Skyfall (2012)

I am writing this at 9AM on the morning of 2nd April 2020 when I should’ve been in the cinema waiting for “No Time to Die” to begin. But rather than mourn the delay of James Bond’s next outing, let’s look back at his finest hour.

2012 was a pretty busy year. The Olympics came to London, the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, the Dark Knight rose and the Avengers assembled. But most importantly (Avengers aside), 2012 heralded the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond film series, which, apart from being a gargantuan event in pop culture, also meant that a new entry in the landmark franchise was on the horizon.

Being the 50th Anniversary commemorative film and being the first Bond movie since the tepidly received “Quantum of Solace”, it’s fair to say that “Skyfall” had a lot to live up to. So did Daniel Craig’s third movie as 007 live up to the insane hype?

In my opinion, “Skyfall” is nothing short of one of the greatest movies ever made. Featuring some of the most captivating performances in any blockbuster, superb action sequences that are equal parts thrilling and visually gorgeous and a stunning story that has something fascinating to say about the very fabric of the franchise and Bond himself . It was the first 12-rated movie I ever saw in the cinema and is probably the film that I have re-watched the most over the years. “Skyfall” may have flaws, but it never fails to make me laugh, get my blood pumping and ultimately leave me feeling emotionally satisfied. Without further ado, let’s examine what makes “Skyfall” a masterpiece!

Across the board, every performance in “Skyfall” is spectacular; each actor brings nuance and depth to their character that adds to the dramatic weight and realism of the film.

Daniel Craig was already my second favourite James Bond before “Skyfall” was released, but after seeing this movie, he surpassed Pierce Brosnan to become my number one favourite 007. Unlike his raw and animalistic take on Bond in the previous films, Craig’s Bond in “Skyfall” is weary and cynical, damaged both physically and mentally by his experiences. This more human iteration of the iconic superspy is a far cry from the Sean Connery and Roger Moore era, when 007 seemed to enjoy his missions and always had a quip and a sly smile at the ready. Bond is getting old, he’s working in a world that doesn’t seem to need him anymore and his body is getting weaker. What makes the arc of James Bond in this film so compelling is that the protagonist isn’t driven by revenge or personal satisfaction in a job well done, he does what he does out of a sense of duty and loyalty to M and Mi6.

Speaking of M, Dame Judi Dench gives arguably the greatest performance of her entire career in “Skyfall.” Dench has always been amazing as this character, her expert blend of a well-timed brusque comment (“I think you’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur”) and her steely exterior with a hint of warmth beneath the surface makes her one of the most well-defined characters in the Bond canon. But in “Skyfall”, Dench absolutely knocked it out of the park; M is conflicted, determined, introspective and vulnerable here, whilst still retaining the tough-as-nails grit that makes her such a strong and powerful figure. It was an ingenious decision to place the mother-son relationship between Bond and M at the forefront of “Skyfall”, it gives the narrative a beautiful and moving centre that makes all of the intimate character moments and explosive action that much more engaging. The fact that Judi Dench didn’t get an Oscar nomination for her work in “Skyfall” is a travesty; she’s funny, inspiring (her Tennyson monologue never fails to give me goose bumps) and delivers easily the most emotional moment in the 007 series flawlessly. She’s a national treasure!

It’s said that a hero is only as good as their villain; thankfully, Daniel Craig’s James Bond has a worthy opponent in Javier Bardem’s Silva. Raoul Silva is probably my favourite antagonist in a James Bond film, he’s terrifying but also strangely charismatic and is always riveting to watch. This character has been compared to Heath Ledger’s Joker, and although I agree that “The Dark Knight” was obviously a key inspiration for the filmmakers behind “Skyfall”, I think it’s unfair to write Silva off as a Joker knock-off. Bardem did such a stellar job in this film, from his mesmerizing introduction to his spine-chilling final moments on screen, it’s impossible to look away when Silva is on screen.

The rest of the cast members in “Skyfall” are also fantastic, from Naomi Harris as Eve to Ralph Fiennes’s Mallory, Ben Whishaw in the role of Q and Albert Finney who, although he doesn’t have much screen time, has a big impact on the film.

But don’t worry, “Skyfall” isn’t a slow drama, this is a Bond film after all, so of course the action set-pieces are stupendous. Whether it be the pre-title bike/ car/ train chase or the London Underground pursuit or the truly awesome Scotland shoot-out finale, every sequence is fast-paced, well-shot and pulse-pounding.

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Skyfall” mark the first times that I realised that films could be art in a visual sense and that the look of a movie can tell a story by itself. The cinematography here is extraordinary, every frame is saturated with colour and mirrors the progression of the story, as each location has a distinct look, so that as we flit between locales, you can instantly tell where the characters are.

The title song is a key component to any Bond film, good or bad, with many of the 007 tunes becoming famous outside of the core Bond fan base. It’s fortunate then, that a momentous movie like “Skyfall” has an equally incredible title song. Unlike Alicia Keys and Jack White’s “Another Way to Die”, Adele’s contribution to the James Bond canon is a fantastic song that brilliantly blends Adele’s style with a more traditional 007 feel. It always gets me amped-up to watch “Skyfall” again and is also one of the only songs that I know word perfect.

As some people on the internet like to point out “Skyfall” is not a flawless film. In the age of nit-picking and over-analysing films, I think it’s become a bit fashionable to hate on “Skyfall.” As much as I disagree with many of the shallow comments made about the movie, I do think there are some criticisms that are justified.

Firstly, this film is chock-full of continuity errors and movie mistakes. Bond’s gloves magically reappear in one shot after a fight scene, M’s handbag mysteriously vanishes from a room despite her not picking it up and Bond describes Severine’s sheer dress as “backless.” None of these moments break the film for me, but it’s worth mentioning that these glaring errors are present.

Finally, the aspect of “Skyfall” that seems to bother most viewers is that Silva’s plan makes absolutely no sense. He makes mind-boggling predictions that certain people will be in a very specific place at an exact time, and all of his guesses miraculously come true. Personally, when a film is this fulfilling and powerful I don’t care whether the plot is slightly convoluted or not (if you use the same logic, “The Dark Knight” would also fall down), so Silva’s plan doesn’t change my opinion about “Skyfall.”

In conclusion, I adore “Skyfall.” It’s a masterwork with the esteemed direction and profound character journeys of an Oscar winning drama that also includes jaw-dropping action sequences and rewarding fan service. Alongside Pixar’s “Wall-E”, “Skyfall” is a film that helped define my love of cinema and the way that movies make me feel. It may have its faults, but nothing will ever stop me from loving “Skyfall!”

“We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find, and NOT to yield.”