No Time To Die (2021) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Written by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Ana de Armas, Billy Magnussen, Rory Kinnear, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah
Runtime: 163 min
Synopsis: James Bond (Daniel Craig) has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Sooner or later, every great run inevitably reaches its end. Everyone looks at No Time To Die as Daniel Craig's final go at interpreting the famous 007, but with all due respect to the remarkable actor I sincerely appreciate, it's much more than just that. Cary Joji Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation) is the man responsible for delivering a fond farewell to a saga that offered the viewers a collection of memorable characters, all beautifully portrayed by an exceptionally talented ensemble cast. Skyfall and Casino Royale are definitely a few steps above Spectre and Quantum of Solace, in my opinion, but where does this last entry fit in?
I regularly clarify my expectations for the films I review before really starting to write about how I feel about them, but I honestly believe this is one of those movies that actually demands that preface. Since I don't watch trailers, my enthusiasm didn't really decrease after the countless delays due to the pandemic, so I was always genuinely interested in seeing this film. I was also prepared for the two most probable finales: either Bond would die in his last mission, or he would survive and live happily ever after. There wasn't much else that could really happen.
One of the best compliments I can give No Time To Die is that I started the viewing hoping for one of these specific conclusions to be the one Fukunaga and his team of writers chose, but I gradually changed my mind to wish for the opposite scenario. If the movie really goes through with one of these finales or not is something I'll leave undisclosed in this review for obvious reasons. Still, my point is that Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) are able to write the most passionate, heartfelt narrative of the entire franchise.
This is, by far, the most personal a James Bond flick ever got. I didn't realize the genuine attachment I had with these characters, but this film showed it to me in an impactful manner. I'd be surprised if fans of this saga leave the theater feeling indifferent towards the events of the movie. From the choices each character makes to the incomparable stakes of the last mission, No Time To Die feels like a completely different beast. Let me start from the beginning…
The energetic action present in the opening sequence rivals Casino Royale's impressive parkour run, but overall, counting everything that happens until the main theme begins playing and the credits appear, I believe this film delivers the best - and longest? - start to the whole saga. Not only it builds upon what was already developed with Madeleine (Léa Seydoux) - setting up a couple of intriguing questions and a surprising decision from Bond - but it also features a gorgeously shot pursuit scene through a stunning city in southern Italy.
Might as well praise the outstanding stunt work, extraordinary cinematography (Linus Sandgren), and seamless editing (Elliot Graham, Tom Cross) already. These three elements work so well together that I'm not exaggerating in writing that No Time To Die boasts some of the best action the franchise has ever witnessed. From a riveting staircase "oner" that Craig brilliantly performs to a tense set piece in a foggy forest, Fukunaga directs the hell out of these scenes. Practical sets and real locations aren't as common as a few decades ago, so I must praise the studios for spending part of their colossal budget to bring them to the big screen.
Going back to the previous paragraph, the transition to the credits montage goes smoothly, but it's the main theme from Billie Eilish that I really want to applaud here. It became my absolute favorite. The lyrics gain a much richer context after the opening sequence, and the melody is beautifully used by Hans Zimmer (Wonder Woman 1984) in his epic score. The last piece that plays during the climax of the movie is what every viewer looks forward to in a film of this grandeur. It profoundly elevates whatever is happening at that moment, inducing some tears and chills just from listening to it.
As I insinuate above, every action set piece is no short than incredible. However, the period in between each of these entertaining sequences raises some issues. It's no secret that the heavy runtime is the longest in the entire franchise, so it was somewhat predictable that not every minute would be warranted. Unfortunately, the second act contains much unnecessary exposition about a MacGuffin variation, an extremely stereotyped villain, and a particular insistence in the "007 is just a number" topic that goes from originating some witty interactions between Bond and Nomi (Lashana Lynch) to something annoyingly repetitive.
This generates a few pacing problems, but the lack of compelling characterization is more worrisome. Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) portrays one of the most formulaic antagonists of the saga, Lyutsifer Safin, which is disappointing considering his last two predecessors. One of the most significant issues with Spectre is the villain's lack of screentime, and No Time To Die makes the same mistake. While I understand and defend that, just like an origin flick, the last entry of a saga should focus on the protagonist, Safin doesn't possess the characteristics to be the "final boss".
In addition to this, Safin's motivations are partially unclear. His Machiavellian plan is as uninteresting as it could be since it's only the n-th variation of the world-ending bio-weapon, but the motives behind it are understandable. However, his connection with Madeleine takes the viewers to witness some strange decisions from the villain. The best way to sum it up is that Safin's arc is all over the place, definitely being the messiest component of the screenplay.
In the end, the "good guys" compensate for the seen-before villain with damaged makeup and a ridiculous accent. Despite Nomi not fully convincing me as a captivating character, Lynch (Captain Marvel) offers a remarkable performance as the new "00" agent. Unfortunately for her, Ana de Armas (Knives Out) steals the spotlight with just a single action sequence, which honestly might leave some audience members feeling a bit underwhelmed. With so many clips and images about her character, it's reasonable that viewers expected a more impactful role instead of an extended cameo. Still, Armas shines in the few minutes she gets as a badass, funny, deceivingly clumsy agent who beats the hell out of some random "bad guys".
Obviously, the emotional attachment to the Bond-Craig pair is much stronger than any other. However, No Time To Die does a wonderful job of reminding the audience that the MI6 team is filled with unforgettable character-actor duos. Ben Whishaw (Surge) as the constantly hilarious Q. Naomie Harris (Moonlight) as the independent Eve Moneypenny, one of the few women that didn't fall for Bond's charm, as well as one of the rare people who actually came close to end his career. Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter) as the respected Mallory aka M, the perfect character-actor supporting pair that I'll miss the most - Judi Dench also deserves a shoutout here.
Outside of the MI6, there's still Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Bond's most trustworthy ally, Felix Leiter, and last but not least, Léa Seydoux (Blue Is the Warmest Colour) as the woman who filled Bond's heart. If Craig didn't deliver his best performance ever as 007, Seydoux would probably steal the whole show. The actress demonstrates an impressive emotional range, contributing tremendously to the immense emotion present in the third act. A vital representation that transforms a regular adventure into the most dangerous, consequence-heavy mission of Bond's career.
Finally, Daniel Craig as James Bond. I don't have enough vocabulary to describe such a brilliant last performance. As I mentioned throughout my review, the stakes were never this high, and Craig subtly demonstrates that Bond really wants to succeed in his final mission. His micro-expressions are so detailed yet so powerful. His commitment and dedication to the role are unparalleled. From the initial general doubt surrounding his casting to becoming a beloved actor, Craig deserves the utmost praise for his legendary, decade-spanning performance. In two words: thank you! Thank you so much!
Final Thoughts
No Time To Die is the most emotional, personal James Bond movie of Daniel Craig's Era, holding a heartfelt farewell to the now-iconic actor. Delivering his best performance as 007, Craig finishes his memorable run in a high-stakes film with some of the best action sequences of the entire franchise. Technically, the practical sets and locations, stunt work, cinematography, and editing are all no short of impressive, working together beautifully to create magnificent set pieces. Despite an overlong runtime with an exposition-heavy second act and a terribly stereotyped villain with unclear motivations, the emotionally compelling narrative sets up a powerful third act boosted by an epic score. Cary Joji Fukunaga brilliantly directs a movie packed with phenomenal performances that will leave no viewer indifferent. Massive praise to the outstanding ensemble cast. And a humble thank you to Craig… Daniel Craig.
