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TOSCA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE
by Tom Zielinski
Grade: B-
In my reviews of the three previous James Bond films The World is not Enough, Die Another Day and Casino Royale; I said that each was the best of the series since 1969. And so I viewed Quantum of Solace with two years of pent-up anticipation fueled by what may be the best film of the series, Casino Royale. That movie was a triumph in so many ways that it would perhaps have been unfair to expect anywhere near its equal. Though one can hope. Bluntly put, Quantum of Solace is a disappointing letdown from CR. While certainly not a failure and falling probably somewhere in the middle of the pack within the Bond canon, the film is simply not a worthy successor to Casino Royale. The problems are not the superb acting or the memorable score or the sequel-worthy plot. The biggest issue, the biggest disappointment, the biggest letdown is Marc Forster’s direction. More specifically, the staccato-style editing utilized by Matt Chesse and Richard Pearson during the action sequences simply… failed. I know these guys are Oscar-nominated, but it didn’t work here. Maybe for Jason it does, but not in this Bond film. I guess Tosca isn’t for everyone. The technique is a huge distraction and was easily the biggest mistake on Forster’s and the editors’ parts. I was shocked at how poorly the initial car chase came across on-screen with the frenetic images and jerky camera work - I had really no good idea about what the hell was going on or even what to focus on. The producers must have spent a pretty (money)penny on this scene, yet it fails terribly. To lose the audience at that early point is unforgivable. Then during the Mr. White interrogation, the bad editing made it to look like M was shot during the ensuing firefight with the turncoat. Turns out she wasn’t even injured. Feh! Anyway, enough on the negatives. Daniel Craig is again excellent and is easily the best thing about the movie. Though… Craig perhaps could project that he is enjoying himself a bit more. Yes James Bond is a murderer, but let’s be a little less grim, shall we? A hint of appropriate humor to ease audience tension is what has always made the series special. Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan were able to do so convincingly while still being ruthless. The plot as a sequel for Bond’s revenge for Vesper’s demise works well, and the introduction of QUANTUM as a mysterious SPECTRE-like organization leaves delicious opportunity for future films. Reports that this is the final part of the QUANTUM organization story-line does not ring true; the organization is appropriately sinister and we still haven’t met ”Number One.“ That and the fact that there was no resolution with the ”Mr. White“ character in Quantum of Solace leads me to believe we will see more of both. Both the plot and the cast are positives. In many ways QOS is a very traditional Bond film; the megalomaniacal elements of QOS are easily in keeping with the Bond trademark. Mathieu Amalric is very good as the slimy, height-challenged QUANTUM operative Mr. Greene. Olga Kurylenko is delicious, though Gemma Arterton (”Strawberry Fields“ and never mentioned once) left me a bit cold. She plays a throwaway character tough I liked her “sacrificial lamb” demise; completely covered and drowned in oil - the scene and perspective and her silhouette on the bed right out of Goldfinger complete with the phone off its hook and lying on the floor. Nice touch. I don’t mind these little homages (there were a couple others), they didn’t distract and brought a smile to my face. Jeffrey Wright should be given more to do. He is a wonderful actor and it’s simply great to have some continuity with the Felix Leiter character. Dame Judi Dench has an expanded role (again). I dunno, maybe she should stay in her office more. She can do the alternately angry/understanding thing from there and not miss her morning tot. Then there is a niggling plot point that I cannot shake… Camille and Bond are trapped in the fiery hotel at the end of the film. Bond is shielding the terrified girl whose house was burned down and family killed by the evil sex-offender General. The situation does indeed look hopeless. But what does James Bond do? What is Her A couple other things I didn’t care for and/or didn’t understand: There are a couple problems with Quantum of Solace. There’s a really good spy and revenge story therein which was aching to be better fleshed out. The film itself is the shortest in the series. It could have been improved with a few more minutes and a bit more character development and the more leisurely pace of say, Thunderball. It seems the frantic pace of the editors ruled the day though. It’s unfortunate. I also do not believe Marc Forster was a good choice as director, though I was excited when he was first announced based on his truly fine filmography of work. For the next film, jettison the horrible editing style. It was an even bigger mistake than allowing Eric Serra to score GoldenEye. Both choices almost ruined both films. And geezus, has there ever been more blood depicted in a Bond movie?! I’m not necessarily complaining, but I’d guess the amount of blood depicted in Quantum of Solace is more than the first twelve films combined. Finally, put the excellent gun-barrel sequence (Daniel Craig and David Arnold nailed it) at the traditional front of the film. Quantum of Solace will be hugely successful commercially, which is bittersweet for me. Good for the producers, but Tosca is not for everyone.
Contact the Author: TOM ZIELINSKI
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