All the Time in the World

A (spoiler free) review of 'No Time to Die'.

By
40

James Bond has never gotten (and probably never will get) a true finale. As soon as George Lazenby took over the role from Sean Connery and the idea of recasting the character every few years was formed, it became clear that no matter the risks he faced or how old he got 007 would never really die and he would certainly never retire—he’d simply reappear after awhile with a new face. The looser continuity such recasting leads to allowed the creative team behind Bond films to ignore the events of past films, doing away with overarching narratives in the place of episodic adventures. There might be some references to past adventures, but by and large each Bond film was essentially a standalone. Until Daniel Craig. 

Craig’s final outing as James Bond, No Time to Die, is here at long last, and gives us not just the end of the first Bond narrative that spans multiple films, but the first Bond film that really feels like an end. We know that a new 007 is just around the corner, but if he weren’t No Time to Die would make a fitting farewell not just to Craig but to the Bond series as a whole.

The movie picks up where the last film, Spectre, left off, with Bond in retirement with love interest Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux). He gets called back into action when his lover and the entire world are put under threat from a villain, Safin (Rami Malek), whose family was murdered by Swann’s father. (No Time to Die was originally slated to be released in April 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the film was postponed. Somewhat coincidentally, Safin’s plot for world domination involves a virus used as a bioweapon.) But No Time to Die isn’t just an action thriller: it’s a movie about forging relationships after trauma, about an aging man who has been alone most of his life learning to trust those he loves. 

The key to appreciating this journey that Bond undergoes is a film with an entirely different 007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, a film noteworthy for being Lazenby’s first and only turn in the role and for featuring the best Bond song ever written, “We Have All the Time in the World.” The song, written by frequent Bond composer John Barry and Louis Armstrong, serves as the love theme for the film, the leitmotif for the romance between Bond and Countess Tracy di Vicenzo, the woman who finally captures the infamous womanizer’s heart and takes him to the altar. The song’s romantic lyrics and sound disguise its ironic melancholy: The title comes from the last words Bond says to his bride at the end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as she lies dead in his arms, weeping and trying to convince himself she’s just sleeping.

“We Have All the Time in the World” features prominently in No Time to Die, with Bond saying the words to Swann at the film’s start and with the song appearing a few times throughout. It’s not just an easter egg for fans, it’s a direct invocation of the romance from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The James/Tracy relationship provides an interesting comparison to the James/Madeleine one: Lazenby as Bond let the woman he loved into his life and lost her as a result; Craig as Bond can’t bring himself to trust the woman he loves but finds he will lose her if he doesn’t.

Craig’s first Bond movie was intended to show a more vulnerable and raw take on the character. Casino Royale showed a more human Bond, one with emotions. The succeeding films showed the hardening of those emotions, with Bond turning into a suave but emotionally distant figure as he battles not just villains bent on global domination but his own inner demons. No Time to Die finally gives Bond a chance to end that battle, to let himself love again, and, for the first time since Sean Connery originated the role in 1962, to truly rest. Until the new guy comes along, at least.

40
By
Comments (40)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    The most impressive thing about this was the fact that Alex was able to write a substantive review without spoiling the movie.

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    David Link

    Props for taking a big swing on "the best Bond song ever written," but that's a top heavy category. It's a very fine song (I'm not as much of a fan of the lyrics), but "Goldfinger?" "Diamonds Are Forever?" "Nobody Does It Better?" "Live And Let Die?" Heck, it's not for an official Bond film, but Herb Alpert's "Casino Royale?"

    This isn't worth getting into a culture war over, but I'm certainly not ready to declare a Best in this competition.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Jason Gibson

      I actually really love the song by Billie Eilish. However I just rewatched Spectre and the melody is almost the same as the awful Writings on the wall by Sam Smith from that film

      Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    JDW

    I think in the end Daniel Craig after such an illustrious start really wasn't a great Bond. He lacked the charm and suave sophistication, including the looks, that is necessary for a Bond. He did bring a toughness to the role that was sadly lacking in some previous bonds. Here's looking at you Pierce Brosnan. Only Sean Connery played it perfect and then not every time.

    Also, let it be known that Bond is a 1960's anti-hero. We tolerate him because he saved the world on numerous occasions. I really hate the gradual eroding of his character. Yes he is a womanizer who treats women as disposable sexual treats. Yes he is cold and ruthless. Yes he is at times misogynistic. That is Bond.

    He is just the sort of man though to send after the likes of Ernst Blofeld or Auric Goldfinger. He has a license to kill because he can kill without hesitation. So many hating on Bond's "execution" of the guy under the car are missing the point. Craig was never truer to Bond's character than when he fired that second bullet into the station chief saying "yes it is easier the second time".

    We don't want our daughters marrying Bond. In fact we want to keep Bond away from all of our women. We want him buried. Until the world needs saving. That is how Fleming wrote the character. The guy wasn't a saint even by 1960's standards.

    Collapse
  4. Jon Wells

    A well-written review, Alec, but I have to say that while there’s no question that No Time to Die stands alone, it is for all the wrong reasons. The movie is not true to Bond’s character, whether of the novels or cinema. Daniel Craig is listed as one of the producers, and to me the movie feels like an act of hubris on his part: he wanted to go out big, no matter what “Bond would do.” The movie, that to my mind needed a good editor, is too long; it attempts to be a kind of “Bond: Endgame,” when all we really wanted, and needed more than ever, was Bond. In this sense, as a fan of Ian Fleming’s work, and all the movies, including Craig’s previous outings, I found it a deflating letdown. I hope when the series reboots, they strip it back, and don’t try to do a Marvel or Bourne movie, or generic action blockbuster, but just do 007 and trust the character and story to win the day.

    Collapse
  5. Walter Keith Hoggatt

    Great review of the movie that I have already seen twice.

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    Frank Lee

    Next 007 character will undoubtedly be racially-oppressed, gender-ambiguous identifying as they and will mark the beginning of the real end of the James Bond franchise.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      JDW

      I suspect this movie was the franchises way of saying goodbye to us as fans. The new Bond will be a sensitive metrosexual. They've wanted to cast a woman or someone not remotely scottish for a long time and if they do we can look at this movie as the true end of Bond.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Jason Gibson

        It's been well documented that Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are very traditional in their view of Bond. I predict that we will get a traditional bond.

        Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Matt J

      This is like the one joke you guys have.

      Collapse
  7. Avatar photo
    PB3

    For what’s it’s worth, this movie was worth the price of admission.

    But I could’ve done with half as many jokes and one-liners. Particularly the one immediately after the wristwatch. IYKYK.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Pastorfbt

    What, no love for Skyfall? With all respect to Sir Sean, I think Craig has been the best of the lot. YMMV.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Jason Gibson

      I’m still trying to process if skyfall is a masterpiece or a mess. Haven’t concluded yet

      Collapse
  9. Avatar photo
    Merrijane

    This was a good film. I haven’t even seen a Bond film since Brosnan debuted and I still really enjoyed it.

    Collapse
  10. Avatar photo
    Show Jay Janney the 🚪!

    Of the books, OHMSS was always once of my favorites. The idea that Blofeld made it personal was powerful.

    I thought the Casino Royale movie did Vesper Lynd pretty well. In the books, he calls her a b***h after the dramatic reveal.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Jason Gibson

      so i'm toward the end of a re-read. As a kid my favorite was live and let die or Doctor No. Currently From Russia With Love is the masterpiece. OHMSS is next. I also remember that I loved you only live twice with the booby traps

      Collapse
Load More