Barthelemy Karas(voiced by Daniel Craig) in Renaissance(2006)
Renaissance was released in 2006, buoyed by the instantaneous global
success of Daniel Craig after his debut as the new 007 in ‘Casino
Royale’. The French film has recieved mixed responses
such as being pulled early from stateside theaters and being panned
for having more flash than substance. What ‘Renaissance’ should be
seen as is a new way to view film noir with fresh perspective.
The scene is set thusly: we find ourselves in Paris in the year 2054.
Captain Barthemlemy Karas, a hard-nosed detective is entrusted with
finding a top scientist who’s disappeared with a highly important
secret and in the pursuit begins to unravel a sinister plot bigger
than he imagined. Craig is well suited for the role of Karas, and is
supported by other notable cast members such as Ian Holm and
Jonathan Pryce. The real star of the film is its look. From the first
minute, it pulls you in with its mixture of CGI and motion capture
based solely on a black and white palette. At times, the characters
and scenery flow so much that it can be distracting, but it does
lend that extra appeal to the story. One can see the homage paid
to such auteurs as Fritz Lang and Ridley Scott in ‘Renaissance’.
This film, if given a chance, should fall in line with other film noir
favorites like ‘D.O.A.’ and ‘The Maltese Falcon’.
Daniel Craig - Karas VO Session
Official Trailer