By Sam Watermeier
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After killing two men with his bare hands, the man stares at the mirror, looking at the monster he has become. This quiet moment with James Bond from 2006’s “Casino Royale” single-handedly revolutionized the “Bond” franchise. By showing Bond’s shame, it added an emotional layer completely lacking from the previous installments.  The mirror motif is continued in the follow-up “Quantum of Solace,” except this time when Bond looks in the mirror, he coldly wipes some blood off his face and presses on instead of examining his self-worth. This reflects (no pun intended) the goal of the film which is providing non-stop action and pure escapism. “Quantum of Solace” is not a dark character study like “Royale” and in a year filled with gritty, heavily dramatic Hollywood films like “The Dark Knight,” this kind of lighter affair is refreshing. Through the screenplay and Daniel Craig’s performance, the film even justifies its lack of depth by explaining Bond’s need to be emotionally detached.

The plots for James Bond films are notoriously convoluted, so here are the basics: The film is essentially a revenge story. To avenge the death of his one and only love, Bond must defeat a dastardly environmentalist named Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric). Bond is joined by another revenge-seeker, the beautiful Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who was oppressed by Greene as one of his business associates/mistresses.  This plot sets the framework for some truly spectacular action sequences.

The action scenes, although flawed, are staged beautifully and tautly by director Marc Forster. This is surprising considering Forster is not known for making movies like this on such a large scale, but rather for telling small, human interest stories (“Monster’s Ball,” “Finding Neverland”). The fight scenes provide both eye candy and suspense. One shoot out even takes place during the middle of an epic opera around its grand set. The chase scenes are equally ambitious and they occur by land, sea, and air. As impressive as these scenes are, the flaw lies in the fact that they are so hectic and relentless that they can be more exhausting than thrilling as the film progresses. Thankfully, the character of Bond is never tiresome though.

Craig and screenwriters Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade provide a completely unapologetic Bond in that he never stops to analyze his actions or bare his soul. The screenwriters show that not only does he not have time, but that if he did stop to ponder his existence, he would fall apart. This is evident in Craig’s performance. There is sadness behind his urgency. He talks and moves very quickly as if trying to outrun or suppress his emotions at all times. This reminds me of a line from “Goldeneye” in which a woman asks Bond, “How can you be so cold?” He replies, “It’s what keeps me alive.” In this sense, maybe “Quantum of Solace” does have more depth than I am giving credit. It just does not wear its emotions on its sleeve like “Casino Royale.”

Critics and audiences seem to want much more serious Hollywood films these days. Many critics complained that “Quantum of Solace” is “too light” and does not provide enough food for thought. What happened to a little thing called escapism? That is what movies and specifically “Bond” films were meant for in the first place. These days, with our massive war and financial crisis among other conflicts, we need a break. We need to escape reality and experience good, old-fashioned fun. We need a film like “Quantum of Solace.”

“Quantum of Solace”

Starring:
Daniel Craig, Judi Dench,
Mathieu Amalric

Directed by:
Marc Forster

Written By:
Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis,
Robert Wade

Rated:
PG-13

Run Time:
1 Hour, 45 Minutes

Overall:
B+