‘Casino Royale’ Still Holds Up
Eva Green and Daniel Craig in Casino Royale | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Casino Royale reintroduces us to James Bond, this time portrayed by Daniel Craig. Bond has just become 007 and must use all of his cunning and resources to defeat a powerful banker.
I remember when this film first came out, after the Pierce Brosnan years of Bond. People were skeptical about this new bond. Would this blonde and buff man be able to embody this character in a way that’s satisfying for the die-hard fans? Or would this film fail to excite audiences and reinvigorate the franchise?
We all know now that this film ended up being a massive success, leading to the creation of more films. And Casino Royale was a great film to start the Craig era.
I love the choice of making this Bond’s first mission after becoming a 00. He’s still so new at this; of course, he has a lot to learn. This film is also so reliant upon his emotions and emotional depth, which makes sense given that he hasn’t had as much time to develop his hardened emotional shell. This better understanding of Bond’s emotions helps set the stage for the next few movies. It also helps us invest in this character.
Even though he has the same name and profession as other Bonds over the years, Daniel Craig’s Bond is so different from the other versions that we’ve seen over the years. The reintroduction in Casino Royale helps us to set our expectations for who this Bond will be and what we can expect from future movies.
From the beginning, we see a grittier side to Bond. The film opens in black and white as Bond is taking care of some business. It’s so visually different from what we’re used to seeing, and it’s a brilliantly used device. Within that scene, there’s a flashback scene that shows us new sides of Bond.
This flashback also shows the variety within black-and-white filmmaking. The opening reminds me of Raging Bull, where Scorsese’s use of black and white made the violence and blood even more jarring. This scene makes it clear that this movie is going to be different than what we’ve seen before.
Daniel Craig and Jeffrey Wright in Casino Royale | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
While this is a Bond film, he is not the only character of note. Casino Royale wouldn’t work as well without Eva Green as Vesper and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre. These three are all intelligent, strategic, and quick-witted, which are great assets when they are pursuing their desires and goals.
Le Chiffre could’ve easily been a generic villain or a ridiculous caricature, but Mikkelsen brings the perfect level of class and ruthlessness to the character. This makes Le Chiffre a perfect foil to Bond. Throughout the film, they are locked into an interesting cat-and-mouse game both inside and outside of the poker game.
Because these characters are so evenly matched, even if their methods may be different, the moments they share are thrilling. We don’t need shoot-outs or explosions to create tension between them (though there are plenty of those throughout the film). Instead, their rivalry and mental games are riveting to watch.
Vesper is just as interesting as these two male characters. She represents the treasury and is forced to work with Bond, staking him for this poker game. She has no interest in him and doesn’t find him appealing. Vesper is here to work.
It’s nice to see a woman in a position of power. She is a beautiful woman in a male-dominated profession, so her hard exterior makes sense — as a woman, she is unable to cut any corners.
Vesper is one of the few people who can put Bond in his place. She can read him just as well as he can read her, which makes their interactions thrilling.
Of course, throughout the film, Vesper’s walls come down, and she falls for Bond just as he falls for her. But this doesn’t happen overnight, which is great to see, especially in a Bond film.
Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Casino Royale is a really fun movie that keeps you entertained from start to finish. There are fun action set pieces and moments when we get to see Bond’s intellect on display. The poker game in the middle of the film is filled with so much tension — it’s my favorite part of the film.
Rewatching this film again makes me wonder what the next Bond will be like. Craig’s Bond was such a departure from what we had seen up to that point. If and when we get a new version of this character, what will he (or she?) be like?
If you have any guesses, share them in the comments!