Review: Quantum of Solace (2008)

[dnb at dca.net]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2008 David N. Butterworth

*** (out of ****)


     Hectic.  That, in a word, is the new Bond film--number 22 if you-re
counting--from its opening sequence onwards with barely a break for a
vodka martini (or a Vesper) thereafter.  And even if you've never read
the books you get the sense watching "Quantum of Solace" (that title, by
the way, is a mouthful and mostly meaningless) that this is probably how
Ian Fleming imagined his James Bond: ruthless, efficient, hard as
nails--a veritable bullet on the hit parade.  In his second go-round as
the suave, globetrotting MI6 operative Daniel Craig leaps from
balconies, speeding cars, and prostrate women with the alacrity of a
Namibian springbok.  He's easy on the eyes (his are a brilliant ice-y
blue) and loose-y goose-y with the trigger finger.  There's less
cheekiness to his Bond.  And speaking of growing into a role Dame Judi
continues to arrive as M, acerbic and no-nonsense-y.  She's so good, in
fact, that you can't imagine her wanting to play another role (although
she's done more than 75 to date).  Director Marc Forster ("The Kite
Runner") choreographs the whole thing as if his tenure with the
franchise depended on it (although not since 1989's "License to Kill"
has the same director helmed back-to-back Bonds).  Ukranian supermodel
Olga Kurylenko plays "Bond Girl" Camille, Roman Polanski lookalike
Mathieu Amalric is the baddie, and Giancarlo Giannini returns as Mathis.
 Gone are Q and Moneypenny but David Arnold's serviceable music evokes
the classic Bond scores of old.  A novel twist in "Quantum'" is how it
picks up where the last one left off--Bond is bent on avenging the love
of his life, Vesper Lind, even though M clearly tells him not to make it
into a personal vendetta 007.  "'Solace" isn't as assured as "Casino
Royale" but it's an exciting--and noisy--diversion nonetheless.


--
David N. Butterworth, Film Editor
www.offoffoff.com/film | dnb at dca.net