I can’t simply look at the newest iteration in the Bond cannon – Spectre – and pronounce the franchise dead. Too often the man in the impeccably tailored suit has proved that notion wrong, rebooting after a 5-10 year passage of time with a new actor and new possibilities. But, Spectre is the first time under Daniel Craig’s stewardship that the franchise has felt tired and out of ideas. It’s like the writers watched all four seasons of Homeland, every Bond movie ever made and thought, “we can mash all this shit up into an entertaining blockbuster right?”
Well no, not even close in fact. In the face of some of the most entertaining action franchises in recent memory (Mission: Impossible, Fast & Furious) Bond once again feels like an afterthought. Where is the fun that defined Craig’s earlier iterations (Casino Royale, Skyfall…let’s not talk about Quantum of Solace)? Instead Director Sam Mendes has doubled down on Bond’s brooding past, weaving a tale of brotherly betrayal and bizarrely intricate backstabbing. You know what I don’t care about? What led MI:6’s finest agent to become who he is, I like who he is! Minus being an insufferably regressive sexist.
Alas Spectre does bring back many characters that made Skyfall such a pleasant return to form. Ralph Fiennes returns as M, Naomie Harris as the always loyal Moneypenney and Ben Whishaw as Q and his many gadgets. M is feeling pressure to end the 00 program in favor of more high tech warfare and after James has a less than conspicuous chase at a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, that forces M’s hand.
And at the very least Mendes NAILS this opening sequence. Following Bond through the city with a long single-take shot followed by a maniacal fight in a twirling helicopter is incredible, jaw-dropping stuff. It’s the kind of sequence we’ve come to expect since the parkour opening from Casino Royale. And while James escapes unscathed, he’s out of a job. He did however recover a trinket that leads him deeper into the criminal underworld than he’s ever been.
Said trinket leads Bond on a globe-hopping adventure (from Austria to Rome to Tangier) as he follows a lead left to him by the late M (Judi Dench.) But as Bond leaves that bravura opening scene further in the rearview mirror he leaves the energy as well. Drained of any sort of forward momentum the movie struggles mightily with more and more layers of meaningless plot. Instead of entertaining, Spectre is way too concerned with tying everything in a neat little bow. It’s exhausting to listen to and can’t be saved by some decent action. For example – you may have heard Christoph Waltz is in the film. You’d be right. He is certainly given motivation to exist in the story too but it’s so insanely contrived you absolutely won’t care.
And there-in lies the problem with Spectre. This film certainly had the financial backing to give us the most rousing Bond adventure ever, instead we get a sad sack wandering around for the sake of his old boss. Where’s the gravitas, the confidence, the swagger? Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation did us a favor by simplifying the entire system and keeping this as its central theme – fun. It was a fantastical film with ridiculous stunts, a handsome cast and a devious super villain. It was also funny and irreverent. You know what that sounds like?
If this is truly Daniel Craig’s final ride than it’s a shame Spectre couldn’t do his contribution justice. Craig is the best Bond ever and has sent the franchise into respectable, nearly Oscar worthy territory. But like all of his predecessors it sounds like he’s defied orders for the last time. That’s a bummer because he deserved to go out on top – shaken not stirred.
Rating: 
