The next James Bond movie, ‘Skyfall’ promises the usual action, exotic locations, scheming villains and beautiful women. For fans of the original novels by Ian Fleming, there’s more: a journey into the troubled psyche of the iconic spy. After all, the director of the 23rd film in the franchise, which spans half a century, is Sam Mendes, whose cinematic studies of personalities in emotional turmoil and even meltdown include ‘American Beauty’ and ‘Revolutionary Road’. “You always go back to the Fleming because the character Fleming created was incredibly complex and conflicted,” Mendes who was joined by cast members, including Bond actor Daniel Craig, said at a news conference in Istanbul, where the crew of ‘Skyfall’ has filmed. Fleming created a secret agent who was sometimes frustrated and ambivalent about his job. Many Bond movies sidestepped the inner demons, showcasing instead a debonair 007 whose exploits were enhanced with gaudy gadgets and special effects. In Fleming’s last novels, Mendes said, Bond suffered from a “combination of lassitude, boredom, depression, difficulty with what he’s chosen to do for a living, which is to kill. That makes him a much more interesting character, and some of those things are explored in this movie, because Daniel as an actor is capable of exploring them.” It is Craig’s third portrayal of the spy, and he introduced a darker side to Bond in his earlier roles in 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’ in 2008 and ‘Casino Royale’ in 2006. ‘Skyfall’ is due for release late 2012 and includes scenes in London, Scotland, Turkey and China.
