Dir. Martin Campbell, US/UK/Czech Republic, 2006, 144 mins
Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen
Review by Carole Allen Over the years the Bond films, while still entertaining, have become increasingly self parodying. There would always be a spectacular pre-title sequence with no relationship to the main story, titles featuring shimmering images of sexy women, Q with his gadgets, M's secretary Miss Moneypenny, with whom Bond would have a mandatory flirtation sequence and Bond girls who were more for decoration than drama. The only way the films were developing was in trying to outdo the previous one, while sticking to the same formula. I must admit I was experiencing a distinct case of Bond fatigue at the thought of a 21st 007 movie, but this one has really given the franchise a total face lift.
All of those "fixed spots" have been swept away. This is a much harder edged and less fantastical treatment of Bond, starting with a gritty, brutal and totally different pre-title sequence in black and white. There is no Q, with his fantasy gadgets, only the slightly advanced version of today's technology such as you get in television programmes like "Spooks", and there is no Moneypenny. There is, however, more opportunity for Judi Dench to develop the character of M.
I was not one of those who screamed in horror at the casting of Craig for being blond and ugly. Although not conventionally handsome he is an attractive man and a very good and versatile actor. But I did have my doubts as to whether he was right for the action movie genre. Doubts swept away. Fleming's Casino Royale (1953) on which this is based, was the first Bond novel, when he is at the beginning of his 00 career and which justifies the film's depiction of him as more than a little rough round the edges. Craig is indeed a very different Bond for today - a bit of a thug to begin with, the sort of guy you'd like on your side in a pub brawl and who looks like he drinks real ale rather than vodka martinis, though in the course of the story he changes, matures and acquires a bit of polish. He handles the athletic action stuff well, and he looks great both in a dinner jacket and with his shirt off.
The plot however is a bit confusing for the first half hour or so. There are a couple of exciting and spectacular action sequences, one involving a chase in Madagascar up and down a half built building and another where a truck is attempting to blow-up a parked aeroplane at an airport, but I didn't have much idea what they were about and what the characters were trying to achieve. The basic story involves Mikkelsen as the rather downbeat villain Le Chiffre, who is funding terrorism through his winnings at the gambling table. Bond's job is to beat him at his own game at the Casino Royale of the title. The film really takes off with the arrival of Green as Vesper, the girl from the Treasury, whose job is to keep an eye on the government's millions with which Bond is playing (can't see Gordon Brown ever approving that caper!) Far from being a Bond bimbo, she is a lass with character and Green has a part worth playing. The first crossing of swords between her and Craig is alight with sexual sparks and their love scenes are very convincing without any explicit sex. There is plenty of violence however. The aforesaid pre-title sequence and a scene, where Le Chiffre is torturing Bond in a way that will make men in particular wince, are both really heavy. After the all important card game, the film makes great efforts to get back into more action, laying perhaps one or two twists too many onto the plot, but there is a spectacular finale involving the collapse of a Venetian palazzo, and the resolution of Bond's relationship with Vesper is unexpected and satisfying.
Overall the change of style is a very positive one, which couldn't have been done without a new and very different Bond. It will be interesting to see how he develops.
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