‘No Time to Die’ — A long, loving goodbye to the Daniel Craig era of James Bond
What happens when you infuse invincibility with vulnerability? What happens when you sprinkle the tenderness of fatherly love on top of the merciless exterior of licensed to kill?
Cary Joji Fukunaga’s take on No Time to Die experiments and, very successfully, strikes a balance with these conflicting attributes. It’s the 007 that we all know and love: unflappable as ever, filled with futuristic gadgets and the beats of the Bond theme playing softly like a heart. But there is also something else, something new, about Bond.
As for the plot, it must be said that it felt a bit drawn out. Not so much that the film wasn’t worth watching, but enough to make you notice that your stomach was rumbling half way through.
I left this world only for part of the film. But for that small part I was transported, captivated, charmed, engaged in the characters (especially Daniel Craig’s Bond swansong) and emotionally connected with Bond’s love affair. And, it must be said, giving her more screen time was extremely successful for Lea Seydoux as Madeleine — she was delightful, gorgeous and perfect for creating an endearing Bond legacy.
The movie begins with Bond out of service and living a peaceful life in Jamaica — there’s nothing more 007 than an exotic location, right? The peace is short lived, though, when the Bond villain, Safin — played by Rami Malek — creates a bio weapon (surprise, surprise) that is programmable to target certain DNA types.
007 must do what he has always done — save the world, destroy the villain and take home the blonde. The blonde, Madeleine, is both excitingly tough and delectably tender, and her daughter Matilde is a delight. Only this time — don’t worry, no spoilers — Bond cannot be as successful as he normally is, and the ending fits everything together like a jigsaw puzzle, and just… click!
Daniel Craig’s acting offers the opportunity for audiences to truly feel connected to Bond: he plays Bond more realistically and it is totally believable, not cringey or corny. For the first time, he seems a real person, both strong and occasionally vulnerable, able to mete out pain and retribution while also being able to suffer and be injured, physically and emotionally.
It is not the best Bond movie but, yes, this one has a heart. Daniel Craig’s farewell to his role is touchy, memorable and painful — especially at the climax.
