Skyfall

In the way that every future dystopia is less a prediction of the future, and more an exploration of the present, each iteration of a serial franchise such as James Bond is less a piece of the same continuous story, and more an exploration of our current time through the lens of familiar characters and story structures.

The current Bond movie, in performances, cinematography, and themes, illuminates some of our current moment's melancholy, our collective concerns about individuals v systems, technological hardware v boots on the ground. These concerns are complex, multi layered, not binary, and Skyfall gives itself narrative space in which to explore them. The movie doesn't believe there are any clear answers, it just knows the questions are worth exploring.

Also, a piece of automotive machinery appears in cameo, and elicited delighted applause from my opening weekend audience -- a wonderful moment of shared enjoyment and entertained respect.