Like most kids in 1998, I was all about one thing—playing Goldeneye 007 on my N64! The game developed my lifelong fandom of the James Bond character and these formulaic movies. I grew up watching the Pierce Brosnan films through to the Daniel Craig ones and, when I could catch them on TV, have always enjoyed checking out the classic Bonds. It is for this reason that I’m embarrassed to have not watched the most classic Bond film ever—Goldfinger. This week, I corrected that.
Goldfinger hits the ground running with Sean Connery’s Bond destroying a drug lab in Latin America. After returning to Miami, he’s assigned to observe Auric Goldfinger, a bullion smuggler. After Goldfinger has Bond’s love interest murdered (in shiny gold paint), the mission takes Bond to Switzerland where he is captured at Goldfinger’s plant. Goldfinger is intent on killing Bond until 007 suggests news of the baddie’s plans would reach MI6 if Bond didn’t return alive. As is such, Goldfinger takes Bond with him to America where his plot unfolds at Fort Knox. I won’t spoil the film’s clever take on a bank heist but really enjoyed how it all came together.
Though the third film in the series, it is unmistakable how influential this film was on all future Bonds. From the title sequence, to the opening scene mission, to Bond’s reliance on tech and the Q-Branch, to the Bond girls (including the famously named Pussy Galore), the henchmen—all of it. It even features two of the most famous quotes in the Bond-verse: “Martini. Shaken, not stirred.” and “Do you expect me to talk?”; “No Mr. Bond—I expect you to die!” The film is a cornerstone of the Bond tropes that were loved, repeated, and parodied for the next 50 years.
And yet, I believe this film stands the test of time as being thoroughly fresh and enjoyable. The film’s tone takes itself seriously when it needs to and winks at the camera with delight when it doesn’t. Connery’s Bond is the best and Odd Job is one of the funniest henchmen/villain characters the series has to offer. The film is smart, sexy, thrilling, and stylish—everything I enjoy about these films. I know it’s one of the most self-indulgent film choices on my list this year, but I absolutely loved it.