Absolutely Brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2008)

Coming into this I was expecting a solid film, coming from Marc Forster with the franchise coming off of Casino Royale. I didn't expect it to be nearly this good. First of all, the direction is brilliant. Without saying too much, the Opera scene and a few other key moments are so well edited and directed that I was breathless, and not just from the action. The film delivers on these moments more than any other Bond film has. One comment I just read mentioned it not having substance - okay, yes, it's a Bond film. I think you have to grant that it's the most intelligently-written Bond film yet (not surprising, considering who wrote it - the Casino Royale team including Haggis), and there is not one wince-causing line in the script; also, the characters almost never, with maybe one or two exceptions, fall into the horrible Bond clichés. It develops characters realistically in the vein of Casino Royale. The plot itself, smart but not world-changing, isn't really the payoff. James Bond is. When the film ended, I was as satisfied as when I had walked out of some of my favorite films. Before walking into the midnight showing, In Bruges was my favorite film of 2008. I never expected this had even a remote chance of coming close, but it may have just trumped it. Doubtless, opinions will differ, but from a little-too-zealous film student, there's my two cents. See it.