TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)

TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.  Written by Bruce Fierstein.
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Joanthan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Joe Don Baker, Judi Dench
1997, 119 minutes, Color, Rated PG-13, Panavision 2.35:1

Commentary:

SPOILERS BELOW!!!

Coming quickly after GOLDENEYE, TOMORROW NEVER DIES is not one of my favorite Bond films.  It does have some redeeming qualities, but by and large, I consider this a misfire.  It is tempting to chalk this up to miscasting, as the villain and one of the leading ladies are woefully ineffective in their roles.  However, I think the film's screenplay is more to blame.  Bruce Fierstein, one of the two credited writers on GOLDENEYE, was brought back to do the sole honors on this film, though one gets the sense that the film was constructed by committee, so maybe it's not fair to lay the blame on him.  The film's production seems to have been more chaotic than usual for a Bond film, and this more than anything else probably resulted in the final film's shortcomings. 

We know right off the bat that something is amiss, as the pre-credit sequence is rote, lifeless and utterly lacking in tension.  Bond's superhuman ability of avoiding bullets is possibly at its worst in TOMORROW, and it is on full display in the opening.  Whereas GOLDENEYE spent some time building character arcs, TOMORROW just throws action at the screen hoping that no one notices that there is not much story to be had.  Once we are shown that the film will largely be a paint by numbers affair, it has to work all the much harder to try and surprise us.

I am aware that everything I've said so far could be leveled at MOONRAKER, another chaotic production with a surfeit of character development and an overabundance of mindless action, which I've previously called an enjoyable Bond film.  The difference--for me anyway--is in the details.  MOONRAKER has a majestic John Barry score, quality widescreen photography, and is edited for maximum impact.  TOMORROW looks decidedly cheap in comparison.

Jonathan Pryce is surprisingly ineffective as the villain in TOMORROW, partially because of how he plays him--breathless and impatient--but mostly because his plan makes little sense.  With a nonsensical plan it becomes pointless watching him try to achieve it.

Terry Hatcher is likewise ineffectual, and this is one hundred percent due to the writing.  Playing a past love of Bond's, there is not enough screen time spent building their history.  We are supposed to be moved by her story, not because the film has done anything to support that, but because the film tells us we are supposed to.  This is essentially the film's greatest flaw--it takes for granted that we will be invested in the story.

For me, the film finally starts to work when Michelle Yeoh becomes a co-lead.  It is only during the scenes she shares with Brosnan that film finally generates the tension that has been lacking up to that point.  This is because she is decidedly NOT rote and uninteresting. She is presented as very much the equal of James Bond, and the chemistry between her and Brosnan show up how poor the chemistry was between Hatcher and Brosnon.  How disappointing that the film ultimately relegates her character as needing to be saved by Bond.

For me, TOMORROW NEVER DIES was a crushing disappointment after GOLDENEYE, which while not perfect, was a lot of fun.  This film is only sporadically fun.

Stuff To Like:

• Michelle Yeoh!
• Motorcycle chase is well done, apart from the ridiculous helicopter shenanigans.
• Brosnan is adept at the role, but an aloofness has crept into his performance.  To a large degree, this prevents much of the film from generating much excitement.

Stuff to Dislike:

• Bond is seemingly always confronted by bad guys who can't aim well.  How lucky for him.
• The story tries to parlay a manufactured history into meaningful emotional story points.  It didn't work in LICENSE TO KILL with Bond and Leiter's best buddy routine, and it doesn't work here.
• Jonathan Pryce is a good actor, but I don't like his breathy delivery in this role.  It also doesn't help that the character is pretty one dimensional.

Notes: