Spectre

It seemed almost inevitable that Christoph Waltz would eventually play a Bond villain. In the twenty-fourth installment, he follows in the footsteps of Telly Savalas and Donald Pleasence, making life difficult for the British 00 agent as a once-jealous stepbrother who has risen to lead an international terrorist organization. More than perhaps any other entry, "Spectre" encapsulates the strengths and weaknesses of the Craig era: a grounded protagonist and contemporary themes clash with emotional overindulgence and narrative inconsistencies. With spectacularly staged action spanning the globe (including Austria), the film feels remarkably fitting for our times—an era in which politics and power are wielded by attention-seeking, easily offended individuals riddled with complexes.
(Florian Widegger)