Why am I responding more favorably to samplings of Ben Whishaw‘s genteel, dweeby, soft-spoken Q in Skyfall — by most estimations a mild, anecdotal performance — than to his lead performances in Perfume and Bright Star? Because there seems to be something pained and morose and even (sorry) a tiny bit icky about Whishaw when left to his own devices, but shoehorned into the confines of a Bond film he’s quite agreeable.

And why does Daniel Craig look so creased and grubby and worn-down? He looks like an actor going through a rough streak. And he doesn’t look Bondian. Why not go all the way and shave his head completely and wear a Mike Tyson Maori tattoo on the right side of his face?

A Skyfall peek is happening this evening in Los Angeles…all right!