by MARK SLUTSKY

As much as Pierce Brosnan made a smoothly enjoyable James Bond, even the most die-hard of 007 fans would have to admit that the venerable franchise had gotten a little stale, with its flatter writing, increasingly theme-park-sized but listless set pieces and invisible cars. Sure, Bond’s always been about the gadgets, the gimcracks and the girls, but without the attitude and the hint of darkness beneath his demeanour, the films were in danger of devolving into generic CGI-laden action movie cartoons.

So props to the producers for realizing that they needed to re-invigorate the series with the latest, Casino Royale (although boo to them for not letting Quentin Tarantino direct—apparently he had expressed interest). Although Ian Fleming’s novel had been adapted in the past, the 1967 version was something very different involving multiple James Bonds and Woody Allen. This version, though updated to the present day, is true to Fleming’s consistent nasty streak, and it’s refreshing.

Daniel Craig (Munich, Layer Cake) is the new man, and although blond Bond takes a moment to get used to, his geometric features and buff bulk fit well with the movie’s take on the character—this Bond is a bit of a roughneck, a thug, really. The movie’s set earlier in his career; he’s just earned his 00 status and has yet to really prove himself to his superior, M (Judi Dench).

As in any Bond, there are a few memorable set pieces (like one great parkour-inflected chase through a building site), although the cinematography and editing isn’t quite as impressive as the stuntwork. But there’s also some real suspense at the card table—this is a casino movie after all, with poker standing in for baccarat—and the movie balances out the action with some nice spy-style tension.

Eva Green (The Dreamers), Jeffrey Wright and Giancarlo Giannini round out the strong cast, with Mads Mikkelsen as bad guy Le Chiffre, sporting a “deranged tear duct” that makes him literally cry blood, and a swank silver Ventolin inhaler coveted by this asthmatic film critic. Though the film’s definitely overlong at two-and-a-half hours, it’s a welcome take on a franchise that had definitely gotten creaky. n

Casino Royale opens this Friday, Nov. 17

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