I am a shallow man, a hollow man, a man for whom going to the cinema is an opportunity to absorb, via osmosis, something that resembles a personality:
After watching a chick flick I am kooky and endearing; after an arthouse movie I am quizzical and languid and, after submitting to the frenetic largesse of the contemporary Hollywood blockbuster, I am a nimble, daring and dashing hero of my own head.
Unfortunately, in the Quantum of Solace, James Bond is so charmless that to emulate him would be to emulate a serial killer. Unlike Casino Royale, the events of which are referred to numerous times, Bond doesn’t get opportunity to be droll or dapper. Indeed, he is practically autistic the whole way through. “You’re very efficient,” says his female accomplice. “Thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment” says Daniel Craig’s Bond flatly.
I saw Quantum of Solace in Peckham, a place where you need all your physical self-possession just to avoid being stabbed. Actually, that’s not true, Peckham may be full of mentally ill people but it is generally quite charming. The Will Alsop library helps, even when you are being berated by a woman with a loud hailer.
My favourite part of the film was the bit set in La Paz, Bolivia, where men wear fedoras and women wear bowler hats. As you no doubt know, hats are essential to civility so it was interesting to see them worn in a spirit of conservatism rather than the spirit of dandy individualism that you have to affect when you wear a hat in Britain.
But despite that moment of sartorial interest, it was just endless fight scenes and thus quite boring.
your description of peckham is wonderful “full of mentally ill people but quite charming”. yes! and true!
And how do you feel now, after Haneke’s German Funny Games? I am hidden behind the sofa, in case you are interested. Knock before you come in, I startle with the sound of my own breath.
So, all in all — and this is all I was ever really interested in from the start — fitting name?
@Barney
After hearing Adam Buxton’s theme, yes.
I went to the cinema last night for the first time in 15 years. The last time it was ‘Schindler’s List’ & this time ‘Quantum of Solace’. My companion told me that we’d have to sit through 30 minutes of adverts & I thought she was joking. Actually, the adverts only lasted 26 minutes & seemed to be aimed mainly at 14 year olds!
I’d watched ‘Casino Royale’ on DVD the night before, to prepare for my outing & that proved to be worthwhile.
Having heard some negative remarks about ‘Quantum’, I thought I might not like it but I was pleasantly surprised & found it thoroughly enjoyable & at least as good as ‘Casino Royale’.
The fast changing action sequences really gave a sense of movement & there was plenty of intrigue & romance to get one thinking.
To summarise, I won’t be waiting another 15 years before I go to the cinema again!
Yes, I liked the Bolivian hats (they made me smile) but I also enjoyed the film. Mr Bond wasnt endearing but cold and calculating which I found made him all the more interesting than the usual faultless Bond. He did have the odd tender moment when cradling the dying man and the traumatised young woman in the fire. Is charm necessary for the hero? No, I dont think so. Do you remember ’silence of the lambs’? Now, he could be very charming but he WAS a serial killer!