Bloke And Dagger
Daniel Craig Brings Charisma And Empathy To
James Bond Series

The James Bond series gets a much-needed shot in the arm thanks to Daniel Craig’s performance in the new film Casino Royale.

Anyone who believes that the recent Mission Impossible and Bourne series of films represent the state-of-the-art spy flick will be completely blown away by the first ten minutes of the latest James Bond movie, Casino Royale, starring newcomer Daniel Craig. Within those first ten minutes Bond has killed an adversary at Britain’s spy organization MI6, drowned an informant in restroom sink, and chased an African underworld figure onto embassy property before gunning him down. Bond gets all of this done despite being interrupted by the coolest opening credits of any movie in recent history.

From the opening salvo of Casino Royale to the closing credits—some 180 minutes later—the viewer is treated to a new hallmark not just in spy movies, but in the entire action genre. It matches the intelligence of the Bourne Identity flicks with the non-stop action of The Transporter series and ups the ante and every conceivable moment. Plus, it has the advantage of keeping the viewer guessing, something many similar films have failed to accomplish.

Although Bond aficionados raised plenty of objections to the casting of Craig (“He’s too short, he’s too blonde, he’s too ugly!”), his portrayal of the uber-spy is the first one to connect with the viewer on a personal level since Sean Connery. By that, I mean he is the first Bond who seems like a real bloke, one you could have a pint with at the pub before he guns down an underworld figure and makes off with his beautiful hench-gal.

Craig’s Bond is a clever amalgamation of novelist Ian Fleming’s original version where he was “a blunt instrument wielded by a government department,” and the suave ladies’ man who has evolved in the film series. As he tracks down Le Chiffre, a numbers genius who has become an international banker for terrorists (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen), he finds his detached sense of morality compromised by his partner in the mission, British finance agent Vesper Lynd (French actress Eva Green). A high-stakes poker game in Monte Negro serves as the centerpiece of the story and allows Mikkelsen and Craig to engage in a remarkable battle of wits before the cloak and dagger stuff returns at the end of the film.

I have to admit that when I first heard about the extended poker-playing scene I was afraid it would be about as exciting as, well, watching other people play poker on ESPN. Director Martin Campbell does an excellent job of interrupting the poker scenes with murders, poisonings, and a nice shot of Bond comforting Lynd where for the first time we see the human side of 007.

Although Craig is clearly the star of the show, he is given ample support by numerous side characters. Mikkelsen captures the very essence of the ruthless rogue whose only alliance is to money, while Giancarlo Giannini’s mysterious Frenchman Mathis never tips his hand as to which side of the game he is backing.

No 007 movie is complete without Bond girls and Casino Royale has two of the best. In Lynd, Eva Green plays the only character in the film who can match Bond on an intellectual level while at the same time revealing the human behind the killing machine. Caterino Murino plays Solange, the wife of Le Chiffre associate Alex Dimitrios. She brings a carnal heat to the first half of Casino Royale that helps establish Craig’s emotional detachment.

The movie also has its share of humorous moments, many of them provided by Dame Judi Dench who plays M, Bond’s boss at MI6. Bond treats her as one would a meddling aunt while at the same time depending on her for advice, information, and spy toys.

Casino Royale is that rare action movie that treats its viewers as adults and its characters like real people, with multiple aspects to their personalities. It will stay with you long after the credits have rolled, something that cannot be said of any of the Mission Impossible movies.

Casino Royale is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity. It is currently playing at Regal Cinemas in Boone.

Brothers of the Head

In the early 1970s British science-fiction author Brian Aldiss (Artificial Intelligence, Frankenstein Unbound), penned a graphic novel titled The Brothers of the Head. It chronicled the rise and fall of Tom and Barry Howe, twins conjoined at the liver who lived on a small island near Norfolk, England. Discovered and subsequently exploited by an unscrupulous rock and roll promoter, the twins were the centerpieces of a rock band named The Bang Bang.

Eventually the exposure to sex, drugs and rock and roll exacerbated Tom and Barry’s already pervasive power struggle—one that included input from a third, underdeveloped twin.

The story and its illustrations were fascinating and helped open the way for the rising popularity of the adult-oriented graphic novel in the 1980s and 1990s.

Now a faux documentary based on Aldiss’ story has been made and was released this week on DVD. Brothers of the Head is an amazing feat of cinema, thanks in large part to the performances of Harry and Luke Treadaway, actual twin brothers who play Tom and Barry Howe.

Tying Aldiss’ original tale into the birth of punk rock in Britain is an effective move on the part of directors Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost in La Mancha) and watching the boys’ precipitous fall from innocence is heartbreaking. Introspective Tom studies the guitar and aspires to be a musician outside the exploitive confines of The Bang Bang while Barry relishes his role as lead vocalist to express his anger at the world. Despite these obvious differences, the boys have so many subtle shades to their personalities that by the time the final credits roll, you will miss them as separate individuals.

Honestly, I can’t remember when a movie left me feeling like I knew the characters so well after a mere 90 minutes. You might not like their music, but you will love Barry and Tom.

Brothers of the Head is rated R for drug use, language and sexuality. It is available on DVD.