Bond is back and this time he’s a bit more human. He’s also a bit edgier thanks to Daniel Craig’s masterful portrayal of everyone’s favorite secret agent. 2006’s Casino Royale sees James Bond take a different direction and head towards realism in favor of gadgetry and edge in favor of goofy super-villains. The real question would be if the shoe fit or if the franchise was better off remaining dreadfully out of date.
The answer to that is that Daniel Craig delivers as an updated, fresh and gritty 007. This film packs a wallop, bringing the house down with gobs of sweeping action sequences, tense poker showdowns and even a little bit of natural romance. The film is based on Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel of the same name and it is the 21st film in the Bond franchise. It was directed by Martin Campbell, the director of Goldeneye, and written by a team of writers including Oscar-winner Paul Haggis.
The result is a sleek and sexy thriller with action sequences that are broad in scope and edgy in style. The dialogue crackles and snaps, too, with more dry wit than many of its predecessors. With expert scriptwriting and exotic locales, there’s a lot to like about Casino Royale.
There’s also a lot to like in Daniel Craig as 007. He brings an unfamiliar edge to Bond that many performers tried to capture but failed. Craig carves his own identity into the Bond niche, therefore, and makes the character his own much like the others before him. He neither plays Bond as being too straight or as too kind, but rather somewhere between cold and caring. Craig’s performance is a treat to watch.
The plot is a little wandering at points, almost as if the filmmakers tried to cover too much ground. The character-drive thriller may have been better off on a more simplistic setup, in all reality, but it doesn’t harm the overall film too much. The action is more realistic and gritty than any of the other Bond films, opening up new doors for the direction of the franchise and somehow capturing more of Fleming’s vision than many of the others.
It should be kept in mind that Casino Royale is meant to be a “reboot” of the franchise, much like Batman Begins operated for the Batman franchise. It operates from the novel material, but sets a new timeline for the events. This is interesting because it sets up much of the Bond iconography that many of us are familiar with, including the unique way he says his name and the way he likes his martinis. Moments like this offer a cheeky inside glance at the legend many moviegoers already know so well, while setting up a brand new narrative for film-lovers of new generations.
Essentially, Casino Royale has a hell of a job to do and accomplishes it with style and slick professionalism. The performances are very good, the script is witty and engaging, the action is gritty and almost epic, and the plot tends to wander a bit. As a complete film, Casino Royale is a more than worthy addition to the storied franchise and, frankly, exceeds the majority of films in the 007 legacy.
8/10
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