Movie Review: Casino Royale (2006)
Published November 27, 2006
Much is made in the film of “tells,” the tiny giveaways card players exhibit when they are bluffing - things as obvious as drumming one’s fingers on the table or as subtle as flaring one’s nostrils. Bond discovers Le Chiffre’s “tell” and foolishly shares it with his supposed allies, one of whom is in league with Le Chiffre, who then learns from the double agent that Bond is aware of his tell. Le Chiffre consciously controls his tell, limiting Bond’s ability to determine if Le Chiffre is bluffing.
All this turns out to be a set of rather smelly red herrings, however, since in the final, decisive hand, both Bond and Le Chiffre turn out to have what they believe to be unbeatable hands. Therefore, neither one is bluffing when they raise and re-raise each other. Also significantly, we never learn what Bond’s “tell” is. If he has a readable flaw, we never see what it is. As indicated, he is something more than human and therefore something less than interesting.
Bond’s one weakness (in the novels and in this film) is his heart: not the physical one that has to be jump-started, but the emotional one that falls for the wrong girl, blinding him to her complicity with his (and England’s) enemies. Craig and Eva Green, as his supposed amour fou Vesper Lynd, strike only a few sparks and not the sexual bonfire they should to redeem and humanize this hero.
The only real relationship this Bond establishes with anyone else is with Judi Dench’s M who, as head of the British Secret Service, is as tough as she needs to be, but who nevertheless manages to retain a few shreds of her humanity. Dench is a wonderful actress; she’s too good for this movie in a good way.
Can the filmmakers behind Bond solve the indestructibility issue? Again, this may be a built-in problem no matter who plays the part. We the audience may want a hero we don’t have to worry about, but that makes these films pure, no-consequences escapism. At their best they were a bit more than that.
- Movie Review: Casino Royale (2006)
- Published: November 27, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Adventure, Video: Action, Review, Books: Thriller, Video: Suspense and Mystery
- Writer: Adam Blair
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Comments on this articleComments
They had to get away from the over-the-top, cartoonish feel. I applaud them for trying something different.
As stated above, once again you are entitled to your own opinion, but in response to your beef with Bond's indestructability in the movie, it appeared to me that his mistakes/vulnerabilites were much more apparent than any superhuman-ness. In actuality, it seemed like they were trying to stress this even more as a rookie agent, that had just reached "double O" status. And as for your peeve of not finding out Bond's "tell" as evidence to his godliness, it seems like you are merely nit-picking and finding reasons not to like the movie. You obviously don't enjoy change and are clearly in your 40's or 50's and lack an open mind.
I enjoyed it in an escapist way, but it wasn't much better than Miami Vice, which I sadly wasted two hours on a few months ago.
Craig has potential, but we need more of his sense of humor, his personality, etc.
Nice and accurate review!
Especially if you can see it under the right circumstances - a big bright theater screen, a good sound system, a large and appreciative audience - I think this is not just the best Bond in 4 decades, but the best action film in quite some time.
Several of the action sequences, especially that early chase through a construction site into an embassy, are just plain amazing, and completely thrilling. Craig is near perfect.
This may not be up to the best Connery films and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but it puts to shame all those tacky Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan extravaganzas. The only spy movie of recent vintage to come close is The Bourne Supremacy, which is fantastically well directed but doesn't have quite the same Big Pop Event factor.
Sorry you were disappointed.
It could have used 10 minutes of editting, but beyond that was hands-down the best Bond since Connery left.
I agree with the review; this latest version of James Bond is absolutely boring. There's nothing special about the movie at all. Perhaps it's time to kill off the Bond franchise.
Good review!
Craig was miscast as Bond.
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you're allowed your opinions but i disagree with pretty much everything you say. you are clearly too old and prefer everything to be traditional bond. get with the times and understand that bond needs to modernise and has done so. successfully.