MOVIES

Review: Daniel Craig leaves James Bond behind in compelling 'No Time to Die'

George M. Thomas
Akron Beacon Journal

Pre Daniel Craig, I wasn’t much of a James Bond fan.

In some quarters, such an admission by someone who writes about movies is as sacrilegious as dousing ketchup on a hot dog at a baseball field. No, I don’t do that.

But what about Sean Connery, the original Bond, some will ask?  Nope.  When everyone worked themselves into a lather about his return to the role in the cheekily titled “Never Say Never Again” in 1983, I shrugged my shoulders.

Craig, however, brought something different to the role other than charisma. “Skyfall” and his turn as 007 brought not just action, but emotional heft to the franchise.  It remains my favorite Bond film and the best film in the franchise.

Craig’s swan song in “No Time to Die,” doesn’t quite measure up to “Skyfall,” but possessing a mindset in which I consider that film perfect, I don’t think any Bond film could.

Close to Daniel Craig's 'Skyfall'

However, it’s fairly close as 007, retired and finally getting the opportunity to enjoy peace, quiet and love with a young woman named Madeleine (Léa Seydoux).  However, it’s Bond, so that peace is going to be short-lived.  Yes, the two eventually part company after Bond’s past life catches up to him.

Fast forward five years and he’s living well in Jamaica, still retired, but less entangled, when old buddy and CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) shows up looking for a favor – help, to be exact.  He wants Bond to retrieve a piece of tech and the scientist who created it that his old agency, MI6, and its chief M (Ralph Fiennes) want as well.

M in particular had a hand in developing the device in the hopes his agency will be able to use it as a deterrent. Right. Intent is great when situations go as planned.

Instead, it ends up in the hands of Lyutsifer Safin (Oscar-winner Rami Malek), someone with an axe to grind and he’s using Madeleine to get access to the device. Needless to say, that removes Bond hastily out of retirement.

Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond, "No Time to Die," hits theaters only this weekend.

That power move forced Bond to deal with a whirlwind of scenarios, including asking arch nemesis Blofeld (a dangerous and delightful Christoph Waltz, who has won two Oscars) for help. In fact, because this is Craig’s final outing, “No Time to Die” serves as a survey through his life in some respects, one where the screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, who also directs, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge drips with regret as Bond, someone who’s always been emotionally distant, reflects on his life, deeds and choices.

Daniel Craig brings emotional heft

In a Bond flick, some might see that as a weakness.  From this corner, it’s refreshing and fits perfectly with the tone that previous Craig installments have had and those moments where that reflection, much of it related to Madeleine, only enhances the character compelling him to deal with realities in his life.

A woman, Nomi (Lashana Lynch) has assumed the mantra of 007 and the prestige that comes with it. Bond's discomfort with this fact is palpable.  Evolution is a tough thing for some. Those elements add depth to a character that didn’t present much of it until Craig assumed the role. 

Jeffrey Wright stars as Felix Leiter in "No Time to Die."

But Bond movies should be about action, some will scream.  Indeed they should, and this one is with the expected stunts, tech and sequences that sometimes provide jaw-dropping moments and Fukunaga uses them to great effect in a film that runs 2 hours and 43 minutes with none of it feeling wasted.

Even with those action elements, audiences should turn back to Craig’s weary performance. He’s saving Britain and the world once again because he’s the only one who can and Craig makes that clear in his work. He’s still has the occasional zinger, but he’s at a place in life where we all wonder what’s next.

For Craig, we don’t know, beyond two “Knives Out” sequels. Bond, however, will endure with the well-scrutinized search for another actor who can fill the suit of the man who’s worn it best since taking the role in 2006’s “Casino Royale.”  Craig gets to say a fitting farewell to a character he elevated for modern audiences.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal. Reach him at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ByGeorgeThomas

Rory Kinnear stars as Tanner, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes as M in "No Time to Die."

Details

Movie: “No Time to Die”

Cast:  Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Christoph Waltz, Jeffrey Wright

Directed by:  Cary Joji Fukunaga

Running time: 2 hours 47 minutes

Rated:  PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, brief strong language and some suggestive material.

Grade: A-