“James Bond 007: No Time to Die”: Daniel Craig brings his Bond era to a brilliant end

“James Bond 007: No Time to Die”, in theaters from September 30th, with Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright. Director: Cary Juji Fukunaga.

What a departure! The new Bond shows a Daniel Craig at the height of his acting skills. Seldom has a Bond actor been so present in a film, and rarely has the camera been so close to his face. In “No Time to Die” Bond not only has to save the world, but also his own emotional world. The fact that the most famous spy in film history has recently been jamming the keyboard of soft skills makes his intoxicating chases in the Aston Martin no less crashing across the screen. So much in advance: The modernization of the Bond franchise has largely been successful. (Also read the exclusive GQ portrait: “James Bond: The True Story of Daniel Craig as 007” )

“No time to die”: So is the new James Bond

Suspense is one of the pillars on which every 007 film stands, but the 25th Bond is above all scary, for three reasons: First, the film starts with a chapter from Madeleine Swann’s (Léa Seydoux) story in which it is teeming with reminiscences of horror classics such as “Scream.” Quentin Tarantino’s opening scene of “Inglourious Basterds”, in which Christoph Waltz is looking for Jews in a lonely farmhouse, clearly resonates here and gives the film’s dark note You also: James Bond: Premiere in London, first reactions and tips for fans )

In the service of Her Majesty – and for the good of the child

Second , the global network of evil, SPECTER, arrives in “No Time to Die” at a biochemical super weapon of MI6, which is incredibly similar to the Corona virus. In one scene, Q (very funny: Ben Whishaw) points out that a kiss can be fatal. How much reality caught up with one’s own actions last year with the start of the pandemic looks creepy – almost grotesque – from today’s perspective, somewhere between the 3rd vaccination and the 4th wave. “No Time to Die” was one of the first really big blockbuster films that was cashed in last year due to the pandemic and pointed to a changed world. At the beginning of March, Universal Pictures announced November 12, 2020 as the new start date for the $ 250 million Bond. Far from the deadline. (Also read: Updates on the 007 editions of the Omega Seamaster )

In the first few seconds of the film, as a viewer, you claw your fingers around the back of the cinema seat because a crime is looming that you do not see too often in the cinema. The armed hunt for a child. A taboo in scriptwriting that is only permitted if the story legitimizes it. A tightrope walk. The third horror factor of this bond is the danger that children are in. Not just that one kid that shows up in the movie. The fundamental question is what one generation leaves behind for the other – and what kind of paternal qualities Bond has. Is James Bond a Modern Man?

Women are at Bond no longer laid, but promoted

Saving the world leads Bond to a mission in Cuba, where he is supported by the young agent Paloma (extremely confident: Ana de Armas) is supported. Everything has to happen quickly, the two disappear into a wine cellar, she in a provocative evening dress, he in anticipation of a classic Bond seduction scene. But then the twist that Paloma doesn’t want to undress the squad leader for sex, but rather to put on a tuxedo. In any case, Bond is more faithfully forgiven in this story than ever before.

Since the beginning of the #metoo debate, the Bond series has repeatedly served as an example of the contemptuous and persistent sexualizing depiction of women. In order to free themselves from the old gesture, the producers brought star writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Killing Eve”, “Fleabag”) into the script team. The fact that women are no longer laid by Bond, but save his life one time or another, all female and male qualities grow into common strengths and Bond’s spy colleague Nomi (Lashana Lynch) is promoted to 007 status, not only does that latest Bond from. It is also the most modern. (Read here: Former Bond Girl actresses speak exclusively in GQ about fame and sexism )

The showdown takes place in a cheerful Absurdistan

So gripping and narrative tight the first hour and a half of “No Time to Die” The showdown against adversary Lyutsifer Safin, whom Rami Malik plays so badly, that he gets dangerously close to the comic, is so laborious. There is also a law in the 007 series that is difficult to adhere to: Everything has to get even more blatant and so Rami Malik has the thankless task of having to be even more evil than the villain Ernst Blofeld (Christoph Waltz). And that’s difficult. (Read also: Christoph Waltz in an exclusive GQ interview about director Cary Fukunaga and much more )

Bond shoots his opponents away more indiscriminately and faster in the last third than would be possible in any first-person shooter. The set design in the center of evil cannot keep up with the show value of the previous locations in southern Italy, Cuba and London. But the confrontation of good and bad turns into an encounter with his own evil in Craigs Bond. The humanization of the superspy saves the finale. Towards the end the film catches up again and grows to a size that Daniel Craig deserved in his last performance as James Bond. And he knows how to deal with her. Fans will be moved. After all, it is a piece of film history that has been worthy of another chapter under Cary Fukunaga’s direction. In the eternal competition against the previous Bond, Daniel Craig finally turned the spy into a person – a very good one.