The Mosley Review: No Time To Die

This is truly extraordinary. For 50 years the Bond franchise has evolved from the ultimate cool spy that we love to see to something so much more. Over the past 24 films, each era of Bond has had a story or 2 that have really stood the test of time and have seen the character evolve. Sean Connery set the standard of James Bond and then others came along and put their own stamp on the icon. Others have started off with a more gritty tone and then quickly reverted back to the standard. James wasn't ready for a complete story arc that would see him grow past the womanizing, gadget using, action hero we know and love, until now. This current era has been one of the best examples of character development and reinvention that this franchise has rarely seen. From Casino Royale to now, we have seen this hero grow and become a fully fleshed out human being that is flawed, brutal, bloody and complex. Casino Royale felt like the reboot the series needed and the over arching story that stays connected throughout each film was absolutely extraordinary. I have loved every second of it and this film marks the definitive end of a Saga that started in 2006.

Daniel Craig has time and time again delivered a great performance as James Bond, but this is by far the best he's ever been. From Royale to now, you feel the most connected to him as you've seen his growth to becoming more of a complex man instead of the killing machine he started as. You get the chance to see the heart of James be broken harder than before and I loved seeing a more vulnerable side of the otherwise stoic hero. That classic hero we've known has finally gotten a complete arc and it was astounding. Lea Seydoux returns as Bond's love Madeleine Swann and she once again is a knockout. She retains the characters emotional core and strong will. Their chemistry was even more powerful this time and as her secrets are revealed, their relationship suffers and you feel it. She was one of the most compelling characters in the film and I loved every second she was on screen. Naomi Harris returns as Eve Moneypenny and she was just as great as you'd expect. Ben Winshaw was excellent again as Q and I truly believe he was born for this iconic role. Ralph Fiennes returns as M and I loved that he wasn't perfect. He made a mistake and I loved seeing him rely on Bond to help him. That vulnerability made him more relatable and I liked seeing their bond grow. I really loved Lashana Lynch as Nomi, the newly appointed 007. She was cocky, by the book and everything James was and wasn't. I loved their fun rivalry of whose the better agent. Ana De Armas was fun and plucky as the CIA Agent Paloma. Although she may be briefly apart of the film, I felt her character was out of place and broke the tension of the story. You honestly could've cut her out of the film and kept the rivalry between James and Nomi. She kicks ass never the less.

Jeffery Wright returns as CIA Agent Felix Leiter and I've always enjoyed his work. The friendship between him and James was always a highlight and I truly felt like he was the best friend James has ever had and the brother he deserved. Christoph Waltz returns as Ernst Stavro Blofeld and I loved the mind games he played with James in Spectre and that continues here and it was fun to watch. Rami Malek is the newest villain in the franchise and as Lyutsifer Safin he was excellent and I liked his plot even if it freakishly hits close to what the state of the world is now. His motivations are good and I liked him as a wittier villain, but I wish Blofeld was the focus. If I had to rank him among the Craig era of bond villains, he would come in at the mid point.

The score has always been a highlight of this era of Bond and Hans Zimmer took the reins this time around. His score was bombastic, thunderous and fun in so many great ways. I liked that he used the Bond theme sparingly and let it build to epic and then to more somber moments. Billie Eilish performed the title song and I loved it! Given what this Bond has been through and what transpires in the opening, it is so melancholy and yet fitting. This film was visually stunning, the action is beautifully shot and the sound design was superb. As far as final entries in a Bond era films go, this is by far the best send off anyone could've asked for. To see James Bond actually get a complete story that is wonderfully threaded across 5 films and to have a satisfying conclusion, was something of a miracle. I will say that some Bond purists will find the story divisive to say the least, but I whole heartedly enjoyed this epic story Cary Joji Fukunaga has directed and the heartfelt conclusion Daniel Craig has brought to the iconic spy. This is definitely on the list of best Bond films and a must see! I can't recommend it enough in IMAX! Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!