James Bond has had an amazing history on the big screen, one that spans decades of films. The longevity of the series is thanks to the changing faces of the titular hero which gives a refreshing new take on the character that each new actor brings to the role. Roger Moore had that 60’s charm and wit, whereas Pierce Brosnan brought the swagger and cool of the ’90s into his films. As for Daniel Craig, he brought a grittier and more grounded version of the character.
Casino Royale felt in many ways like a reboot for the series. We had fewer gadgets and more physical action, and as you will find out in the shots I picked out for today’s blog the result was worth it. The film series had moved into the modern territory, with Eva Green providing a tragic performance as Vesper Lynd and Mads Mikkelsen giving a subdued by the effective Bond villain as Le Chiffre.
The opening of James Bond, and our introduction to Daniel Craig’s version of the character, jumps us straight into the action with a parkour chase sequence in Madagascar, and in this particular shot we immediately learn that this version of James Bond is more physical, kinetic and dangerous than what we are used to. The chase between Bond and Mollaka is a highlight in the film, and the angle and scope of this scene proves that Bond has entered new heights - quite literally! The dialogue is minimal to non-existent, and we discover that this version of Bond is a man who doesn’t give up and is willing to do anything to get the job done.
Le Chiffre is in many ways a bit like Bond, he is precise, calculating and his presence is always felt when he enters the room. This level of intimidation matches and levels with James Bond, giving Bond an adversary which will prove challenging to take down. This shot demonstrates this balance between characters really well. In fact, the black and white symmetry of the clothes presents the good versus evil between Bond and Le Chiffre, further showcasing they’re both sides of the same coin. Having the central concept of the film being based in a Casino we see something we rarely see in Bond films, a battle of the minds instead of the usual gunfire and chaos.
So I’ve talked about the villain and of James Bond’s new set of skills, but there’s another important part to a James Bond film and that’s the women involved. Eva Green portrays Vesper Lynd in a way we’ve never seen in a Bond film before.
Vesper isn’t a damsel in need of rescuing or some eye candy-like in the early Roger Moore films. She’s damaged, human, and an equal to James Bond. In fact, she brings out a vulnerability in James Bond that hasn’t been seen on screen before, and the vulnerability that Daniel Craig brings to his performance as James Bond is perfectly embodied in this shot. Vesper has history, we don’t know what that is and neither does Bond, and that’s not important. It’s the relationship between them that develops throughout the film that’s important. This shot marks the point where Vesper and Bond share their vulnerability with each other.
Like I said at the beginning, Casino Royale is seen as a reboot and it redefined the conventions of what makes a Jame Bond film. It’s these new tropes and storytelling techniques that have followed through in subsequent films such as Skyfall and Spectre. Vesper and Le Chiffre are great characters brought to life in a way that doesn’t make them caricatures but instead equals to Bond. Casino Royale is a great film and when looking back at the history of James Bond it easily stands out above the rest.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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