Fragmentary, kinetic and vastly enjoyable - a Bond for its times

Rating: 8/10 (15 November 2008)

It would seem Mr. Bond, James Bond, has yet to tire of reinventing himself. After the critical and commercial success of precursor Casino Royale, one would have expected producers to take the safe route of carrying on the franchise with the same self-reflexive yet supremely entertaining tone. But far be it from 007 to settle for the safe option, as Quantum of Solace showed fearless confidence from day one, from the tongue-tripping title (referring to Bond's seeking emotional closure after the death of the one woman he allowed himself to love) to being the first direct sequel in the series (picking up only a matter of hours after Casino Royale's finish). The final film encompasses this daring, simultaneously returning to the more fun spirit of earlier Bond outings while paradoxically proving one of the least "Bond-like" films in the series.
This curious hybridity of tone can likely be attributed to unconventional director Marc Foster, more renowned for harrowing character studies like Monster's Ball or Finding Neverland. But while not versed in action credentials, Foster cannot be faulted for lack of ambition, kicking off his film at a frenzied pace which seldom slows, cohesion cast aside in favour of sheer energy and movement. As such, the film never quite gels as a whole, but the sum of its fragmentary parts proves too entertaining for one to mind.
Aiming beyond the superficiality of the traditional Bond film without sacrificing its gleeful escapism, Quantum of Solace proves the most overtly politically and socially topical Bond film to date. In lieu of the usual oversimplifications of global politics, this Bond interacts with a world where major governments lend support to corrupt dictators in exchange for oil, and the villain is frightening not because of a laughably over the top scheme to rule the world but for playing upon frighteningly valid environmental concerns. Foster's knack for credible characterisation also makes the film the rare exception to the action movie rule where the quiet character moments peppering the pyrotechnic mayhem prove among the film's most fulfilling points. As Bond, his soul as ravaged and barren as the desert setting symbolically chosen for the film's climax, desperately pursues either vengeance or peace, the film is given a crucial emotional core, with enough substance to make the film far more than an explosion-riddled guilty pleasure.
However, Foster knows his demographic, and almost overcompensates for the film's surprising complexity on the action front, saturating his film with enough viciously intense fistfights (though complaints may ensue over coordinator Dan Bradley overly recycling his distinctive style from the Bourne series), explosions and various vehicular chases (car, foot, motorcycle, boat and plane respectively) to enthrall even the most jaded action junkies.
Once again, Daniel Craig as 007 proves the high point of an already impressive film, masking Bond's raw, seething emotions under a carefully cultivated shell of grim stoicism, making his inner turmoil all the more affecting. Conversely, Craig is given more of a chance to exercise his suave wit this time, proving just as adept at wry quips as heavy dramatic scenes or bone- crunching fights. Olga Kurylenko's fierce simmer makes her a wonderfully compelling female lead, even if her chief motivation is overly familiar (vengeance), and Mathieu Almaric is deliciously slimy as villainous Dominic Greene, all the more effective by how eerily plausible his character is. As usual, Judi Dench shines as Bond's superior M, providing a welcome burst of perfectly curt authority and class. However, despite her best attempts at a charming performance, Gemma Arterton's throwback to the 'traditional' (ie: more passive) Bond girl proves a misfire, her brief and uneventful role marking how unnecessary and out of place her inclusion was in the first place. And the less said about that clumsy Goldfinger homage the better...
Despite the myriad of its exceptional parts, Quantum of Solace never quite convenes into a cohesive whole, giving the impression of a collection of subplots enthusiastically thrust together and shot off at high octane, as heavy on political commentary and emotional drama as its abundant action. An oddity for a 007 film to be sure, but one so enormously entertaining that both fans of the series and those unfamiliar with Bond are sure to be swept up by its gleefully madcap grandeur.
-8/10