That Seventies Nineties Show

Quantum of Solace. Directed by Marc Forster. Starring Daniel Craig, Mathieu Almaric, Judi Dench, and Olga Kurylenko.

While I was watching the trailer for the latest installment of The Fast and Furious during a showing of Quantum of Solace, it occurred to me that hijacking a tanker full of gasoline wouldn’t be as lucrative as it was say, six months ago. Quantum of Solace had a plot point related to the high price of oil. A few months ago it would have made me wince, now all it does is make me giggle. I wonder how long it will take Hollywood to fix that topical little bug in upcoming productions.

Quantum of Solace has a nice, retro feel. I liked Quantum of Solace, if for no other reason than its lush production values. The font used for the Quantum of Solace sequence really sticks out – I haven’t found a name for it online, but it looks remarkably similar to what Urge Overkill would use on their albums in the mid-nineties. I think that’s the beauty of the latest installment – it’s pure, unabashed escapism. It’s almost like stepping into a time machine.

Bling watches, fast cars, and classic, albeit fashion forward wardrobes for Daniel Craig and Mathieu Almaric bring to mind slightly calmer, more prosperous times. While I do think there is some merit to what my wife and sister have said – that the movie has a much darker vision than is normal – I was never really able to get past the surface. As someone once noted about “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones – sure, the lyrics are depressing if you listen to them, but it does have a beat and you can dance to it.

Click here and here for some interesting takes on Quantum of Solace. I wish I’d thought of the Steve McQueen/Daniel Craig comparison first.