CASINO ROYALE (2006, USA/UK/Germany/Czech Republic, 144m, 15) *****
Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
dist. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE); pr co. Eon Productions / Casino Royale Productions / Stillking Films / Studio Babelsberg; d. Martin Campbell; w. Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis (based on the novel by Ian Fleming); pr. Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson; ph. Phil Meheux (DeLuxe | 2.35:1); m. David Arnold; ed. Stuart Baird; pd. Peter Lamont; ad. Simon Lamont.
cast: Daniel Craig (James Bond), Eva Green (Vesper Lynd), Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre), Judi Dench (M), Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter), Giancarlo Giannini (Rene Mathis), Caterina Murino (Solange), Simon Abkarian (Alex Dimitrios), Isaach De Bankolé (Steven Obanno), Jesper Christensen (Mr. White), Ivana Milicevic (Valenka), Tobias Menzies (Villiers), Claudio Santamaria (Carlos), Sebastien Foucan (Mollaka), Malcolm Sinclair (Dryden), Richard Sammel (Adolph Gettler), Ludger Pistor (Mendel), Joseph Millson (Carter), Darwin Shaw (Fisher (as Daud Shah)).
James Bond, played for the first time by Craig, gets a post-Jason Bourne makeover and the result is outstanding. After receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent Bond heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organizations. Learning that Le Chiffre plans to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, MI6 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest “00” operative will topple the man’s organization. Craig makes an excellent debut as 007 in arguably the best Bond movie. He is superbly supported by Mikkelsen and the delectable Green. The film is immaculately directed and acted, the action is fast and furious in the opening and closing sequences. The engrossing plot and character conflict carry us through the central section of the film, generating significant tension as it focuses on the high-stakes card game. All the elements are present, but this is a tough, uncompromising, and rugged entry in a series that has rebooted itself in some considerable style. Followed by QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008).
