Inspired to watch Goldeneye by the current talk of a new James Bond adventure filming shortly, I was surprised by how dramatically Pierce Brosnan's movie has dated...and it's only 16 years old!
Eric Serra's score remains stubbornly shit, it's naff electronic farting is no match for John Barry's or David Arnold's classic orchestral highs. Brosnan still seems like a man in training for the role of his life, rather than totally owning it (as he did in the follow up, the superior Tomorrow Never Dies.) Here he's too wiry and slight to look like a convincing top secret agent, plus he's still carrying some of that cocky arrogant swagger that only an older man can carry off well (which Brosnan of course did). Plus he's still sporting his poncey Remmington Steel hair which undermines Bond's toughness. Still, as played, he's still pretty damned good balancing Bond's cutting quips, the more vulnerable side of 007's psychology and his relentless brutality with skill.
The rest of the cast are equally impressive. Sean Bean makes a memorable villain (the fact that he's 006 and Bonds mirror makes this a stronger character than Bean's slightly too toffee-nosed take), Izabella Scorupco is a drop dead gorgeous (and feisty, Bond girl, while Famke Janssen clearly revels in her opportunity to play a Bond henchman with a sex-fetish. Of course the casting of Judi Dench as M was a slam dunk in every way possible.
The deliberate 90's references stand out like a sore thumb watched these days. Making a big deal out of Bond's female boss, a less submissive Moneypenny (in Samantha Bond's portrayal of M's secretary) and continual references to Bond's mistreatment of women are a little outdated and redundant (although it gives Goldeneye a unique flavor the other franchise entries lack). Also the photography is very much of it's time; not so much in the daytime or interiors...but night scenes are filled with smoke machines which were a trademark of the times.
Like X-Men, Goldeneye is operating on a reduced budget which means the film is structured in such a way so that we get 'maximum bang for our buck'. The three act structure of France, Russia and Cuba gives the story a welcome simplicity (not always present in Bond movies) and the set-pieces striking and well choreographed with the central St Petersberg Tank Chase being one of the long running film series best. Director Martin Campbell mostly shakes of the bland detachedness that marred his earlier thriller No Escape and Goldeneye sees him start his career as one of Hollywood's most sought after hacks...even if he is a talented hack.
The main thing I like about Goldeneye is that it's a modern attempt to do an outlandish Bond movie (like The Spy Who Loved Me and You Only Live Twice) in a serious, realistic way. There's the villain's super-weapon, the hidden, Ken Adam designed secret base and the arrival of the troops to storm the fortress (even if they arrive a touch too late). It's a fantastic blend of old and new...one that I hope that current Bond, Daniel Craig, will get to explore before he finishes duties as 007.
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