Musique Royale
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Wow! I just got out of an advance screening of “Casino Royale,” the latest (and, in some ways, the first) in the James Bond film series, which is essentially re-booting with the introduction of Daniel Craig as 007. Based on author Ian Fleming’s debut Bond novel, the movie - updated to our post-Cold War, terrorist-plagued, Wi-Fi-connected era, yet surprisingly true to the original book - shows us how a modern version of the British superspy earns his Double-O license to kill, and how he fares on his initial assignment.Any of you fans who worried about the casting should chill. I’ve seen the evidence up on the screen: Chiseled tough-guy Craig (from “Layer Cake,” “Munich” and “Infamous”) is the best actor to play the role of 007 since Sean Connery. Furthermore, it's probably the finest, most plausible Bond flick since 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” which was hampered by affectless Aussie model and novice actor George Lazenby replacing Connery as the lead.
The Casino Royale soundtrack: Decent score...lame theme.But this fantastic ride - so radically different from the ‘60s Bond spoof entitled “Casino Royale” - had one significant shortcoming: a less-than-memorable theme song. The score is decent enough. Alas, the theme is an empty bit of noise called “You Know My Name,” sung (and co-authored) by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, and co-written and produced by David Arnold, the great John Barry’s successor as designated 007 soundtrack composer. Cornell’s “rawker” croak is a major problem. It lacks the gravitas or sophistication of the pre-eminent Bond theme vocalists such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Matt Monro, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon or even twee Sheena Easton. Plus, the melody is generic, and the lyrics are bland.Thank Her Majesty’s minions that we get a reprise of the classic “James Bond Theme” by Monty Norman and John Barry as the 2006 “Casino Royale” reaches a crescendo. It gives the proceedings the indelible stamp of Bond, a punctuation letting us know it’s the real deal.At their best, the Bond themes - heard over those inimitable, kinetic opening credits - set an enthralling tone for the movies that follow. Although I love many of them, my personal favorite is “You Only Live Twice,” a Barry composition so grand and splendid that it makes the reedy voice of singer Nancy Sinatra sound as soulful and cool as Dusty Springfield. Now, that’s a James Bond theme worthy of the ass-kicking new guy and his cool new film.
The Casino Royale soundtrack: Decent score...lame theme.But this fantastic ride - so radically different from the ‘60s Bond spoof entitled “Casino Royale” - had one significant shortcoming: a less-than-memorable theme song. The score is decent enough. Alas, the theme is an empty bit of noise called “You Know My Name,” sung (and co-authored) by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, and co-written and produced by David Arnold, the great John Barry’s successor as designated 007 soundtrack composer. Cornell’s “rawker” croak is a major problem. It lacks the gravitas or sophistication of the pre-eminent Bond theme vocalists such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Matt Monro, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon or even twee Sheena Easton. Plus, the melody is generic, and the lyrics are bland.Thank Her Majesty’s minions that we get a reprise of the classic “James Bond Theme” by Monty Norman and John Barry as the 2006 “Casino Royale” reaches a crescendo. It gives the proceedings the indelible stamp of Bond, a punctuation letting us know it’s the real deal.At their best, the Bond themes - heard over those inimitable, kinetic opening credits - set an enthralling tone for the movies that follow. Although I love many of them, my personal favorite is “You Only Live Twice,” a Barry composition so grand and splendid that it makes the reedy voice of singer Nancy Sinatra sound as soulful and cool as Dusty Springfield. Now, that’s a James Bond theme worthy of the ass-kicking new guy and his cool new film.
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