Old School Bond, New Life

Rating: 9/10 (18 November 2006)

"You don't trust anyone So you learned your lesson." Judi Dench as M says this to Daniel Craig's James Bond. This is a harsh and life altering lesson for newly licensed to kill Agent 007 in Director Martin Campbell's "Casino Royale". "Casino Royale" distinguishes itself as the debut of Daniel Craig as James Bond, and a reinvention of the Bond franchise. On the second count, the paradox is that this new Bond is very old school. "Casino Royale" was the first of Ian Flemming's Bond novels. This adaptation by screenwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis provides a glimpse of the man before he would become suave Agent 007. This time around we actually get a feel for James Bond as a man, not just a caricature. Perhaps Paul Haggis's contribution is a compelling story of love and betrayal. In the first scene of "Casino Royale" Bond attains his "00" status with his first two kills. One is a bloody brawl in the restroom. The other is a clean kill shot. Bond is a cold dispassionate killer. That's what he does. Back to the first count: Daniel Craig is awesome. Craig is perhaps the most physical Bond ever, including a young Sean Connery, and he nails the dangerous bad boy persona unlike any predecessor. Craig punctuates the action as Bond, given the opening kills and the breathtaking high altitude fight scene on the girders of a construction sight. All the fight scenes are devastating with a martial arts and street-fighting edge. Old school.
Daniel Craig is the first blond Bond, younger, and shorter than previous Bonds (at just under 6 foot). That being said, he may be the best Bond yet. Arguably the "best" Bond, Sean Connery, still played Bond with an air of self amusement, knowing that his character was never in any true danger. Craig provides a dangerous powerful presence. He is a rugged man, a great athlete with a ripped physique. Props to Craig, not since the young Connery has Bond looked good without a shirt. Craig plays Bond as a real guy. As the evolving super spy, he is rough, reckless, and sullen. Craig also instills in Bond vulnerability, and self awareness that he is a killer albeit for Her Majesty's Secret Service. So when he falls for the beautiful and beguiling Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), it is a combination of swallowed ego and surrender. Bond (Craig) tells Vesper (Green), "I have no armor left." This is not a less manly Bond, rather a more human Bond.
"Casino Royale" has been updated from the original Flemming Cold War novel to the present day threat of global terrorist cells. International investment banker LeChiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) has financed terrorists around the world since 9/11, and has become very wealthy and powerful. Following a botched operation tracking down a terrorist in Madagascar, Bond is ordered on hiatus by M (Judi Dench). M knows her young charge will not give up the trail. Bond goes to the Bahamas, then eventually to Montenegro for a $150 million poker game with LeChiffre. The plan is for Bond to beat LeChiffre; thus, exposing him to his nefarious investors. Enter British Treasury official Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) with Bond's $10 million stake. At first Vesper is unimpressed with the newly anointed "00". However, that eventually changes.
There are perhaps two weaknesses that keep "Casino Royale" from being a stunning movie. First, LeChiffre, who actually cries bloody tears, is not a great threatening villain. Granted Craig is a powerful force. However, Mikkelsen comes off as more an effeminate freak with a cruel sadistic edge as evidenced by the horrific torture scene near the end. "Casino Royale" at 2 hours and 24 minutes, much like this comment, runs too long. There are a lot of great action scenes including an electrifying airport sequence, but too much time is spent on the poker game. One of the surprising elements that work is the deepened relationship between M and Bond. M is ruthless in coaching her young charge, acknowledging his destiny of greatness. Dench breaths a refreshing motherliness and compassion in M-- she knows that for Bond to become great he must discard part of his own humanity. Here Campbell, writers Purvis, Wade, and Haggis are compelling.
The love story in the context of Bond's evolution is a surprising twist. Eva Green's bravado and lilt spirit make her striking as Vesper Lynd. The performances are solid. Judi Dench is great this time around providing added dimension to M, Director of MI6. Mads Mikkelsen does the best he can with the eccentric evil LeChiffre. Daniel Craig is powerful. His performance enlightens us of the character, and evolves the franchise. Craig's Bond fears no man, though he can forfeit his heart to a woman. A different kind of Bond? Perhaps. This is definitely a Bond worth following.