Skyfall: The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same

James Bond Spotlight

Time and time again the legendary James Bond film franchise has learned to adapt and survive. Survival of the fittest, if you will. Whether the reasons for concern were changes in the actor playing the part, the loss of a producer, turbulent waters for the studio’s finances, changes in screenwriters, or the lack of anymore Ian Fleming material upon which new adventures can be penned, the series has always quickly learned to get back on its feet to thrill and amuse audiences the world over. Even within the films themselves, the plots have almost always reflected new geopolitical paradigms, as well as cultural morays and trends in pop culture. James Bond is always recognizable, and yet he can adapt if need be. 50 years after the release of the first official film, Dr. No, Skyfall was unleashed unto the world, a film that simultaneously pays tribute to the franchise, the character of Bond, creates a bold, original story and helps remind audiences that there is always a place for 007 at the theater.

Bond (Daniel Craig) and fellow field agent Eve (Naomie Harris) are in Istanbul, tracking down a cyber-terrorist named Patrice (Ola Rapace) who has infiltrated the Turkish  MI6 station and stolen a hard drive containing the names of several key British undercover agents. A kinetic car chase, motorcycle pursuit and fistfight atop of a train concludes with Eve misfiring her sniper rifle, hitting Bond instead of the enemy. 007 crashes into the water below, presumed dead…Shortly thereafter, a shocking terrorist attack on MI6’s London headquarters forces Bond, who had survived his near-death experience and briefly adopted a hermit-like existence, drinking his days away, to return home and help M (Judi Dench) finally locate Patrice and who he is ultimately working for. M herself is in enough trouble as it is due to the Istanbul disaster, her work now being monitored by a consultant from the Ministry of Defense, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes). Bond’s first stop is Shanghai, but has the accident at the start of the film slowed him down too much, both physically and mentally? Are Bond and MI6 past their prime?

When James Bond Takes Center Stage in Story and in Theme

Before diving into the picture’s thematic importance, some other critical issues must be addressed first. Sitting in the director’s chair for this entry is award winner Sam Mendes, which immediately added significant credibility once it was announced. Additionally, the film cinematographer is the celebrated Roger Deakins, which had the die-hard and even the more casual fans salivating. Working together, they create a wonderful look to this latest Bond film, keeping much of the film just grounded enough for the places the characters visit to appear believable while injecting each with a sense of class, sexiness, and some idiosyncratic exoticness. The casino sequence in Macao is a fine example, Mendes and Deakins shooting a gambling establishment that looks normal enough (in its own fanciful, high-class way, naturally), but give the location such lighting and shadows that make it far more sinister and smokier than the audience originally anticipates. The finale, which occurs at Bond’s childhood home, the Skyfall estate in a remote part of Scotland, is drenched is a beautifully rich blue hue at one point and fiery orange at another as the building a barrage of grenade attacks. In essence, Skyfall stands in line with some of the series’ more exquisitely shot outings like The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Casino Royale, yet the image quality manages to surpass all of the aforementioned films. Skyfall is not just pretty to look at for its set design and costume designs, but for the pure cinematography above all else.

The ability of the fans and casual viewers alike to identify with the happenings of the Bond universe can be attributed, as has been previously stated, to the ability of the filmmakers to send 007 into an adventure that resonates with something in the real world, be it political, social or pop culture related (examples of the latter would be the many Rover Moore adventures which had the character partake in a blaxploitation-esque film, a flung fu parody and even a space adventure two years after the success of the original Star Wars). Where Skyfall plays its cards a little differently is in the way it weaves into its story the theme of James Bond. True enough, the story also harps on the relevance of spy organizations and their importance in the fight against terrorism in the early 21st century, but considering that in the world of these movies, the most important spy of them all is also the most ludicrous, it can be said that secondary theme reinforces the first one even further. It is incredibly fitting that director Mendes and his team shift their focus towards the character of Bond and him a theme unto itself given that 2012, the year the film was released, coincided with the  50th anniversary of the franchise on the big screen. Bond was in a lot of people’s minds at the time, and so what better idea to wrestle with than the very existence of the famed hero and how important he still is.

Can Bond become himself again or has he reached his limit?

Skyfall goes about this exploration of Bond’s place in movies and the world in several ways, the most important of which are the personal fight to regain his peak physical and mental health, his relationship with M and a films mall window the viewer is given to peek into some of Bond’s past. Following the pre-title sequence, Bond is forced to recover from some terrible wounds which have slowed his reflexes and see him grow somewhat weaker as a cunning spy. This is the part of the film in which the protagonist must regain his place among his peers for one, and second, become as good as he ever was. It is ironic that this should be part of the plotline of the new film when considering that the studio which financed the pictures, MGM, had struggled mightily for three years between Skyfall and 2008’s Quantum of Solace. There was a point not too long ago when some could be forgiven for questioning whether there would be a new Bond film at all. Skyfall asks the question ‘Can Bond become himself again or has he reached his limit?’ It comes as no surprise when Bond does rediscover himself again and gets the upper on the story’s villain, Silva (Javier Bardem), but the film’s acceptance to take this path and explore the character in a new, compelling way is praiseworthy. In the real world, Bond had been absent from the theater for four years, not to mention that the previous film was not well received, and because of that he had to ‘earn’ his place once again, it would not be handed to him. In the film, a physically and mentally scarred 007 must overcome the odds if he is to foil the villain.

M

Bond’s relationship with M, while touched on somewhat during the Brosnan years and the first two Daniel Craig outings, comes to the forefront in Sam Mendes’ film. Other than Moneypenny and perhaps Felix Leiter, there is no other character with whom Bond has had a consistent relationship in the series. The casting of Judi Dench has provided another dimension to that relationship as she has often come across as something of a maternal figure for 007. Never has this been played up more than in Skyfall, in which M, in many respects, becomes the Bond girl. Eve and Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe) have their parts to play and both are quite flirtatious with Bond, yet it is clear that when the climax commences, neither holds the same importance in the story as M. While she and Bond have not always been on the best of terms, Bond recognizes everything she has done for him, from approval of his licence to kill to cover for him when both were in tight spots. The film also wisely shies away from an overdose of sappiness, which would have betrayed the tone. Nonetheless, through their quintessentially dry English mannerisms and quips can be detected a clear cut appreciation for one another, differences in opinion and methodology be damned. Here is yet another angle from which the filmmakers get to explore the character further in ways that were never really touched on before, thus further enhancing the appreciation of 007 in a year that had been all about celebrating his career in movies.

Exploring James Bond’s Past

Finally, there is the exploration of James Bond’s past. ‘Exploration’ might be too strong a term, for the film only hints at the chapter of the protagonist’s life which relates to his childhood, some of which is from the Ian Fleming source material (parents perishing in a climbing accident), while other details were fabricated for dramatic effect in the film (the Skyfall estate and the existence of the caretaker, Kincade, played by Albert Finney). The important element here was to not reveal too much, which would have changed many people’s perception of the character and spoiled the mystique in many ways. By providing small droplets of information, the filmmakers humanize him just a little bit more, making him a tad more relatable all the while preserving his legendary aura. The decision to head into Bond’s past not only reinforces the film’s celebratory angle but fits into the story as well. Bond’s takes the decision to bring M to the Skyfall home in Scotland because it is the last place Silva would look, therefore buying them time before the terrorist’s inevitable arrival. The one place where Silva does not have the upper hand is also a place that directly relates to James Bond’s personal history, something most audiences know nothing about. Give them something they haven’t seen before that once again plays into the 007 anniversary all the while driving the story to its gripping conclusion.

Closing Thoughts

Thankfully the film was met with critical and financial success. Aside from that, however, it is the quality of the movie itself which gave the franchise a much-needed shot in the arm. The ideas discussed in this article might very well have flown over most moviegoers’ heads, yet they seem relevant to those who hold the series to their hearts. Skyfall was ostensibly not only a return to form of sorts but a story that reminds, reassures and reassesses how popular James Bond is in film and among the populace.  It is an original adventure with something to say about the character: he is, has been, and hopefully will continue to be consistently present in popular culture. New trends come and go, new film techniques enhance the movie-watching experience, new social morays make their way into the fabric of society, yet James Bond can always be counted on to be around because the interest is there. The more things change, even in the Bond films themselves, the more they remain the same, again, much like Bond.

-Edgar Chaput

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published under our old brand, Sound On Sight. The article is part of our James Bond Spotlight.

Now Streaming