Autumn Movies, Argo and Sky Fall 007

I love autumn and one of the prime reasons is the movies get good again.

Don’t get me wrong I love taking our son and a few other 12-year-old boys to see “The Avengers” for the second time, or any of the other summer popcorn movies at a discount matinee, but by autumn I want my turn to choose the movie. I want a movie date with my husband to see something, anything that isn’t necessarily kid oriented.

It’s getting easier, our son was actually the one who insisted we see “Argo” this weekend and I have to say he made a great choice. We loved Argo. Ben Afflect has redeemed himself in my eyes. The movie is understated and played close to the chest. It never devolves into easy melodrama. Though the threat of violence is always present, it’s the tension and absence of trust between a few of the players in the story that will have you nibbling your fingernails.

This is not a flashy action movie. It’s grounded, low key and perfectly paced. The attention to detail is excellent. Ben Afflect looks like a super sexy swinger with his shag haircut and trim beard. With the exception of a few dramatic license conversations, this movie could be a docudrama.

If you see Argo be prepared to remain in your seat at the end. A few of the most poignant photos and bits of information come well into the end credits.

Next week we are meeting friends to see Cloud Atlas as a group. This movie looks really interesting and I think I understand the premise, but I’m going to go with an open mind and just enjoy it.

After that is autumn’s jewel in the crown, her majesty’s crown that is—007!

I’m a huge Bond fan; some might say a fanatical Bond fan.  007 has always been part of my life and through thick and thin I depend on the Broccolis to deliver my Bond to me.

I’ll admit I wasn’t crazy about the last dreary Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Excessive violence against women and endless rape/beating scenes are not my idea of 007 fun. Ian Fleming would have hated it. If anyone was due a beating it was Bond. Without doubt both the character Bond and most likely Fleming himself were/are rip-roaring masochists.

Nearly every Fleming book ends or begins with Bond skirting death and being admitted or released from the hospital. Daniel Craig’s debut in Casino Royale was in my opinion the ultimate match of Fleming’s vision of Bond and all that the Broccolis had brought to the 007 franchise over the years. The only detail out of step was Craig’s blond hair, but what the hell, Daniel Craig nailed every other 007 detail to the wall—where it will remain untouched by all other Bond actors for another generation.

The torture chair scene in Casino Royale sums up Bond’s core personality. Bond can take a beating—Bond expects a beating and when all is stripped away from him to the point when anyone else would be broken, he is at his best and his indestructible core is exposed.

That’s why the super villains can’t simply kill Bond without making a tremendous fuss. They have to torture Bond first and take him to that place where they can catch a fleeting glimpse of Bond’s indestructible strength. That steel core is something we all wish to possess. It’s also a beautiful example of topping from the bottom.

I wish I were a Bond girl. I’d take the short but exciting ride. Every woman in Fleming’s books was an adult who had already been around the block with men far worse than Bond. In fact Bond plays the archetypal white knight to most of the women he rescues and is later dumped by them. All the Bond girls are sophisticated enough to know what they are getting into. They say yes to a moment of pleasure with a dangerous man but they don’t try to keep or tame him. Smart women.

Do know what Fleming wrote as Bond’s retirement dream? If you know, write it in the comment box and I’ll be very impressed.

PS. I did buy a couple OPI 007 Sky Fall collection nail polishes this week. In real life several of colors were odd and poorly named. “Sky Fall” is the exact color of uncooked liver… No thank you.

My favorite polish was “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” which is an iridescent pewter embedded with tiny flecks of holographic rainbow glitter. I can’t afford an Aston Martin but I can have an Aston Martin paint job on my fingertips!

XXOO Kat