Saturday, 18 September 2021 18:54

Casino Royale/ 2006






CASINO ROYALE

UK, 2006, 144 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright.
Directed by Martin Campbell.

‘Bond. James Bond’ is one of the best-known and most frequently repeated lines from the movies. It is already 45 years since Sean Connery first appeared on screen as Bond in Dr No. For the last twelve months, one of the major pop culture questions has been, ‘Will Daniel Craig be an acceptable new Bond?’. Not that the future of the world (in real life rather than in the film) will be altered by the answer. Now that Casino Royale has been released, most reviewers and audiences have answered, ‘Yes’.

For almost half a century, the most popular escapist movie franchise, as the business experts say, has been the 007 series. Bond has been incarnated by Sean Connery, George Lazenby (only once was enough), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and, most recently, Pierce Brosnan. Connery was in his early thirties when he started. Roger Moore was in his mid-40s, Pierce Brosnan was 42. Craig, at time of filming, was 37. This means a more credible active secret agent – and a particularly fit one given the amount of running, climbing and fighting he has to endure.

Casino Royale was the first of Ian Fleming’s Bond series. During the 1960s, religious writers researched the novels as well as Fleming’s other writings and found that he was particularly interested in the seven deadly sins and their moral implications. He incorporated some of these ideas into his villains. Goldfinger was obviously greed, Blofeld was pride and, in the Japanese-set You Only Live Twice, which focussed on the suicide culture in that country, he developed the theme of sloth, the spiritual indolence of the bored, wealthy criminal who has everything.

While these considerations might not be in the forefront of the screenwriter’s minds, it is a way into the films rather than simply to look at Bond as the superhero. The villain here is Le Chiffre, a financial wizard with a skill for perfect bluff in playing poker. Behind the scenes, he is an amoral marketeer of illegal arms for rebel or terrorist groups around the world. This plays into current concern for the war against terror. The film highlights how some of the most evil people in our world today are those who make enormous profits through arming terrorists, conniving in the killing and maiming of millions.

Le Chiffre is played with sinister calm and control by Danish actor, Mads Mikkelsen.

This film takes us back to Bond’s beginnings in the secret service. It shows him confronting villains and killing for the first time. This theme of the ‘license to kill’ pervades the film. Judi Dench is back as M, his controller, taking us behind the scenes of international espionage, ruthless means against ruthless global criminals. The theme is also raised by the central female character who is rightly given more prominence and who serves as something of a conscience for Bond. Eva Green brings substance as well as glamour to the role of financial adviser, Vesper Lynd.

The film opens in black and white to indicate Bond’s apprenticeship. It then moves into the reality of arms deals in Uganda and then an exhausting chase, very skilfully constructed, in Madagascar. While the setting for the crucial card game is Montenegro, the European sequences were filmed in picturesque Italian locations, culminating in Venice (via the Bahamas and Miami).

At times the film pauses for conversation but soon moves into fast-paced action again. Just when you thought it was going to end, off it goes again – and, indeed, another again.

Craig is not as debonair as Moore or Brosnan, not as suave as Connery, but he has enough rugged charm, enough physical presence and strength and some time for reflection on his moral stances to make him the successful new James Bond.

1.The popularity of the Bond films? The franchise over forty-five years? The changes from the 1960s to the 21st century?

2.Ian Fleming and the popularity of his stories, James Bond as the double O agent, the double life, the licence to kill, an official thug, more than a thug, moral issues, morale, patriotism? The suave Bond, the urbane manner, shaken not stirred, his dress code, his relationships with women – and the past chauvinist touches?

3.The succession of James Bonds and the marks that they made on audience consciousness? Daniel Craig and the 21st century Bond?

4.Casino Royale as the original James Bond book, the introduction of the agent, his patriotism, the villains, the struggle between good and evil, Fleming’s interest in the Deadly Sins and dramatising them?

5.The origins of James Bond as an agent, the film opening in black and white, Prague, the confrontation with the bent official, the verbal confrontation, the shooting, the insertion of the flashbacks, the brutal killing of the man in the washroom, James Bond becoming a 00 agent?

6.The scenes in Uganda, the arms sales and deals, Le Chiffre and his banking connections? Africans, arms deals throughout the world? Arms for terrorism? 21st century theme? The transition to Madagascar, the cockfight, the agent and his exposing himself to the criminals, Bond and the long chase, the agility in the chase, buildings, cranes, running and climbing, fighting, into the embassy, creating mayhem, the shooting? His getting the information? The role of the British government?

7.Bond and his contact with M, the beginning of their relationship, his being his own man, getting into her flat and her rebuking him, her anger, the arguments, being left to himself?

8.The code, his attempts to break it, the scenes with the computer, the information about the Bahamas and the exact detail? His flying to the Bahamas, checking into the hotel, seeing Demetrious? His girlfriend? Following, information, linking with Le Chiffre, the sexual encounter with the woman, her information, leaving, the plane for Miami – and the consequence for the girl’s torture and death? The pursuit of Demetrious, Demetrious eluding him, the key, the room, the information about the arms dealing?

9.M and her backing, her attitude, her staff? Bond back to the UK, his mission, his agility at cards – and the audience seeing this in action? The set-up against Le Chiffre, the stakes, Bond’s reputation, connections? Le Chiffre and the attack by the Africans, his losing the money, the bankers?

10.The introduction to Vespa Lind, in herself, manner, elegant, on the train, her resisting Bond, the meals, the talk, her background? The money? The meeting with Mathis, his being employed by the British, the good friendship between the three? Their watching Bond in action, Bond and his nonchalance with the card games, the dangers, Vespa and her dress, walking into the room? Bond and his loss, her rebuke, refusing the loan? The aftermath of his win, the celebration?

11.The game, the range of players, Felix Leiter and the American background, the CIA, revealing himself, offering the sponsorship of the money when Bond lost? Le Chiffre and his girlfriend, the poison, Bond’s reaction, going to the car, phoning London, the directions over the phone, Vespa finding him, helping him, resuscitated, returning to the game? Le Chiffre in the middle of the game, the Africans and their violence, Bond and his fighting them, killing them? Vespa and her involvement, their sitting under the shower and the impact on her? Bond and his losing, his coming back, the determination to win, the issues of bluff, Le Chiffre’s mannerisms, success?

12.The trip to Venice, the easy manner between the two, pleasant, in love? The discussions about the money, Vespa and her withdrawing the money, Bond and his pursuit? The dangers, the exploding building, Vespa and her drowning? Bond and his reaction? The background of Le Chiffre, the torture, Vespa’s torture, Bond being tortured? Bond and his steadfast refusal to give information?

13.Le Chiffre in himself, the arch-villain, his link with the banks, the banker and his sinister role? Le Chiffre and his entourage, advisers, girlfriend? The Africans attacking? His bluffs, losing, the torture sequences? Bond’s escape, the confrontation and Le Chiffre’s death?

14.The ultimate effect, the contact with the banker and his arrest? The effect on Bond’s personality, his grief about Vespa, his becoming the James Bond of the future stories, the traditional theme being played – the beginning of Bond’s career?