No Time to Diewas supposed to be one of 2020’s biggest movies. It was meant to be Daniel Craig’s swan song as agent 007, its projected billion dollar earnings for MGM were set to make the year for the studio and had things gone as planned there would probably be a new face tied to the name James Bond.
Well, fate and COVID-19 won’t be letting the MGM lion roar anytime soon, so with almost 5 months to go untilNo Time to Diehas a chance of gracing movie theaters all over the world, it’s probably a good idea to line up a team of other spies that may take 007’s place for the time being.
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Luckily, given Ian Fleming’s 007 practically made the whole genre, so it’s easy to find good (and not so good) works of art that can remind everyone of what it’s like to be a MI6 agent with a license to kill.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout(2018)
Tom Cruise is currently filmingMission: Impossible 7at 58 years old, the same age Roger Moore was back in 1985 whenA View To Killcame out and he was ridiculed for being too old to play Bond. The times they are a-changin’.
Falloutis arguably where the series hit its peak with action sequences almost unrivaled by any other action movie, a better plot and villain than its predecessors, there’s never a dull moment in it. Plus, it features Henry Cavill, a front-runner to become the next 007, so it’s as close as it gets to a modern Bond film.
Atomic Blonde(2017)
Never forgetwomen can also go undercoverto kick some serious butt, in fact without spoiling the plot it’s fair to argue that Charlize Theron’s Lorraine outdoes her male peers to great effect in both aspects. ThisAtomic Blondebrings some spectacularly choreographed fight scenes and the movie’s time setting during the latter stages of the cold war makes for an even better soundtrack with carefully curated hits from the 80’s.
Layer Cake(2004)
Some might not miss 007 as much as they miss Craig’s portrayal of the character, and for thoseLayer Cakeis the perfect pick. Sure, it’s not a spy movie and as Craig’s unnamed protagonist XXXX (yes that’s 4 Xs, notXXX) opening dialogue makes clear, he’s “a businessman, not a gangster”, despite how much this deep dive into the British crime underworld might bring memories ofGoodfellasorScarface. The movie stands on its own two feet as fantastic piece of work, but the reason why Bond fans should watch it is becauseCraig’s stellar performance inLayer Cakewas a huge part of what landed him the role of 007, stone cold gaze and all.
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies(2008)
Mike Myers’Austin Powerssaga is the most well-known James Bond parody, but it’s obviously not the only one.Agent OSS 117is based on the serious novels by French writer Jean Bruce, who even got started in the genre before Fleming, in a clear case of he who laughs last, laughs best.
What makesCairo, Nest of Spiesand its sequelLost in Riospecial is their approach to filmmaking as it copies the aesthetic elements of old 007 movies in the 21st century; everything from the fonts, simple camera work and lack of modern special effects, all to accomplish a hilarious end product. Fun fact: look out for Richard Sammel, a familiar Nazi face fromInglorious Basterds, who also plays Adolph Gettler inCasino Royale, the man responsible for Vesper’s death.
The Suspect(2013)
Another left field pick here, nevertheless thanks toParasite’sOscar win and cult classics likeOldboy, South Korea has slowly been getting more recognition for having a competitive movie industry to go along withBTS and the rest of their K-Pop sensations. Much in the same vein as Bond movies used to depict their villains as products of the cold war,The Suspect’splot, like many South Korean films, is a story of a special forces agent defection from South to North, wrapped in a layer of personal vengeance, car chases and very tight action sequences that give its Western counterparts a run for their money.
TheBourneTrilogy
The Bourne Identitysimply rocked 007’s world in 2002 when Pierce Brosnan’s Bond was taking a lot of flak forTomorrow Never DiesandThe World is Not Enough. WhileGoldenEyemarked the franchise’s transition to being more action-based than older entries, Jason Bourne did more to pave the way for Craig’s 007 than the forgettable Die Another Day, producingthree of the best spy filmsanyone can go watch right now, all fully packed with everything a Bond fan could ask for.
Goldfinger(1964)
If all else fails, then sometimes it’s better to just go back to the basics and what better way to do it than bylooking back at Sean Conneryin one of his best outings as Bond.Goldfingerhas over the top villains in the eponymous Auric Goldfinger and everyone’sGoldenEye 64nightmare, Oddjob; the best poorly named Bond girl in Pussy Galore; and iconic scenes like the one where Connery almost gets sliced in half by a laser.
Already seenGoldfinger? Then there are plenty of other great 007 movies in store: go for a change of vibes in Timothy Dalton’s very differentLicense to Kill; watch Bond fall for a young Diana Rigg’s classic beauty inOn Her Majesty’ Secret Service; enjoyRoald Dahl’s signature writinginYou Only Live Twice; or simply sit back in the comfort of Judy Dench’s arms inSkyfall. Unlike most of 2020’s delayed blockbusters, James Bond has 26 movies bearing his name, so there’s plenty to do until April 2021.
