No Time to Die (2021)

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Starring: Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch

Primary genre: Spy

Nominated for: Best original song, visual effects, sound

Won: Original Song

For all the hype around “No Time to Die” that discussed and dissected in great detail the talent involved, its extensive reshoots, the lackluster reception of the first trailer, its ballooning budget of 350 million dollars (!) and its much delayed (and anticipated) release, one could assume that Daniel Craig’s swan song would be a fitting end to the enduring legend of James Bond.

“No Time to Die” though is a tedious excuse to strip its action icon from everything that make the character famous. Such venture has been done before in “Casino Royale” (2006), a successful reboot that presented a less cosmopolitan Bond, incorporating wisely the realistic momentum of the “Bourne” (2002-2016) movies to launch a new era for the world’s most famous spy.

Yet, the twenty fifth entry sees the filmmakers lacking any interesting ideas after the end of “Spectre” (2015). The four (!) screenwriters add an unnecessary and complicated backstory for Madeleine Swan that has a well kept secret (which makes no sense to be a secret in the first place) serving as the catalyst for three hour anemic proceedings which are filled with expository dialogue for Bond (and not the audience who is ahead of the game) to catch up. The rather swift resolution is borderline melodrama, a bizarre creative choice that despite its admirable efforts to place Bond in an unusual situation as opposed to being a womanising thrill junkie simpleton, is half explored at best.

The script is busy tying forgettable elements from the previous Craig films together in an attempt to further elevate the world building. Its constant focus though on the past as opposed to centering its efforts on crafting a new adventure that looks forward, is deprived from necessary dramatic gravitas and betrays the film’s sense of fun. The on-screen events are rather dull and pointless, following an inconsistent tone that comes in the form of neurotic characters (e.g., the Russian scientist can easily be from another film).

The film suffers from an unengaging cast which could be (partially) blamed at the constantly rewritten script. Craig in particular, looks more bored and tired than before, sharing limited chemistry with the gorgeous Lea Seydoux (you do not buy that this is a destined to be together couple). As for the much anticipated villainous turn of Oscar winner Rami Malek, his enigmatic mastermind is one of the most underwhelming antagonists in recent memory appearing only in few late scenes oozing the menace of a … watermelon. And for all the hype (and outrage) of introducing a new 007 in the form of Lashana Lynch, while it is not the disaster that most had feared, she does not have anything meaningful to do paired with a paper thin personality and unconvincing action poses.

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga (of the “True Detective” fame) has his Bond participating in a handful and underwhelming for Bond standards, shootouts and fist fights (no car chase on this one) that have no signs of originality or visual flair. He does not manage to craft a memorable set piece with most scenes looking cheap incorporating a copious amount of evident CGI in his vistas and stunt moments which are terribly distracting. There is though a playful mini skirmish in Cuba (in an obvious set) that reminds us what Bond used to do best complemented by a playful banter with the stunning Ana de Armas but it is albeit too brief wondering how different “No Time to Die“ would have turned out if the screenwriters had put Commander Bond in a mentor role instead.

The lack of a strong villain, interesting exotic locations and a sense of glamour further isolates this entry that feels like a repetition of key elements from “Spectre” and the much superior “Skyfall” (2012). The cast is trying to work with what they have delivering mostly flat performances but there is a clear sense of confusion of where to take the character next. Unfortunately, “No Time to Die” might be a product of a troubled production. It is too safe even in its simpler elements and it forgets the primary reasons audiences love James Bond and how to have fun. At the end of the day, is not that what Bond is about?

The worst of Craig’s Bond run by far

+Good cast

+Great chemistry between Armas and Craig

+Attempts at characterizing Bond differently

-Unconvincing and obvious CGI

-Few and anemic action sequences

-Craig looks bored beyond belief

-Flirts heavily with melodrama

-Constantly looking in the past, no new elements

-No solid chemistry between Craig and Seydoux