FilmSnobReviews

Title: No Time To Die
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Starring: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek, Ana de Armas
Runtime: 2 hr 43 mins

What It Is: After leaving active service, James Bond is enjoying a peaceful yet bittersweet life off the grid. However, there’s almost no time to retire as an old friend, Felix Leiter from the CIA, asks Bond to aid him in a mission to stop a mysterious villain on the verge of cataclysmic greatness.

What We Think: Ever since 2006’s Casino Royale, Daniel Craig’s take on Bond has been one of my absolute favorites. His run as Bond is also the most unique, in the way that his character develops throughout a linear story across multiple films – something is never seen before in the Bond franchise. And, after a great many delays for almost 2 years, I can happily (and finally) say: No Time To Die is the conclusion that this Bond deserves. In fact, it might just be the best final entry in a Bond actor’s run (License to Kill comes close) and the most moving Bond film to date.

Following Spectre, the film picks up just after Bond and Madeline Swan’s happy ending… and everything escalates from there. Starting off with the performances, everyone is incredible. Léa Seydoux is as vulnerable as she is cold, the perfect match for Craig’s Bond. A few familiar returning faces include Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Wishaw reprising their roles on the MI6 team – all playing their characters flawlessly. And although “sometimes the old ways are best”, there are plenty of fresh faces here as well; most notably Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, and Rami Malek, who are all excellent additions to the cast. Lynch is quite charismatic and her chemistry with Craig is hilarious – quite amusing to see the two 007’s exchange quips, as well as their views on MI6. Ana de Armas is a definite stand-out here and an absolute gem, her scenes with Craig are phenomenal as they are charming; they shine in one of my favorite sequences in the entire film. And lastly, we have Rami Malek as the latest Bond villain: Safin. While perhaps not as memorable as Silva or Le Chiffre, Safin is still fleshed out as a threatening villain; with a chilling persona as well as being a deeply disturbing challenge for Bond. And as for Bond himself… Daniel Craig delivers an outstanding final performance that cements his portrayal of Bond as quite possibly the best of all time.

The film is shot gorgeously, the brilliant artistic decision from Fukunaga and his DP Linus Sandgren to shoot on film brings the nostalgic 60’s Bond look to the Craig era. Deep colors, sleek shadows, beautiful wide-angle shots and breathtaking scenes filmed in natural light make for a visually stunning entry – a tough act to follow after Roger Deakin’s Skyfall and Hoyte Van Hoytema’s Spectre. From a misty forest to the streets of Matera, from Cuba at night to a suspenseful snowy encounter, Sandgren joins the ranks of Bond’s best DP’s. In terms of how big of a punch these action scenes pack… you won’t be disappointed. Without a doubt, this film has some of the best sequences of the Craig era (as well as the entire series as a whole). The opening alone is enough to enthrall even the wariest of fans, and the film’s third act has brutally intense moments (a certain stairwell sequence comes to mind).

Speaking of the wariest of fans – No Time To Die’s story is the perfect finale to Craig’s Bond saga. Like I mentioned at the start of this review, this Bond has gone through a linear story – and this is its conclusion. All threads as far back as Casino Royale are neatly sewed into the fabric of Craig’s saga. Yet, what surprised me the most about No Time To Die was how deeply emotional and personal it was – with even a few parallels to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (a highly underrated Bond film). The film’s final 20 minutes are profoundly captivating, and this might just be the most moving ending to a Bond film. The emotions that overtook me were those of resolve and elation, as it proved to close Craig’s chapter in Bond history with a poignant finale that will leave many stunned and mind-blown. In fact, this brings me to a quick remark on Hans Zimmer’s score for the film – which is absolutely beautiful. Zimmer returns to the roots of the Bond score, with thumping pieces during the action sequences, (again) an excellent tribute to the main theme of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in one of the film’s tracks, and for the finale… one of the best pieces of music written for a Bond film. This film is technically and naturally spectacular.

Our Grade: A+; An euphoric and thrilling end to the Craig Bond era, No Time To Die is a fantastic Bond film. Craig and co. give it their all, the action and adventure are as entertaining as ever, and the finale will warm even the coldest of hearts. Mr. Bond, it’s been a pleasure.