5. Skyfall (2012), dir. Sam Mendes

[strange_complex]

I watched this on the plane on the way to New York, which was nice as I missed it in the cinema. Presumably, I saw a slightly censored version, as the cinema release was a 12A, and as far as I understand all films available on in-flight entertainment systems have to be a PG or below. But basically I've seen it

Comments

[swisstone]

If you want to see Wishaw being really quite stunningly good, catch the BBC's Richard II.

[huskyteer]

I think that M, male or female, makes sense as a parent substitute for Bond (whose parents' early death is book-canonical). He/she has been shown over and over again to care for Bond and treat him as a favourite but wayward child, and it's clear that the Service is Bond's real family. Bond is even invited to share M's Christmas dinner in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, although they share the opinion that Christmas dinner is nonsense.

Incidentally, 'M' was Ian Fleming's nickname for his mother...

[strange_complex]

I don't have a problem with this set-up as part of Bond's story. I just mean that the way it was portrayed in this story came across sometimes as a little over-egged - hence cod-psychological. I think the sharing of Christmas dinner would probably convey it rather more subtly.

[huskyteer]

Ah, OK! Yes, it was verging on Oedipal by the end...

[strange_complex]

I do know what you mean, and I'm not at all sure I like the prospect of the person in the subservient secretarial role in future films now being now only female, but black as well. As I've said about the whole oak-panelled office set-up above, that could be played cleverly and effectively, but it could also go so horribly wrong as well.

That said, I think the whole spectacle of Silva, and what can happen to a field agent in extremis is probably also meant to be a factor in her decision. We spend the whole film exploring just how personally damaging it can be, which I think gives a bit more weight to her decision than just one off-hand comment.

[parrot_knight]

I wondered whether Ralph Fiennes was being set up as a villain, and for all his bonhomie, he may well be yet.

The 'Judi Dench era' is an arresting term, of course, but it's a powerful one because it's apt. She has been a draw to the films for the last decade, and will be missed.

[strange_complex]

I wondered whether Ralph Fiennes was being set up as a villain...

Ooh, now that I could very much enjoy, and I think you're right that there's still plenty of room for it to happen. Let's hope so!

[rmc28]

I was actually convinced that he was the villain until the movie ended and he apparently wasn't. So I am totally happy to be proved right all along in the next film :-)

[matgb]

Wishaw was also one of the leads in The Hour, the first series of which is awesome, the second not so much, very effective actor.