GoldenEye (1995)
The Cast
Pierce Brosnan (James Bond); Sean Bean (Alec Trevelyan); Izzabella Scorupco (Natalya Simonova) Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen); Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker); Gottfried John (General Orumov)
The Supporting Cast
Judi Dench (“M”); Desmond Llewelyn (“Q”); Samantha Bond (Moneypenny); Robbie Coltrane (Valentine Zukovsky); Alan Cumming (Boris); Minnie Driver (Irena)
Credits
Produced by Albert R Broccoli; Associate Producers: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli; Directed by Martin Campbell; Music by Eric Serra; Title Song Performed by Tina Turner and written by Bond andEdge; Story by Michael France; Screenplay by Bruce Fierstein; Edited by Terry Rawlings; Filmed on Location in Monte Carlo; Puerto Rico; St. Petersburg, Russia ; and Leavesden Studios England. Running time 2 hours 10 minutes
Goldeneye kicks off with 007 infiltrating a chemical manufacturing plant deep in the heart of Russia. Already inside is fellow friend and compatriot, Alec Trevelyan, better known as 006. Before the two are able to complete their mission of search and destroy, 006 is captured and shot by Russian General Ourumov. 007, visibly shaken, is still able to make a crafty escape and carry out the assignment.
Fast forward 9 years later…Bond, in Monaco, crosses paths with Xenia Onatopp, the one known member of the Janus Syndicate, a group of high powered, low profile arms dealers based out of Russia. When a Tiger Helicopter is stolen off of a naval ship at the NATO air show the next day, Xenia, and The Janus Syndicate become prime suspects.
The plot then shifts to the use of the helicopter to steal a spaced based weapons system codenamed Goldeneye. The one man who stands to profit from the abduction of the weapon, besides the mysterious crime figure Janus, is General Orumov. “M” assigns 007 to find out who took the Goldeneye, why and what they plan to do with it.
Does Pierce Brosnan cut it as 007? Absolutely. Brosnan was fully aware of the screen legend of 007, and in particular the individual characteristics that make up 007. He nails it down as if 007 and Brosnan are one and the same.
The Bond girls are equally impressive. As the “good girl” Natalya, Izzabella Scorpuco`s performance is nothing short of spectacular. She`s completely believable as a casual, working girl thrust into international intrigue.
As turn coat agent 006, Sean Bean provides us with one of the best Bond villains ever. His is a psychological villain. He does`nt have an eye patch or steel teeth. Instead, he has a reason. A reason to want James Bond dead. He plays Trevelyan as though he and 007 were brothers growing up, constantly competing with one another to see who could do better.
The plot is one of the best ever. Bruce Feirstein writes the best dialogue for a Bond film this side of Octopussy. Through carefully written characters, we get a chance to explore 007`s darker side. We see Bond, not as he sees himself, but as others see him.
Under the watchful eye of Director Martin Campbell, Goldenye never becomes so overwhelmed with stunts or technology that it loses it`s heart or it`s focus. To his credit, Campbell got back to basics with Brosnan and the 007 franchise. He went back to what he knew had always worked best and what audiences would be expecting. And he more than delivers.