In the 22nd installment of the James Bond movie franchise, we can see 007 in “Quantum of Solace.” In the previous film, “Casino Royale,” we were introduced to a new breed of Bond, as played by Daniel Craig as the suave secret agent. In a probable attempt to mirror a more serious time in the world, as crises mount daily, Bond is given a sharper edge that seems to suck out the humor and nonsense seen in previous installments, leaving a tenser feel behind.
Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond defines a new direction for the character, as he leads away from the more playful, carefree, wisecracking Bond more commonly seen from previous actors, like Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnon. In my opinion Craig’s Bond reflects the attitude of the movie perfectly as an actor with the weight of the world etched into his face and a vulnerability that can only be concealed by a diamond hard exterior towards the world that is unworthy of any love.
Adding to the casting quality is Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille, a Bolivian Secret Service Agent. Her role is a compliment to Bond, as she appears as a used and flawed beauty consumed with revenge.
The relationship between her and James strikes a chord of symmetry as they find in each other a sort of kindred spirit that trumps a cheap romantic fling overused in past James Bond films.
Of course this film is true to many of the hallmarks found in most James Bond movies. The action in “Quantum of Solace” is tangible and barely gives the audience time to catch their collective breath. If you like chases, then this movie will deliver.
From the very first minute we watch a car chase scene, and it doesn’t end there. There are also chase scenes in a boat and in a plane, and two by foot. And I am probably forgetting one.
This film like many others is an international affair that treks across multiple exotic locales in almost every scene. Also, in what seems like a Bond tradition, we watch a Bond girl succumb to a fate at the villain’s hands. In a scene reminiscent of a Goldfinger, we see a fleeting love interest meet her demise in a much more grisly fashion than being covered from head to toe in gold paint.
Of course this film stands out. This James Bond is infallible even as he walks a thin line of ethical morality and is reminded of it on more than one occasion. He is almost more like the hard-boiled film noir detectives than a playboy secret agent.
Yet he rises above it all, as we see that what we would expect to be our moral authorities, like the CIA or the British Parliament, make deals with admittedly bad people and then reason that the world is not black and white but gray, and survival depends not on friends who are good but on friends who are powerful. Bond is, however, uncorrupted.
The plot involves uncovering and taking down a shadowy global organization of power brokers, who dispose of and install dictators as a routine to further their own means. This scenario provides a more realistic premise for the film and can be paralleled to the world’s current struggle for natural resource.
It also strays away from the more common and ridiculous plots about super weapons seen so often in previous Bond films. Action junkies and the Bond faithful as well as new comers to the franchise can enjoy this film. However, watching “Casino Royale” is a prerequisite.
It is directed by Marc Forster (“Stranger Than Fiction,” “Finding Neverland”) and stars Daniel Craig (“Road to Perdition,” “The Golden Compass”) as James Bond, Judi Dench (“Notes on a Scandal,” “Mrs. Henderson Presents”) as M, and Olga Kurylenko (“Hitman,” “Max Payne”) as Camille.