"No Time To Die": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Daniel Craig is arguably the greatest James Bond ever. Reflecting back to 2006, there were many doubters who implied that Craig's version of Bond was going to be a decision that the studios would later regret. Fast forward fifteen years and five films later, it is quite clear that Craig has surpassed most expectations and his last installment might be his best acting performance to date. However, even though it has come to a bittersweet close, director/ writer Cary Joji Fukunaga ("Beasts Of No Nation", "True Detective") pleases rather than delights, making the final Craig entry a mixed bag.
As Bond gets caught up in a clichéd bioweapon plot line and a series of predictable betrayals, a dangerous villain (Rami Malek) awaits Bond's next move.
Venturing through some of the most gorgeous Bond locations yet, writers Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Fukunaga don't maximize the potential they possess. From the bustling streets of Jamaica, to the striking landscapes of Norway, most of the locations come across as set dressing rather than authentic plot devices. While stunning to visually experience, the script mostly falls by the wayside, making the stakes feel less threatening. Each time Bond maneuvers his way out of another impossible situation, the less it feels like a Bond film and more a copy of the consistently well done "Mission Impossible" series.
As a long-time fan of Fukunaga's work, there's still plenty to enjoy here. Some unique Bond gadgets, a few great side characters and a lot of fun fan service elevate it beyond some of the lesser 007 entries such as "Quantum Of Solace". Seeing it in the best possible theater is a must, making each small detail Fukunaga employs, from costume design, to sets and cinematography create visual eye candy like no other film this year.
Craig, Lea Seydoux and Jeffrey Wright knock it out of the park with their performances and a few others like Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, Christoph Waltz, and Rami Malek do a solid job in their supporting roles, but none of the side characters are layered enough to warrant the almost three-hour runtime. As the audience, we are given snippets into these characters' lives (other than Bond) but never enough to care.
In Fukunaga's past films, every character motivation had its reason to exist, but "No Time To Die" lacks the sophistication in storytelling to do so, relegating itself with about forty minutes of tedious padding. I adored Craig's acting, loved the scenery, and appreciated some of its smart fan service. But for a film that needed to conclude perfectly to please most die hard Bond fans, it felt like a mostly by the book attempt to tackle one of the most cherished Bonds ever put to screen.
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