fans, who are now treated to the newest part of this series with ‘Skyfall’.

And a treat ‘Skyfall’ has certainly become. After the two previous parts, ‘Casino Royale’ (2006) and ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008) were still directly linked, we now get to see a completely new adventure in the Bond universe, with a new director: the British Sam Mendes (known for ‘American Beauty’). The story opens with a strong chase scene that ends when James Bond (Daniel Craig) is hit by a bullet from his henchman Eve (Naomie Harris) and plunges into a deep ravine. “Agent down” is then heard and James Bond is presumed dead throughout the MI6 organization. When he reappears months later, a lot has changed. MI6 has been attacked by a cyber-terrorist and the position of M (Judi Dench) has also come under pressure. And as if this weren’t enough, 007 isn’t the same anymore. Due to his drinking (note the much-discussed scene in which he takes a sip from a can of Heineken) his condition is no longer what it used to be. He is no longer the marksman of yesteryear.

Actually, after the fantastic opening scene, in which we see Bond in Turkey in a wild chase that eventually brings him on top of a moving train, it is already clear that ‘Skyfall’ will not disappoint anyone. The action is spectacular and the whole is beautifully portrayed, supported by strong music. Yet ‘Skyfall’ is certainly not an action film pur sang. On the contrary, the focus is more on the tense relationship between Bond and M. In particular, the middle part, which takes place in the Asian cities of Shanghai and Macau, does justice to the core of the series as a spy thriller. Still, no matter how beautifully these scenes are portrayed, they sometimes make you wait a bit long for the actual action to take place again.

Where Daniel Craig once again demonstrates that he can put down a very strong James Bond, it is really Javier Bardem (known for his Oscar-winning role in ‘No Country for Old Men’) who steals the show with a brilliant interpretation from the villain of the story, Silva. In particular, the scene where Silva is introduced is nothing short of brilliant. His eccentric character is a very welcome addition to the sometimes somewhat cold James Bond. But the other actors, especially Judi Dench, are hardly inferior to this and ensure that the acting is nothing to criticize.

Whether ‘Skyfall’ will go down in the history books as the greatest Bond of all time, as was proclaimed in the euphoric British media right after its British release, remains to be seen. Of course, enough classics have appeared in this series over the years that also lay claim to this. Still, ‘Skyfall’ is a must for fans of the first hour as well as for newcomers. And although the running time may be just a tad on the long side, the film eventually reaches a beautiful climax in an old Scottish country house. ‘Skyfall’ makes everyone forget the mediocre ‘Quantum of Solace’ and proves that James Bond does not have to think about retirement for the time being.