Skyfall — Bill Bodkin
The past 10 years has given us so many great films, but one cannot deny one the decade’s biggest cinematic accomplishments was the creation of the best James Bond film of all-time, Skyfall.
While this sounds like a statement riddled with hyperbole and recency bias, let’s examine the moving parts of the 2012 film. Three-time Oscar nominee Paul Logan — known for writing The Aviator, Gladiator, and Last Samurai — was brought in to collaborate with longtime Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) was brought in to helm the project. Emmy winner Ben Whishaw and Oscar nominee Naomie Harris were cast as Bond icons Q and Moneypenny while Oscar winner Ralph Fiennes was brought in to (eventually) replace fellow Oscar winner Dame Judi Dench as M. To top it all off, another Oscar winner, Javier Bardem was brought in to play the film’s villain Raoul Silva.
Simply put, a lot of tried and true award-laden talent was brought into the fold for this new Bond film — and their additions are no small reason why Skyfall worked.
Logan’s script delved deeper into the fractured body and soul of Bond than ever before — playing off his physical debilitation due to years of field work and hard drinking, and the emotional after-effects of the death of Vesper (Ava Green) two movies prior. The script, and Mendes’ ability to direct broken male characters brought out Daniel Craig’s finest performance. It should also come as no surprise Mendes got the best of Craig since he had similar results a decade earlier in Road to Perdition. Skyfall also eschewed from giving Bond a romantic interest — instead focusing more on his relationship with the only real parental figure in his life — M (Dench). Their chemistry is undeniable and it leads to one of the absolute best, most emotional ends to a Bond film ever.
And that’s what makes Skyfall work better than any other Bond film. The film is more about Bond the man, rather than Bond the living action figure/sex symbol/man of mystery. This is a character-driving film, and by making this decision Mendes roots everything into a more practical, realistic manner. The action is grittier, the humor is on point, and there’s real, emotional stakes instead of the run-of-the-mill Bond saves the world mantra.
The characters are three-dimensional beings who (especially in regards to M, Q, and Moneypenny) have actual roles in the film and not just requisite cameos at the beginning of a Bond adventure. Their flaws and motivations are not only fleshed out, but are integral to the script, and that gives this film so much more to become invested in. Meanwhile, Javier Bardem gives one of the best Bond villain performances ever. As a devil’s advocate Silva makes both the audience, and Bond question M and MI-6. Who are we really to trust here? Could M be a villain? Is Bond being used? This is an excellent layer to already dynamite script.
Oh, and the theme song by Adele — absolutely slays.
