The release of Skyfall
coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond big
screen adventure Dr No (1962) and
perhaps signifies how cinema’s most iconic spy has come full circle. Daniel
Craig returns for his third outing as Bond, though the indestructible force he
possessed in the first two is greatly questioned here, as is the relevance of
Bond in a changing world landscape. The
one inevitability in life is ageing and director Sam Mendes is keen to
highlight that even 007 isn’t immune, perhaps for the first time in any of the
23 films, genuinely showing a Bond who struggles both physically and mentally
with the expectations of his job.
All three Craig films have attempted to revitalise Bond, to
recreate a grittier, more realistic Bond better suited to the 21st
century. In my opinion, Skyfall is
the first film to have truly asserted this intention and run with it. Casino Royale (2006) although bold and
darker, stayed close to the traditions of Bond, eager to test the waters with a
new leading man, while Quantum of Solace (2008)
never really managed to get going due in part to the financial difficulties at
MGM Studios and the Writers Strike in California. But in Skyfall, Mendes has allowed a rebirth of Bond which incorporates
all that has made the spy so iconic over the past 5 decades, but redirects it
to make sense in a post 9/11 world.
This leads me to the films main villain Raoul Silva, played
to eerie perfection by Javier Bardem, a former spy himself under the wing of M
during her earlier stint in Hong Kong, he has returned to seek revenge against
the woman he felt used and abandoned him. Immediately, this sets this antagonist
apart from the usual Bond nemesis, in as much as his ambitions are personal and
singularly focused. Traditionally, Bond comes up against men eager to overthrow
governments, steal the country’s gold reserve or of course the old chestnut,
take over the world. But Silva’s aim to take down M makes this films focus
around MI6 personal and intimate. Bardem’s portrayal is very much like Ledger’s
Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), a
demonic individual out to cause chaos. Such a villain is much harder to
understand and control and M perhaps says it best with her line to the public
inquiry ‘The world has changed; today we don’t know the identity of the people
we are trying to defeat’. Suggesting how terrorism makes the world of espionage
harder and less controllable than in the past. Goldfinger was very much one man
with a plan, a singular threat to the world, Silva is any man with a desire, a
goal to terrorise and destroy.
Mendes uses the personal threat to MI6 and M to re-examine the
corporation and its role in the Bond universe. Skyfall reintroduces us to Q after a two film absence, but this new
Q is much younger, less a scientist and more a technical wizard. Bond cannot believe
the younger man is experienced enough but Q (Ben Whishaw) counters with ‘I
could do more damage sitting in my pyjamas with my laptop then you could in the
field’ again symbolising the changing status of modern warfare which threatens
to leave Bond behind, obsolete. The wonderful gadgets of old replaced with a
simple radio homing device and gun again illustrating how this new Bond will be
in touch with reality and simplicity. The reintroduction and modernisation of
Moneypenny is another key moment, less a secretary with a school girl crush,
she is now an experienced field agent disillusioned with her role in the field,
but somebody very much able to match and counter Bond. But perhaps the most
significant change of all is the Death of M. Dame Judy Dench made the role her
own when first introduced. The first female M in Goldeneye (1995), she brought much more depth to the role and this
is best signified by how she alone avoided the cull of characters between the
Brosnan and Craig eras. Her connection with Bond often went further than
professional and their relationship can be seen as more Mother and son than
boss and employee. This judgement potentially leads to her downfall in Skyfall and yet her relentless
dedication and belief does payoff when Bond finally takes down Silva, her dying
line ‘I got something right’ a loving homage to the agent she trusted above all
others. The decision to make Ralph Fiennes character Mallory the new M is a
strong indication that the realistic approach to Bond will continue, his M
being one who has experienced the field of duty rather than just dictated it as
past M’s have.
But with all true
Bond films, the focus should be on the man of the moment himself and certainly Skyfall is no different. Daniel Craig’s
rough and ready Bond has already won critical acclaim but here the extension of
the character is what will define his place in Bond legacy. For the first time
we get to delve into Bonds upbringing, his childhood and maybe get a glimpse of
why this man is the man he is. Craig’s Bond is less a smooth talking ladies man
and more a human male entering mid life suffering from anxieties common to many
a man in his position. In this he has managed to make Bond accessible, yes we
love to aspire to be Bond, the smooth talking, sex god spy with a license to
Kill, but Craig’s 007 also allows us to realise that Bond, like us, has his
weaknesses, his worries and this only serves to make him more relevant in today’s
society. The destruction of his childhood home and his beloved Aston Martin DB5
acts as a metaphor to the progression of Bond in cinema over the last 50 years.
As the world adapts to changing circumstances, so must Bond if this franchise
is to succeed. But the message in the film is clear and simple, the world will
change, MI6 will change and the nature of evil will change, but James Bond can
and will adapt and continue, longevity the reason the franchise and indeed the
man will continue to inspire and entertain cinema audiences for years to come.
Film Rating: 5 Jakes
By Jake Roche
