QUANTUM OF SOLACE
UK/US, 2008, 106 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Craig, Olga Kuryenko, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Gemma Arterton.
Directed by Marc Forster.
Quantum of Solace is a multiplex mouthful but it is taken from the title of an Ian Fleming story. The plot is made up for this occasion, beginning immediately after the end of Casino Royale and the effect of Vespa Lynd's death on James Bond.
While there are convolutions in the plot, this must be one of the most straightforward of all the Bond films. Most audiences accepted Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, so it is much easier now to take to a Bond who is not dapper, though he does get to wear dinner dress at one stage, who does not have a whole lot of Connery/Moore/Brosnan repartee, who is pretty single-minded and talks to M about doing his duty.
Quantum also allows Bond to be a little more feeling than last time, acknowledging that there are emotional moments in life, especially the death of a friend. Quantum also allows a bit more conscience in the film in discussion and in points made by M about violence and revenge. Not that there isn't a rising body count but there is a bit more context than usual.
Actually, it is fairly non-stop action which has given plenty of work to the film editors who have made it adrenalin-pumping and fast and flashily paced. It opens with a car chase on an Italian autostrada (much briefer than the stunt-filled prologues of more recent decades), moves into Siena for the Palio and the horses and the introduction of the conspiracy, followed by a breathless chase on foot over the roofs of Siena and through the buildings. As in Casino Royale, Bond is very fit and does a lot of running. With the expected interludes in London (M's office is very technologically slick as is her home bedroom with communications equipment), we move to Haiti where there is a boat chase. And, then in Bolivia (after excursions to Austria and Italy again) there is a plane chase.
It all ends up in the middle of Bolivia - quite literally explosively.
So, Daniel Craig is Bond (though he doesn't do the famous introduction, but his drink is shaken). Olga Kurylenko is not really a Bond girl but a character in the plot. Gemma Arterton is, almost momentarily, a Bond girl but she evokes memories of Shirley Eaton in Goldfinger, this time with oil. Judi Dench's M features more frequently and gives some gravitas to the proceedings. And, just when you feared we weren't going to hear the familiar theme, there it is in the final credits.
Bond villains have often been larger than life but Matthieu Amalric (start of numerous French films including his masterful performance in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) is small of stature with something of a manic look but sinister and ruthless nonetheless.
Audiences may be so caught up in the action and chases that they miss the topical political references in the Quantum conspiracy: the references to Aristide in Haiti, the planned upsetting of society to pave the way for coups, the hostility of the US administration to more left-leaning leaders in Venezuela and, especially in this case, Bolivia. And, maybe the film is prophetic. While authorities assume at first that the object of greed and of national interests is oil, the precious and scarce commodity that threatens peace and which avaricious entrepreneurs want to get hold of is water.
Director Marc Forster went from directing The Kite Runner to Quantum. He obviously is interested in a wide range of genres as previous films include titles so diverse as Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland and Stay.
1.The James Bond tradition? The similarities for this film, the differences?
2.James Bond’s background, agent, licensed to kill, MI6, under M’s command, the background to world conspiracies?
3.Daniel Craig as James Bond, serious, not dapper, fit, ruthless, the touch of emotion?
4.The title, an Ian Fleming story, a new plot, continuation from the film of Casino Royale?
5.The range of locations: Italy and the mountains, Sienna and the Palio, London and MI6 as well as the domestic sequences in M’s home? The technology in the headquarters and in the home? Haiti? Italy and the house of Mathis? Austria, the concert hall? Bolivia, the city, the desert, the resort? Exotic and ordinary? The musical score, the theme song, the James Bond theme during the final credits?
6.The background of James Bond and Vespa Lynd, his anger, rage at Vespa, the revenge, having to forgive her? The pursuit of the truth? The chase in Italy, the explosions – and the setting of the scene?
7.Sienna, the Palio and the horses, intercutting with M, the interrogation of Mr White, his taunts, Mitchell and his being the bodyguard, his being a traitor, his action, the long foot-chase over the roofs and the buildings? The investigation into Mitchell? No leads? The information about Slater, Haiti and the money?
8.Bond going to Haiti, the confrontation with Slater, his room, Slater’s death, Bond assuming his identity? Meeting Camille? The shooting confrontation, the escape? Seeing her go to Dominic Greene, with the general? Bond going into action, taking Camille, the water chase? The truth about the general and Camille’s family background? His taunting her?
9.London, M, her attitude, urging Bond not to be vengeful, the rules, the information about the conspiracy, her going to the minister and his disapproval?
10.The transition to Austria, Bregenz, the performance of Tosca? Bond seeing the man with the phone, taking his connections? Listening in to the discussion during the opera? His intervening? The social and the background, Greene and his anger?
11.Going to see Mathis, Mathis and his girlfriend, the past, his forgiving Bond, going on the adventure, to Bolivia, his police contact? In Bolivia, socialising? His being in the boot of the car? His death? Bond and his concern? The later confrontation with the police chief and Bond killing him?
12.Quantum, the amount of money available? Dominic and his assistant, the plan, getting the money for the general? Seeding revolutions in countries like Haiti, the criticism, the overthrow of governments?
13.Bolivia, the meeting, the general, the issue of the ownership of water? Greene and his blackmailing of the general?
14.Bond, Strawberry Fields and her presence in Bogota, the relationship, her help, her being killed, covered in oil? The contact with Felix Leiter? The information? The collaboration between the Americans and Greene? And the general? The political right-wing attitudes of America, stirring up revolutions in Latin America, wanting friendly governments?
15.The resort, its being in the desert, the meeting, Camille and her presence, the general taking the waitress to his room, Camille and her confronting the general? The explosions, Bond saving Camille?
16.Greene, the confrontation, his being put out into the desert, the report of his death, oil in his body? Bond giving him the tin of oil?
17.Bond, the solution, Mathis and his story about Vespa? Forgiveness? Bond and his feeling, towards Mathis, towards Camille?
18.A 21st century James Bond?
