After committing his final two, decidedly messy kills to
achieve “00” status, Bond (Daniel Craig) is set on the trail of Le Chiffre
(Mads Mikkelsen), a bloody eyed money launderer for terrorists, which
culminates in a high stakes Texas Hold ‘em style poker tournament in
Montenegro, where he is monitored by a beautiful and tortured British Treasury
agent (Eva Green). Casino Royale, a reboot to the long running series, is one
of the best in the line thanks to a moody, vulnerable Craig, a gorgeous,
similarly conflicted Green, meaningful dialogue, strong plotting, the usual set
pieces, and a great villainous turn from Mikkelsen, who ranks in terms of the
best Bond baddies. The film is also functional as a pretty decent poker movie.
