Cary Fukunaga
No time to die

Some time ago, someone in a completely different field advised, in general, to choose the safe choice. And this advice came to mind just last weekend when I saw in the program, at the cinema near my house, two films being shown in different theaters: "Tre piani" and "No time to die". Having already seen (and reviewed) Moretti's latest film, I chose the latest (the twenty-fifth to be precise) installment of the Bond saga. I must clarify that the writer does not count themselves among the fans of agent 007. Aside from the initial films starring Sean Connery and some later contributions by Roger Moore (a bit stiff compared to Connery), I generally did not bother with other episodes played by British actors not particularly remarkable. Nonetheless, having accidentally watched "Skyfall" years ago, I appreciated Daniel Craig's performance and resumed watching the saga's films.

Of course, in "No time to die" many details already present in the previous films are found (the so-called safe choice), but new elements are not missing just to keep the audience from getting bored. Meanwhile, we see Bond as a golden retiree for 5 years in Jamaica (a retirement more than deserved) called upon to intervene by an old American colleague (Felix Leiter) of the CIA. Gosh, one might think, but are the secret services (CIA, MI6) in such bad shape that they turn to poor James?

In fact, the world's fate is in danger as there exists a bio-weapon that could trigger a deadly pandemic. From here, a whirlwind of breathtaking actions ensues with treacherous scientists (who happen to speak with a Russian accent), double and triple-playing agents, the inevitable Spectre (but this time the organization is not the puppet master of all the wrongdoing), and a psychopath with a hobby for bacteriological weapons (excellently portrayed by Rami Malek). In the end, the world will be saved, but in the end credits, this time there will not be a notice that James Bond will return in the next episode...

While I previously mentioned how reassuring it is to find the usual clichés in a Bond film, it must be said that there is something new. And it's not just that our hero is already retired, but that he ends up being the father of a daughter with a psychologist named Madeleine Swann (played by Lea Seydoux). Perhaps it's not a coincidence that in "No time to die" (note the excessive length: 2 hours and 43 minutes) there is a Proustian, melancholic air, a search for lost time. Only that in Bond's case, the memories coming back from the past are mostly painful and dangerous (Spectre primarily and not only).

Furthermore, what stands out in this film is that agent 007 finds himself operating in a very changed world. The dangers to global security have increased, can be where you least expect them, and Bond finds himself a bit lost working with female colleagues who are not only cute but, above all, very tough (while he was retired, a black woman was appointed 007). And then the question spontaneously arises: does the world still need James Bond? Since the producers of this cinematic saga, active since 1962, do not intend to give up such a golden goose, it is very likely that, with James buried, a new agent 007 will be appointed and perhaps the aforementioned black woman will remain (the remarkable Lashana Lynch...). Time will tell.