Photo Courtesy of IMDb
Six years since his previous Bond film, Daniel Craig is back one last time as Ian Fleming’s James Bond in “No Time to Die,” directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Following the mixed reception of “Spectre” in 2015, much speculation began to circulate whether Craig would return to his role as the British secret service agent, with the actor going as far to say he’d rather “slash his wrists” than do another one.
By late 2017, however, a deal had been reached and Craig enthusiastically announced his return to the role for one last film. Despite Craig’s return, the picture went into three years of, according to Variety, “development hell.” Between the changing of directors, multiple screenwriters leaving the project because of creative differences and the COVID-19 pandemic, production was pushed back six times.
The film follows MI6 Agent James Bond (Craig) who left active service with his lover Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) after the capture of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) in the climax of the previous film, “Spectre.” Bond is quickly pulled out of retirement after receiving word that a scientist developing a new world power has been captured by an adversary, Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek), who has a connection to Swann’s past.
Joined by new and old allies Nomi (Lashana Lynch) and Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), Bond faces his most daunting mission yet that tests his trust, loyalty, skill and relevance in an evolving world where spies and espionage are relics of the Cold War. Also returning in supporting roles to help Bond in his mission include M, the head of MI6 (Ralph Fiennes), Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), Q (Ben Whishaw) and MI6 chief of staff, Tanner (Rory Kinnear).
“No Time to Die” is a triumph and above all else a satisfying end to Craig’s tenure as James Bond. For someone who has been playing the character for 15 years, Craig still gives an energetic and compelling performance like he did in his initial outing when “Casino Royale” hit screens in 2006, continuing to bring new depth to the role in the movie. For many in this generation, he will be the James Bond they remember fondly, just like Sean Connery and Roger Moore were an introduction to the character for older fans. Craig redefined Bond for a new generation, leaving behind the over dependence on gadgetry and far-fetched plots that had become a common trope during Pierce Brosnan’s on-screen portrayal. That was replaced with realistic, gripping, gritty, dark and modern stories on issues happening in our current world.
Unsurprisingly, director Fukunaga and Craig both continue to bring all of this and more in the finale, never missing a beat or leaving viewers with a dull moment throughout this nearly three-hour picture. The film is something of a spectacle, never giving fans a moment to slow down in its runtime. The story is more relevant than ever in today’s world with themes touching on trust, love and questioning the relevance we play in each other’s lives and the world that is changing in ways we are not ready for. Lastly, the film does what no other Bond adventure has done before by giving viewers a story on the importance of relationships and family.
“No Time to Die” ultimately pays off and is well worth the wait for Bond fans and casual filmgoers alike. The only downside to the film is that Malek is not given enough screen time as the antagonist. Also, in the first hour much information is thrown at viewers in excess instead of in a more natural, flowing manner. This in turn can become a bit too much to follow if you do not pay close attention. However, there is more than enough good that deems this a worthy watch and a satisfying conclusion to the era of Daniel Craig’s run as Bond, James Bond.
