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Casino Royale (Frank's take)
01/01/2007 . Source: Frank Ochieng 
The movie world's greatest super agent is back and assuming a whole new attitude if not a physical makeup, finds Frank. Gone are the vintage days of Bond-era sophisticates Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Also, let's not forget the trivial pursuit reminiscences of one-time Bond wannabe George Lazenby. Buy Casino Royale in the USA - or Buy Casino Royale in the UK  And how about the experimental, stiff trial-by-error Bond outings by the likes of Shakespearean actor Timothy Dalton and suave ex-Remington Steele stalwart Pierce Brosnan? Now, we're introduced to the updated daredevil antics of short, spiky fair-haired, steely blue-eyed Daniel Craig as he takes on the mythical Agent 007 in the superbly entertaining and rousing Bond adventure Casino Royale.
To suggest that Craig is the BEST representation of the resilient British spy may be a tad bit premature (sorry, Connery still has that claim to fame in most people's mindset). However, Craig is probably the first actor to instil a triggered cynicism and worldly angst that propels James Bond as a tortured and treacherous soul worthy of his reputation to hold a "license to kill".
Director Martin Campbell ("GoldenEye") and regular Bond screenwriters Robert Wade and Neal Purvis (along with Oscar-winning "Crash" Paul Haggis's input) deliver Casino Royale as a pulsating actioner wedged in edginess and slick wit. In fact, Campbell's action-packed narrative may be the best Bond film in ages thanks to the intriguing foundation that recalls Agent 007 creator Ian Fleming's first dynamic novel. Intense, provocative, complicated and daringly impish, Casino Royale gets down to the nitty-gritty.
Some may have the tendency to confuse Campbell's Casino Royale with the 1967 goofy-minded James Bond spoof. Obviously, this edition is a far cry of watching the slaphappy exploits of on-screen uncle-nephew combo David Niven and Woody Allen. In this case, the martini is stirred and shaken with a convincing vengeance. Craig plays Bond in his humble beginnings as a roguish secret agent for the British MI-6 Agency. There's nothing remotely cartoonish or casual about the rough-around-the-edges Bond as he struggles to "conform" to the high expectations set out by his boss M (Judi Dench). It's a refreshing reality about Craig crawling into James Bond's adventurous skin-he's more athletic, defiant, disillusioned, disturbed and raw.
The familiar flourishes of the James Bond experience are pretty much in tact. For instance, ravishing Bond women (Eva Green as radiant accountant Vesper Lynd hits the desirous mark), the scenic hot spots around the world, polished executed chase sequences, Bond's formal tuxedo wear, the swanky Aston Martin ride, and of course the well-noted verbal signature of "My name is Bond. James Bond". And how can we forget the film's famous opening credits with an armed Bond in silhouette? As for the movie's plot, well let's say that it also has a tinge of the convoluted Bondian escapades.
After butchering an important assignment, Bond is in the doghouse with his superior M. Nevertheless, she reluctantly assigns him to another mission involving big-time gambler Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) and his ominous bid to fund terrorists with his vast monetary resources. Bond must enter the high-stakes competition of poker in order to minimize the lucky hand of Le Chiffre before he continues feeding the bad guys with his damaging winnings. The nail-biting poker tournament takes place in picturesque Montenegro. On board to fuel Bond's gambling pockets is dashing treasury tart Vesper Lynd (the aforementioned Green from "The Dreamers", "Kingdom of Heaven"). When Bond isn't throwing away money at the Casino Royale as if they're wasted napkins in his attempt to match card-holding wits with the dubious Le Chiffre, he can be found flirting with colorful confrontations if not with his favorite "W"-oriented pastimes: women and weaponry.
Casino Royale has a natural swagger that radiates like it's no one's business and Campbell excels in parlaying a stylised energy that feels high-powered and imaginative. Craig gives off a blue-collar vibe to his interpretation of 007 that suggests dangling from construction cranes and partaking in "beer pub"-inspired fistfights. Bond is not just a cocky cad in casual duds playing footsies with the latest curvaceous siren in this excitable entry.
On the contrary, he's maladjusted-a menacing misfit trying to get a grip of his tattered psyche while tackling a deadly profession that doesn't have time for his surfacing feelings. Craig is pained and puckish. He has his feathers ruffled as an accented, pint-sized Steve McQueen look-a-like with a cold-hearted angst in tow. It is only then that one can appreciate the dissention and disarray as punctuated in Craig's playful yet scrappy performance. Rugged is the preference for Craig's raucous spy guy as he leaves the regal rituals to his pretty boy predecessors.
The exquisite locales (Nassau and Venice), impressive transportation toys (a mighty jumbo jet), the vibrancy of the violence-all add that much to this hard-edged "Bond"-ing brouhaha that deems Casino Royale a crackling and cutthroat popcorn thriller that registers with pure panache. The supporting players-particularly Green as Bond's fine-looking financial advisor is more than just a knockout necessity for window-dressing. She's tough, self-assured and matches Craig in on-screen conflict and courageousness.
As the villainous Le Chiffre, Mikkelsen is a breath of fresh air as the arrogant moneymaking adversary. Dench lends a stern motherly brashness as the nonsense M (she easily makes Bond fans forget that Q ever existed). Only the talented Jeffrey Wright, as CIA agent Felix Leiter, gets lost in the shuffle in a slight role that should have been padded.
For those that thought Daniel Craig could only taste so sweet in the explosive drama Layer Cake, wait until they see what kind of thrill-seeking frosting that spreads on the chaotic cupcake that is Bond. Craig's moody and mystified James Bond.
Frank Ochieng
(c) 2007 Frank Ochieng
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