Originally scheduled to release in April of 2020, No Time to Die (aka, Bond 25) was delayed for a year and a half due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, the film faced behind-the-scenes delays after Danny Boyle, who was tapped to co-write and direct the film, left the production in late 2018. The road to a theatrical release was a bit rocky, but No Time to Die itself, now directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a screenplay co-written by him, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Scott Z. Burns, is far more seamless. Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as Bond is replete with fantastic action sequences and an emotional center despite the final act being shaky.
James Bond (Craig) is in retirement at the start of the film, living under the radar in Jamaica five years after he left his post as 007 with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux). However, his old life beckons him to return after CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) shows up to ask for his help in rescuing kidnapped Russian scientist Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik). Naturally, nothing is as simple as it seems, with Bond thrown back into the danger and action that comes with the license to kill, all while having to adjust to the changes that occurred in his absence — including a new operative, Nomi (Lashana Lynch), who takes over the 007 mantle in his place. Working with M (Ralph Fiennes), Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), Q (Ben Whishaw) and CIA operative Paloma (Ana de Armas), Bond faces off with enemies old (Blofeld, played by Christoph Waltz) and new, the central one being the mysterious Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek), a skilled and intelligent enemy with deadly plans and a vengeful vendetta.
As Craig’s swan song, No Time to Die is everything one could ask for in a final outing, wrapping up all of the open-ended storylines from previous films and paying tribute to those who impacted Bond’s life along the way. Craig imbues the character with a lot of weighty emotion, crafting a performance that speaks to the betrayals, heartache, and weariness of a man who has experienced all of these things. And yet, he retains an exceptional amount of charm, a small smirk here, a witty quip there, and Craig plays that up without ever losing the feel for the character. The film balances Bond as someone who, despite trying to live a normal life, is always looking over his shoulder. When he gets back into the thick of the action, it’s as though he never truly left.
The rest of the cast — from Ana de Armas’ lively and fresh-faced operative, who is new to the job and thrilled to be working with Bond, to Lashana Lynch’s smooth performance as Nomi, who is trying to maintain her composure in the midst of Bond’s return — shine alongside Craig, further fleshing out the world in which Bond operates. Fukunaga, who always has a detailed eye, lingers just long enough for the audience to take something in — be it information, the emotional gravity of a situation, or the shock of a twist — before moving on in a swiftly paced actioner. The fight choreography by Patrick Vo is excellent, thorough and exciting. The stunts (coordinated by Lee Morrison and Petr Rychlý) are also thrilling, especially in the scenes set in Italy and Cuba. The visuals, thanks to cinematographer Linus Sandgren, are stunning, muted but bright when they need to be.
No Time to Die reckons a lot with legacy: what remains and what one leaves behind. Bond’s trust issues are still a problem, and yet he’s managed to maintain the loyalty and respect of those he has worked with on various missions. The film, albeit only slightly, also tackles the dangers of secret agencies developing weaponry under the guise of protecting populations. The escalation is exponential and made even worse just by virtue of its existence, no matter whose hands it’s in. And yet, it doesn’t go far enough, putting the blame onto one villain who decides to go just far enough to involve Bond in stopping him. Safin’s plans are muddled and not focused on for too long, with the final act dragging out unnecessarily. There are pockets where the tension fails to ramp up and the action falls flat, though the film does satisfy in its last moments as it brings Bond’s story to a close. And while Safin’s global plot is mediocre at best and doesn't feel as threatening as it should, the villain (and Rami Malek’s performance) works best when he is more of a personal threat to Bond and Madeleine rather than a worldwide one; as even when his plans become far-reaching, the film refuses to shift the focus from its main character. That often brings the tension to a halt and the third act of the film is where the lack of proper buildup for Malek's Safin, in particular, begin to show.
The film truly soars when its focus is on Bond’s personal story, as well as the legacy he leaves behind. No Time to Die feels like a love letter to Craig’s iteration of 007, bringing in new characters who make a mark while thoughtfully and carefully wrapping up Bond’s storylines. The action, the personal subplots, and the generally good pacing will keep audiences in their seats, with the ending of the film being one fans of the franchise will be talking about for some time to come.
No Time to Die will be released in theaters on October 8, 2021. The film is 163 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, brief strong language and some suggestive material.
