Skyfall

The one thing that the 23rd film in a 50-year-old franchise shouldn't be able to do is surprise you. And yet, amazingly, "Skyfall" did just that. Coming a half-century after "Dr. No" first hit the big screen, 007's latest outing wasn't just a great Bond flick, but a great film, period. This was due in no small part to the Oscar-caliber talent both in front of and behind the camera. Javier Bardem was unforgettable as sly, entrancing, and seriously frightening Silva, and Ralph Fiennes added a good measure of stiff-upper-lip Britishness to the proceedings. Of course, returning stars Daniel Craig and Judi Dench also got to stretch further than they'd ever been allowed to in a Bond picture, with a story that for the first time highlighted Bond's physical and emotional vulnerability. Credit is also due director Sam Mendes, screenwriter John Logan, cinematographer Roger Deakens, and composer Thomas Newman for giving the film true depth and feeling. Like they said in the earlier Bond song by Marvin Hamlisch (whom we lost in 2012)





Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her, bringing MI6 under attack.

Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and 2 more credits »
Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris | See full cast and crew