Sam Mendes: Ranking His Films - From Worst To Best
4. Spectre
Sam Mendes latest film ends up at the midpoint on this list, on the one hand a bloated, expensive, overlong entry into the Bond franchise, on the other a dazzling, nostalgic, thoroughly enjoyable follow-up to Skyfall. Daniel Craigs fourth outing as Bond sees the actor doing some of his best work as 007, still icy and annihilating but now a little more playful, a little more acknowledging of the absurdity of his status as an assassin. Its weird to suggest that the most memorable thing about a Bond film is the central love story, and while thats not necessarily the case with Spectre, the chemistry and actual believability of Craig and co-star Léa Seydoux - which is the best example of how to make Bond and his love-interest work since Casino Royale -helps the film feel fresh, the latter achieving top-rank Bond Girl status to boot. Add to that an incredible pre-credits sequence, a couple of stunning, best-shot-in-the-series contenders, and a fine bench of acting talent, and Spectre becomes an impressive work in its own right.
