Goodbyes are hard, and Daniel Craig isn’t making things any easier in his final turn as the character that has defined his career.
After nearly two years of delays which started with director Danny Boyle’s departure and ended with a global pandemic, the 25th James Bond film “No Time to Die” is finally in cinemas nationwide. Daniel Craig’s final turn as 007 is an homage to all the films that have preceded it, as well as a fitting send off to the best modern Bond anyone could have asked for.
Craig’s run as Bond has been marked by hard-hitting action, memorable supporting characters and the indefinable coolness that he’s brought to the role since his days of playing poker against Mads Mikkelsen. All of which - besides poker - can be found in his latest and final MI6 mission.
Craig’s closing performance is in no way a step down from his previous work. He brings the same gravatace and swagger that his Bond is known for, proving that despite some half-baked scripts from previous installments, he was never the problem. He once again puts his Tom Ford Windsor three-piece, and what’s left of his body, on the line with stunts that measure up to any others from the series. Despite his often-mocked stature, Craig has left a gargantuan pair of Crockett and Jones for whoever is destined to wear them next.
The film’s action and fight choreography is some of the series’ best, hopefully making a case for director Cary Joi Fukunaga to return to the franchise at some point in the future. The way his camera moves through space is a delight and his action is as stylish as it is visceral, keeping its momentum from the gorgeous opening car chase, to a long take up a flight of stairs towards the climax.
Fukunaga understands the franchise’s history and honors not only Craig’s run as the super-spy, but those that came before him as well. His task of bringing the Craig era of Bond films to a satisfying conclusion was a big one, as these 007 movies have been much more interconnected than their predecessors.
Fans who have been with Craig since 2006’s “Casino Royale” will notice several nods and callbacks to all of blue-eyed Bond’s missions since getting his 00 license. “No Time to Die” puts a bow on the series, calling back to previous characters and wrapping up loose ends while still giving fans something to look forward to.
“No Time to Die” may be filled with familiar faces, but it’s newcomers also deserve their recognition.
Ana de Armas shines in her role as CIA operative Paloma, absolutely burning up the screen for the five minutes she’s on it. Armas brings another fresh take to the “Bond girl” trope that has already seen some note-worthy interpretations in the Craig films. Paloma will almost certainly be showing up in future 007-related properties, hopefully with more screen time.
Lashana Lynch also gives a strong performance as Nomi, MI6’s new 007. Thankfully, the firestorm that ensued when Lynch’s role was announced was completely unwarranted. Lynch’s character was given the 007 title after Bond’s retirement following the events of 2015’s “Spectre” but as both Bond and Nomi state, “It’s just a number.”
The film acknowledges that James Bond can be replaced in more ways than one, while making sure that Bond isn’t overshadowed in his own movie. Nomi will certainly get more play in any future spin-offs, but she’s rightfully relegated to a well-rounded supporting character in this story.
Rami Malek’s villain is the film’s weakest link, his backstory is interesting but his motivations and world-ending plot start to unravel with the slightest tug. Malek gives a fine performance and hits all the standard beats for a Bond villain, but the final result ends up being very one-note.
Bond villains aren’t exactly known for their complex characters and fully realized visions, characters from prior installments like Javier Bardem’s Silva and Mads Mikkelsen’s Le Chiffre are more of the exception than the rule. Malek’s villain ends up making more sense the less you think about it, which might actually be the point. He gives Bond another reason to save the world, which is all he really had to do.
When Daniel Craig was first cast as the titular super-spy, a lot of fuss was made about the actor's blue eyes. Fans debated about whether or not Bond was allowed to have such a piercing gaze, since none of his predecessors did. Those fans stopped talking as soon as “Casino Royale” hit theaters, but the Bond filmmakers apparently didn’t forget.
“No Time to Die” takes its final, emotional moments to call attention to Craig’s “baby-blues,” no doubt as one last dig at those who ever thought twice about his ability to portray England’s espionage expert. Craig went above and beyond to deliver a modern version of James Bond that would satisfy old fans and in turn bring in new ones. Needless to say, Craig never missed the mark, and Bond fans will be feeling the absence left in his wake for years to come.
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