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Following the release of 1989's Licence to Kill, the James Bond franchise withered in limbo for six years due to MGM's crippling financial and legal difficulties. Timothy Dalton departed the role during the interim, forcing producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli to find a new face for the iconic secret agent. His replacement became Pierce Brosnan, who was supposed to take the role a decade prior but was contracted to work on the TV show Remington Steele. The resulting picture is 1995's GoldenEye, the first completely original Bond adventure with no ties to any of Ian Fleming's original novels or short stories, although the title was named after Fleming's luxurious Jamaican estate. The film which re-invented 007 for modern times, GoldenEye is arguably the best Bond-buster to date; a rip-roaring action film with memorable set-pieces, first-rate production values, and the best Bond since Sean Connery. 007 films exist to provide a two-hour thrill ride, and GoldenEye - the seventeenth instalment in the franchise - does just that, with Martin Campbell stylishly integrating all of the elements one expects from the series: fast cars, cool gadgets, hot girls, creative action, and boundary-pushing visual effects.
In Soviet Russia during the 1980s, James Bond and Agent 006, Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), infiltrate a Soviet chemicals facility to destroy a deadly weapons stockpile. Though Bond manages to complete his objective, Alec is killed in action. Nine years later, Bond is assigned to investigate the theft of a top-secret space weapon known as the "GoldenEye," which fires an electromagnetic pulse and has the potential to cause devastating destruction. Teaming up with Russian computer programmer Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), 007 discovers that GoldenEye is now in the hands of Trevelyan, who actually faked his death and is now working with Russian General Ourumov (Gottfried John) and lethal assassin Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) to send London back to the stone age.
With the political climate having changed since the last Bond outing, the 007 franchise had to change with it. Fleming's character was a product of the Cold War, so, in order to modernise 007 to keep him relevant, the recent fall of the Iron Curtain was worked into the narrative. On top of this, Bond now answers to a female M, played by the brilliant Judi Dench. Furthermore, Trevelyan is arguably the greatest villain the series has ever seen. Jaws may be more popular, but 006 is a master-stoke: an MI6 agent with the same training as Bond who can physically match him in a fight. Trevelyan's familiarity with Bond's personality also gives him an edge which he gleefully exploits. His betrayal has genuine motivation behind it, too, and a scene between Bond and Trevelyan discussing his loyalties is poignant and weighty. Most Bond villains are one-dimensional, thus Trevelyan's depth makes him a memorable antagonist. Writers Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein bestow Bond himself with some unexpected depth, as well - with 007's often cool demeanour and evasion of serious relationships having been criticised over the years, GoldenEye explores why Bond is who he is, emphasising that it's these exact characteristics that have actually kept him going. The material is well-judged, too, never threatening Bond's long-standing integrity.
Filling the director's seat is just as important as filling the title role. Martin Campbell was a terrific choice to helm GoldenEye, as he has a great eye for action and is a generally excellent filmmaker. '90s action is grittier, faster, and more hard-hitting than the spectacles of precious decades, and Campbell sells the franchise's transition into this new era with a sure hand. GoldenEye's action scenes are fluid and exciting, with some memorable large-scale set-pieces (including Bond chasing Ourumov with a tank through the streets of St. Petersburg, and the climactic showdown atop a satellite dish), a handful of daring stunts (Bond leaping off a cliff from a motorcycle to catch a plane), and a few traditional shootouts. The opening credits sequence deserves a mention as well; it's exceptional due to the beautiful and elegant visuals, as well as the title song performed by the indomitable Tina Turner. The song, which was written by Bono and the Edge, has a modern groove to it, but it's spiritually reminiscent of Shirley Bassey's iconic Goldfinger song. The only thing about GoldenEye which does not entirely work is Eric Serra's score. At times it's suitable, but at other points the music is grating. Serra's score often sounds too "avant-garde," ironically making the film seem dated.
Following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, Brosnan became the fifth actor to assume the role and appears to have been born to play the infamous superspy - he's handsome, elegant and debonair, not to mention he has the ability to mix the charm and grit of the best Bonds. He also looks comfortable in the situations that 007 finds himself in, handling the action elements and delivering one-liners with real panache. His co-star, Sean Bean, is just as remarkable. Bean has spent most of his career playing villains, and Alec Trevelyan is perhaps the most notable feather in his cap; his performance oozes malice and cool. As the requisite Bond girls, Scorupco and Janssen have the looks and charisma to sell their roles, though Janssen is particularly notable for the way she mixes sexiness and brutality. Dench makes for a terrifically cold and straight-faced M, while Joe Don Baker is marvellous as CIA agent Jack Wade. Robbie Coltrane is another good scene-stealer, turning in a colourful performance as one of Bond's old acquaintances. Meanwhile, as a computer programmer, Alan Cumming is enjoyably flamboyant. Rounding out the cast is series veteran Desmond Llewelyn playing our beloved Q, and Samantha Bond who makes for an endearing Moneypenny.
Although GoldenEye is marginally overlong, there's little doubt that this is one of James Bond's finest outings, right alongside Goldfinger. It has more humanity than typical run-of-the-mill action blockbusters, but it doesn't skim on the action or special effects. It's also a flat-out fun film and a light-hearted action-adventure with playful one-liners and riveting set-pieces.
9.1/10
