Spectre (2015) is the twenty-fourth James Bond film produced by Eon Productions. It features Daniel Craig in his fourth performance as James Bond,[12] and Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, with the film marking the character's re-introduction into the series. It was directed by Sam Mendes as his second James Bond film following Skyfall, and was written by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Jez Butterworth. It is distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures. With a budget around $245 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made.
The story features James Bond's first encounter with the global criminal organisation Spectre, marking the group's first appearance in an Eon Productions film since 1971's Diamonds Are Forever,[N 2] and tying Craig's series of films together with an overarching storyline. Several recurring James Bond characters, including M, Q and Eve Moneypenny return, with the new additions of Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx, Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh and Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra.
Spectre was released on 26 October 2015 in the United Kingdom on the same night as the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London, followed by a worldwide release. It was released in the United States on 6 November 2015. It became the second James Bond film to be screened in IMAX venues after Skyfall, although it was not filmed with IMAX cameras. Spectre received generally positive reviews from critics, though reaction was more mixed in comparison to its predecessor. It was criticised for its length and writing, but received praise for the cast's acting, the direction and score. As of 25 November 2015 Spectre has grossed over $683 million worldwide.[11]
The story features James Bond's first encounter with the global criminal organisation Spectre, marking the group's first appearance in an Eon Productions film since 1971's Diamonds Are Forever,[N 2] and tying Craig's series of films together with an overarching storyline. Several recurring James Bond characters, including M, Q and Eve Moneypenny return, with the new additions of Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx, Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh and Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra.
Spectre was released on 26 October 2015 in the United Kingdom on the same night as the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London, followed by a worldwide release. It was released in the United States on 6 November 2015. It became the second James Bond film to be screened in IMAX venues after Skyfall, although it was not filmed with IMAX cameras. Spectre received generally positive reviews from critics, though reaction was more mixed in comparison to its predecessor. It was criticised for its length and writing, but received praise for the cast's acting, the direction and score. As of 25 November 2015 Spectre has grossed over $683 million worldwide.[11]
Plot
On a mission in Mexico City, unofficially ordered by a posthumous message from the previous M, James Bond kills two men plotting a terrorist bombing and gives chase to Marco Sciarra, an assassin who survived the attack. In the ensuing struggle, Bond kills Sciarra and steals his ring, which is emblazoned with a stylised octopus. Upon returning to London, Bond is indefinitely suspended from field duty by the current M, who is in the midst of a power struggle with C, the head of the privately-backed Joint Intelligence Service, consisting of the recently merged MI5 and MI6. C campaigns for Britain to join "Nine Eyes", a global surveillance and intelligence co-operation initiative between nine member states, and uses his influence to close down the '00' section, believing it to be outdated.Cast
- Daniel Craig as James Bond, agent 007. The director Sam Mendes has described Bond as being extremely focused in Spectre, likening his new-found dedication to hunting.[13]
- Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Previously Franz Oberhauser, a man believed to be dead. His father helped raise Bond after his parents died. As Blofeld, he is the mysterious mastermind behind Spectre, as well as puppeteer of Bond’s recent life.
- Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, a psychologist working at a private medical clinic in the Austrian Alps,[14] and the daughter of Mr. White.[15]
- Ben Whishaw as Q, the MI6 quartermaster who outfits Bond with equipment for use in the field.[16]
- Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, a former agent who left the field to become M's assistant.[16]
- Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx, a high-ranking member of Spectre who acts as the organisation's assassin.[17]
- Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh, a member of the British government,[18] who is also known by his code name, C.[19]
- Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra, the widow of an assassin killed by Bond.[20]
- Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, the head of MI6 and Bond's superior, who is better-known by his code name, M.
- Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner, the MI6 Chief of Staff.[21]
- Jesper Christensen as Mr. White,[22][23] a fugitive from MI6 and a senior figure in the Quantum organisation, a former subsidiary of Spectre.
- Alessandro Cremona as Marco Sciarra,[24] a criminal and the husband of Lucia Sciarra.[18]
- Judi Dench as Mallory's predecessor as M.
Filming
Mendes revealed that production would begin on 8 December 2014 at Pinewood Studios, with filming taking seven months.[54] Mendes also confirmed several filming locations, including London, Mexico City and Rome. Van Hoytema shot the film on Kodak 35 mm film stock.[55] Early filming took place at Pinewood Studios, and around London, with scenes variously featuring Craig and Harris at Bond's flat, and Craig and Kinnear travelling down the River Thames.[56]
Production
The ownership of the Spectre organisation—originally stylised "SPECTRE" as an acronym of Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion—and its characters had been at the centre of long-standing litigation starting in 1961 between Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory over the film rights to the novel Thunderball. The dispute began after Fleming incorporated elements of an undeveloped film script written by McClory and screenwriter Jack Whittingham—including characters and plot points—into Thunderball, which McClory contested in court, claiming ownership over elements of the novel.[25] In 1963 Fleming settled out of court with McClory, in an agreement which awarded McClory the film rights. This enabled him to become a producer for the 1965 film Thunderball—with Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman as executive producers—and the non-Eon film Never Say Never Again, an updated remake of Thunderball, in 1983.[N 3] A second remake, entitled Warhead 2000 A.D., was planned for production and release in the 1990s before being abandoned.[27] Under the terms of the 1963 settlement, the literary rights stayed with Fleming, allowing the Spectre organisation and associated characters to continue appearing in print.[28]
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