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“No Time to Die”
I found this film to be an emotionally touching way to say farewell to Daniel Craig. Though some felt the story moved too slowly at times, I thought it gave you a chance to honor Craig’s performance as he walked into the sunset. It reminded me of Burt Lancaster as he walked into the cornfield in the classic “Field of Dreams” (1989).
In summary fashion, Bond has been retired for five years living comfortably in Jamaica. He is brought back into the British secret service after a visit from old friend Felix Leiter, played memorably by Jeffrey Wright. In the process, Bond ends up on the trail of an unknown villain (Rami Malek) with lab technology designed to infect the human body and cause a quick, ugly death. In the process, Bond is unexpectedly reunited with a lover, played with force and style by Lea Seydoux, whom he walked away from years earlier. Sometimes love is never extinguished, and you watch the two of them haunted by burning emotional embers.
But while the special effects are dazzling as you watch Bond race on narrow European roads as he rides motorcycles and various cars, it is his encounter in Cuba at the beginning of the movie that is unforgettable. Joined by the beautiful, and beautifully attired, Ana de Armas, it is one of the greatest stylistic fights in recent movie history.
While de Armas regrettably quickly leaves the film, Bond is reunited with his old comrades M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw) and Ms. Moneypenny (Naomie Harris). He also joins forces with a new comrade, Nomi (Lashana Lynch), who has now become the new 007.
One of the most interesting aspects of this film are the remarkable performances of various women referred to above. In particular, Harris is in the unique position of starring here as Moneypenny and as Shriek, Woody Harrelson’s psychotic lover in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
And Lynch’s role as the new 007 creates some interesting thoughts for future Bond movies. Would the movie industry dare have a Black woman play the role of a legendary hero who now becomes a heroine?
Would the dry martinis still be “shaken, not stirred”?
“The Last Duel”
Sadly, it is clear that age is catching up to the legendary director Ridley Scott. Though this film is largely a waste of time, let’s remember his classic films “Alien” (1979), “Blade Runner” (1982), “Thelma and Louise” (1991) and “Gladiator” (2000) to name a few.
“The Last Duel” has one positive upside by focusing on a rape victim in France in the late 14th century who challenged Europe’s massive sexist culture by going public with her accusation. Jodie Comer stands out as a married woman who risks being burned at the stake for daring to accuse a prominent political figure.
But the movie lost its strength by repetitive, lengthy scenes showing the same sexual encounter. The film’s length of two hours and 32 minutes could have been easily shortened to 1½ hours and the story would have been strengthened in the process. It also is not helped by constant scenes where every man and woman is drinking to excess.
Matt Damon plays Sir Jean de Carrouges, a one-dimensional soldier with bad hair and a scarred face. Married to Comer’s Marguerite, his two loves in life are army battles and hoping that his wife will get pregnant so he will have an heir. The problem is that she doesn’t enjoy being intimate with him.
Opposite him is Adam Driver, playing Jacques Le Gris. Good at collecting money from tenants of the local government leader, an absolutely awful Ben Affleck, his attraction to Marguerite leads him down a despicable path followed by many men of that time period.
Let me just say that a trial before the king leads to a duel on horseback where if Driver wins Damon will be executed and Comer tortured and burned to death. By the conclusion you will be yawning in your seats. It leads you to think that this melancholy movie was co-written by Damon and Affleck, who long ago lost their edge with “Good Will Hunting” (1997).
Oh, that’s right, they did. Further explanation is not needed.•
• Robert Hammerle practices criminal law in Indianapolis. When is not in the courtroom or the office, Bob can likely be found at one of his favorite movie theaters preparing to review the latest films. To read more of his reviews, visit www.bigmouthbobs.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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