I’m not the biggest James Bond fan in the world, don’t get me wrong, of late Daniel Craig has brought a much needed face life to the franchise, but sadly he’ll be type cast like Henry Winkler. But if you get a chance rent Flashbacks of a Fool, which is a wonderful movie done by 007 when he’s not 007.
Marc Forster has been making damn fine movies for a while now, Monsters Ball, Stranger Than Fiction, Stay (a personal favorite) and seems to be pushing the corners of the medium in an attempt to find something new.
I’ve got a tiny bone to pick, when all of the people who worked on this movie sat down for the test screening, or even when Forster watched this at home alone, did anyone catch the loose collar of the dress shirt that 007 has tucked in the collar of his sweater, it’s out, then it’s back in, then it’s out on the other side? This all in one scene towards the start of the movie. Did anyone see this? Could you have re-shot this scene? The same thing happened to Brian De Palma in the Untouchables, with Sean Connery on the receiving end of a lazy wardrobe staffer.
Mathieu Amalric as Dominic Greene is wonderful as the “green” villain, he’s wild and full of hatred, and basically ruthless. If you’re not helping him, you die, even if you are helping him…it’s not so good. 007 manages to weasel his way into a huge outdoor theater production, and even throws a beating in while he ease drops on Greene who spearheads a large nefarious group of double dealers who run the world. If 007 isn’t driving on the edge of a cliff, he’s flying off the roof of a moving bus onto another roof (sounds easy…this movie makes it look magical). He’s trying to stay one step ahead of Greene who has it in his sights to do Bond in.
Greene plans on taking over a small country so he can create a dictatorship, in his path are not only her Majesty’s Secret Service, but a horrendous actress that looks good in tight clothes, the truly awful, Olga Kurlenko as Camille. Bond helps her even a score, as he’s got his own score to settle from Casino Royale. Forster shows his incredible visual story telling range with scenery and camera angles that defy logic, his color taste is wonderful, everyone fits into his world and even 007 manges to show a little artistry when he’s not beating ass.
-JR
Recent Comments