A very different James Bond, and it works

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2007)

(Watched in Toronto)
The structure of this new James Bond movie is the manifestation of the three acts in a magical trick as explained in "The prestige" (2006). I have been stealing glances at my watch, not out of boredom, but for the purpose of getting a feel for the structure of the movie, and the surprise outcome is an association with "The prestige". In this 144-minute movie, the first hour sets up the "The Pledge", with minor villain, minor beauty and smaller stakes. The next hour is "The Turn", when we get the major villain, major beauty and big stakes. But if you've watched any action thriller at all, you know only too well that this is not all. The last 25 minutes deliver the ace of trump, "The Prestige".
This is not new (and is generally predictable). Likewise the well-crafted, exciting action. The most remarkable thing about this 2006 edition of "Casino Royale", however, is a James Bond unlike any that we have seen before. No longer a fairy-tale character whose tux stays as if freshly pressed after a life-and-death fight, this is an 007 of blood and sweat. The establishing scene (not the prelude in black and white but the mad chase up and a crane) shows clearly that this is a Bond that can stumble and blunder, sometimes even clumsily, like anybody else. We must remember that this is the story of how 007 started out (the working title of the movie is "Bond Begins", just like Batman), just getting his promotion to "double O" status  a rough diamond rather than a slick, seasoned secret agent. I think that is partly why Daniel Craig is chosen. Even someone as manly as Hugh Jackman would still be too dashingly handsome. And Craig, by a near-unanimous verdict, has done a great job.
As to others in cast, it's nice to see Eva Green chic and glamorous after her youthful (The Dreamers) and classic (Kingdom of heaven) beauty personas. Jeffery Wright, Bill Murray's electronic wiz neighbour in "Broken flowers" and Christopher Plummer's bright protégé in "Syriana", makes an almost cameo appearance. And of course, as "M", Judi Dench is Judi Dench.