Nov 11: Skyfall

"Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Directed by: Sam Mendes, Rated: PG-13, 143 minutes

James Bond is not only an icon of cinema, but a symbol of masculinity, badass everything, and more suave than ten Old Spice commercials. Six men have portrayed Bond on the big screen over his 50 year history, and we've seen dozens of memorable villains and even sexier Bond girls. In 2006, Daniel Craig, a man many doubted capable, took on the role of James Bond in Casino Royale. Not only was Craig looked at as a rather unorthodox Bond (blonde and blue eyed) but he was a grittier, darker, more vulnerable man than previous incarnations. Casino Royale took the franchise into an entirely different direction and proved to be not only an excellent Bond flick, but an even better stand alone movie. Then came Quantum of Solace. The filmmakers hoped to continue the same story from Casino Royale with Quantum, but were unable to put it all together. The film suffered from a weak script and was a bit more dumbed down than the smarter Casino Royale. Quantum was quickly forgotten and MGM, the studio behind Bond, ran into a ton of financial problems and put the Bond franchise in jeopardy. Four years later, in the 50th anniversary year of Bond, Skyfall is released. And good God is it in incredible.

Before we go any further, I must also mention that Adele's sultry voice and Bond's extreme badassness make sweet sweet love in Skyfall's theme song. 

When the evil Silva (Javier Bardem) hacks into MI6, compromising the entire security of both England and the secret agents in the field, M (Judi Dench) is put front and center as Silva's prime target. Bond, who was believed to be killed in action during a mission, "returns from the dead" to help his dear M, and uncovers more secrets than he could ever imagine. Skyfall manages to tell a very well-crafted story that's much smarter and packed with emotion than most Blockbusters. It elevates itself above the generic action flick and just as Casino Royale did, it is able to be just as strong as a stand alone film as it is a Bond movie. Craig continues to deliver an exceptional performance as Bond and shows his vulnerabilities even further. After his "resurrection", he's a broken man, mentally and physically. He can barely hold a gun and his aim is terrible, yet he returns to action to help M. Of course, Bond is never alone in his missions, and he's aided by Bond girls, Eve (Naomi Harris) and Severine (Berenice Marlohe), and MI6 employees, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) and gadget king, Q (Ben Whishaw).

"What did you expect, an exploding pen?"- Q is a modern man of today. 

Skyfall is a powerful entry in the Bond franchise. It goes into territory previous Bond movies never even thought about treading into and blows you away. We see all sorts of new places and have plenty of reveals along the way. And while Skyfall feels grand and epic on a scale only fit for Bond, it tells a very simple story with so much more depth and emotion than what we have come to expect. The biggest focus throughout the movie is the relationship between Bond and M, and the history behind 007 himself. Much credit needs to be given to both Daniel Craig and Judi Dench for their performances. They work so well together and the dynamic between the two is that of respect, fun, and family. Even as often as the two bicker about one another, they both would go to the very end for each other. But, you cannot have a memorable Bond movie without a great villain and Javier Bardem creates a character immediately iconic in Silva. He's a twisted, yet genius, man that is driven by revenge. He's not out to take over the world as much as he's out to inflict as much pain on one particular individual, and he'll go whatever length to make that happen. He dances the fine line between maniac and genius and proves to be just as humorous as he is sinister. With bleached blonde hair and a rather eccentric personality, Silva can sit side by side with the great villains of Bond's past.

A complicated man, with more than enough to bring you nightmares. 

Seeing as this is 007's 23rd film in his 50 year history, there's a lot of ground that you would think would have to be covered. While Casino Royale jump-started Bond into a new timeline with Craig, there have always been slight nods to the past films. With Skyfall, this is no exception and if anything, the movie runs with these homages to the past in glorious fashion. For any seasoned Bond fan, there's plenty to be enjoyed and even more to look for, but even those of us who are just the occasional 007 lover or even first timers, there are still many things you would understand, as Bond has penetrated our culture through more than just film. Without giving much away, I can tell you that Skyfall is the perfect anniversary film for Bond and manages to create new memories and iconic characters, while still calling back to the past without taking too much away. Everything is done in respect or in little mentions and I can only assume would lead to more things being "caught" with additional viewings.

Well look at that little guy in the background!

Skyfall is an exceptional film that crosses into all sorts of territory. It's a film for movie-lovers, as well as Bond-fanatics, and is much more than an over-the-top action movie. Craig's hero is a man we can relate to, much more than previous incarnations, and in the gritty realism he suffers for, we're just as worried about his safety as we would any other man. He reminds us time and again that he's far from immortal, and severely flawed, but when the pain hits home, he's a man to be reckoned with. Director Sam Mendes captures this realism with beauty and blends it into the gorgeous backdrops and scenery. Skyfall is a must see for any fan of incredible storytelling and in your face action. Even at 142 minutes, it never falters or feels that long, and each moment we, as the audience, spend with Bond, the more we understand his troubled life and strong resolve. The entirety of what plays out is both entertaining and heart-breaking and manages to create an entirely new story about a fifty year old icon we have come to love and understand for so long. So lift up your martinis to James Bond and hope that the next fifty years are just as exciting as the last. He's here to stay and Craig will continue to do 007 justice. 

The Good:

terrific visuals that accompany a very somber, yet thrilling story

The Better:

more than enough references to Bond's past, from particular gadgets or cars, to even iconic lines

The Best:

performances from the entire cast, with Craig, Dench, and Bardem carrying the film into greatness

Overall: 9.5/10

Discussion Question:

Craig is signed on for two more Bond movies, but who do you think could take on the role once he's done? And where would the franchise head?

Trailer:

Aug 3: Away We Go

"A couple who is expecting their first child travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time."

Directed: Sam Mendes, Rated: R, 98 minutes 

Away We Go is a movie that grows on you. At first, the film settles in your heart as you can clearly tell the film's an endearing little road trip flick. After time, and multiple viewings, you begin to appreciate the film's subtleness and humor much more and really start loving it. It's a flawed film, yes, as it can jump from incredibly funny to not-at-all-funny depressing in a heartbeat, leaving you more dazed than entertained, but it's too charming to not forgive. It's also easy to ignore when the film features two of the most likable people in the world, John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. The two have perfect chemistry and their relationship makes Away We Go much more memorable than your average romantic romp. 

Away We Go follows Burt (Krasinski) and Verona, two people madly in love and expecting a child. Verona never wants to get married, but the two are clearly committed to one another and want to find the perfect place to start a family. As they have their own relatives and friends scattered across the country, the couple make their way through Arizona, Wisconsin, Miami and make their way to Canada. On their journey, the two begin to realize what kind of parents they want to be, taking the best and the worst of the other couples they're visiting and knowing who to stay away from when they finally decide to settle down. The film has a great premise and the execution is near pitch-perfect. Away We Go hides the fact that the film is indeed a road-trip movie gracefully, never focusing on the borrow intricies of traveling and instead puts the spotlight on each episode that plays out in each destination. It's a series of events strung together very well, in a peaceful, yet playful way. 

His songs are perfect road trip music... but also fit for a funeral or a divorce party (those exist, right?). 

Sam Mendes directed Away We Go and it's a huge change of pace and style from his earlier work (Jardhead, American Beauty, Road to Perdition). The movie is slow and steady, but still is able to delve into some of the similar themes his movies have explored, such as the power of family and the "existential" search for meaning in life. All of the emotional impact is heightened by a magnificent soundtrack by Alexi Murdoch, whose songs add so much to the film. Away We Go is very reminiscent of Garden State in this fact, as it would not be the same without the songs being included. 

No perfect Portman, however. 

I would highly recommend Away We Go. While it's not perfect, it's close. It's easy to understand how some people may not like the film, as the two main characters are a little arrogant at times, but Krasinski and Rudolph are too damn likable to hate. The two leads show great range in their ability (as they are mostly known for comedy, their dramatic turns are a pleasant surprise). It's also hard to deny the fact that the two work so well together and you can't help but wonder if they're really in love. Away We Go will leave you smiling and wondering about those close to you and realizing how powerful a simple thing like love can be. 

The Good:

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph making the movie their own little adventure, with a great soundtrack and a smart script

The Bad:

while the script is solid, it has a few pacing problems that leave you emotionally confused, laughing and then almost crying the next moment

The Ugly:

the film leaves you thinking about your own life and the place you're in right now, which to some may be a good thing but to others a more complex moment of reflection

Overall: 7.9/10

Trailer: