Director Sam Mendes

Daniel Craig (007), Javier Bardem (Raoul Silva), Judi Dench (M), Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory), Naomie Harris (Eve)

Bond is back. The fifty-year franchise has been a mainstay in post war espionage thrillers, influencing fashion and style along the way. Our favourite James Bond characters, their henchmen, cars, women and villains kept us going back for more. 007, M, the iconic music and film intros have kept us mesmerized. But could it be sustained? That was the challenge when the latest Bond movie, Skyfall was announced to be in the works.

Skyfall has successfully reinvigorated the Bond Empire with multiple awards, significant nominations and fans across the world. Bond films had historically been awarded recognition for their technical merit rather than the acting and certainly never a best film award. Javier Bardem’s villainous portrayal of Rauol Silva, the spy who went wrong, surprised everyone.  Critics Choice Awards honoured Daniel Craig with Best actor in an action movie. SAG Awards recognized the remarkable 007 stunt team with Outstanding performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture. Skyfall is the most successful British Film in box office history and won the Bond franchise its first BAFTA, Outstanding British Film. 

Courtesy of SonyPictures

Skyfall is moving on to the Academy Awards where Adele will perform the Oscar nominated song ‘Skyfall’ (best original music Thomas Newman). It is the first film of the Bond Series to receive an Oscar nomination in 30 years. In  1963 the nomination went to ‘To Russia With Love’ for cinematography.

Courtesy of SonyPictures

Skyfall was the Winner of the prestigious ‘Film of the Year Evening Standard British film awards.’ The ASC (American Society of Cinematographers Award) has just awarded Skyfall’s Roger DeakinsBest cinematography, an award that has signals very positive possibilities for an Oscar. Roger Deakins won an ASC for The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) and has an extensive list of   wins and nominations for his cinematography work over the decades including 10 Oscar nominations but never a win. His cinematography awards include BAFTA The Man Who Wasn’t There, No Country For Old Men (2007) and True Grit (2012).

Courtesy of SonyPictures

Skyfall releases as a DVD today. Read our full film review here.

Moira Romano