Having watched one of the greatest car-chase in the history of cinema… and it still wasn’t even the best scene in the movie gives you just a small idea of how good “MISSON: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE” is. From the pre-opening credits scene to the final act, if you’re like me, you will be on the edge of your seat for almost the entirety of the film – most especially during any of the truly defying fight scenes – and while there are a few moments that the tempo of the film slows down to enough to let you catch your breath and let the story advance, it is still always completely captivating.
The challenge in continuing the “Mission: Impossible” franchise is that fans expect each entry to be “bigger” and more awe-inspiring than the last. With the seventh film in the series, and the third straight he has directed, writer-director Christopher McQuarrie and actor/stuntman (honestly credit here for where it’s due), Tom Cruise have managed to accomplish what seemed unlikely … they have delivered another fantastic Ethan Hunt mission. Prepare to be awed.
But he doesn’t do it alone as his supporting cast here is once again, incredible, and charismatic to boot.
You should also be aware that this is just “Part One” and yes, it runs a lengthy 163 minutes, which is a full hour longer than most movies and that’s saying a lot considering movies are getting longer and longer – and exponentially more expensive to produce. But as good as this one is – time passes without you even realizing it has been that long. And think about it, all this during an age when ultra-high-budget blockbusters are being rumored to be fading from public interest. Of course, we are only one year removed from Cruise’s TOP GUN: MAVERICK being hailed as ‘saving cinema’ – so this just might be coming at the perfect moment and bring people back to the box office. As well, with all of us supporting the WGA/SAG/AFTRA strike, production has stopped on Part Two and while we all hope it will be rectified soon – if it’s one person that can bring cinema back – it is Tom Cruise standing in solidarity with his fellow actors. In the meantime, with McQuarrie co-writing the script with Erik Jendresen, they remain faithful to the characters and storylines established by the TV series creator, Bruce Geller.
And with that, it must be said, there may never have been an actor more suited to this role than Tom Cruise is as Ethan Hunt. He truly embodies this character, and makes it his all his own. The story itself is fairly straightforward even though you might be questioning of how a ‘simple’ spy-thriller can be effective is understandable. Yet it’s completely fascinating to watch as Ethan Hunt’s mission in life as an agent is evaluated, as is the cost he’s paid as a man. Providing a more modern theme here, the obscure object of desire is an all-powerful key which comes in two parts and is based on controlling an all-encompassing Artificial Intelligence (AI), that of course, if it falls into the wrong hands… well we know how that would go. Once the movie begins, you are strapped in with these characters, and it’s impossible not to be invested in the mission. The action set pieces swiftly move from one to the other, and it is non-stop action. Rather than explaining a lot of what’s happening with the AI, it’s clever and subtle in its execution so the audience can form the story. The beauty of this franchise is that the audience is always in with Hunt and his team, and there is no way of being confused with the mission. Visual storytelling is the driving force here because AI challenges each character. The computer becomes the enemy, which affects the communication between Benji, Luther, and Ethan. It’s heartbreaking to see moments of helplessness between them because it is a much darker storyline than others. You feel the love and respect they have for each other in this film which grounds the madness of the AI.
In a twist on a familiar theme (and a certain classic Thanksgiving comedy film), we have Airports, Trains, and EVs, the latter being one of the funnier sides of the film featuring tiny Fiat with handcuffs. Still, the car chase is everything we might hope, while the high-tech facial tech search in the airport sequence delivers the thrills for viewers and sadly also gives us a peek into how dangerous AI can truly be. The train sequence of sparring all happens inside as well as on top of an actual moving train. And lest you be worried, there are enough Cruise sprint scenes here that it feels like he might just be giving Carl Lewis a run for his money.
The now familiar faces include Ethan Hunt’s team of Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), and Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). It’s nice to again see Henry Czerny as Kittridge, and Vanessa Kirby back as European arms dealer Alanna Mitsopolis aka The White Widow. Esai Morales steps in as Gabriel, the shadowy villain in search of the same key as Hunt’s team is. New faces include Grace (Hayley Atwell), a master pickpocket, whose soul may or may not be beyond salvation; Denlinger (Cary Elwes), the agency director; Briggs (Shea Whigham), and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), are fellow agents who just can’t seem to get their hands on the slippery Hunt and last but not least, Paris (Pom Klementieff), who is a silent but deadly, hired assassin.
The stunt work here is outstanding, and of course, Tom Cruise is renowned for personally handling many of the most breathtaking acts himself, which just make them all the more mind-blowing. As I’ve noted before, who needs CGI when you have Tom Cruise – and that statement could not be more true here. Probably the piece-de-resistance is the motorbike off the cliff into a base jump is something else. The fact Cruise did it for real, multiple times, is crazy and inspiring but I will not spoil this majestic scene for you completely as it must be seen. And yes, the stunt is so truly mind-blowing that it has a ‘making of’ video that has been available for a while. As movie goers, we’ve never seen anything like it.
As well, Part One was originally scheduled for release in 2021 (thanks a lot, COVID), and now Part Two is set for 2024. It’s also wild to think it has been 27 years since the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996), and that Cruise was mere 34 years old in that one, and yet here he is and it seems like time just hasn’t passed for him. Lucky! But this mission is clearly the biggest yet, and it’s a mission that will be closed out in Part Two, and possibly simultaneously bring an end to Cruise’s amazing run as Ethan Hunt.
Putting forth a story line that is oh-so-very good. The film was very cleverly written in a way that it is a very complex plot device they’ve chosen to use, however they found a way to keep it extremely simple and easy for the audience to follow with the two keys concept. After the fantastic underwater opening, and introduction of what the next Impossible Mission will be – the rest of the film is essentially just four huge action set-pieces. Except these set-pieces are like nothing you have ever experienced on screen before. The pacing is quite unique – it almost feel like four short thrilling films, while still working as a whole narrative. And more to come in Part Two leaves us all waiting with baited breaths even as we now know Production has shut down for the time being.
And yes, we do have to talk about the performances. Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg were like a family already and i’m pretty sure they did not need any rehearsal as their chemistry was already there since the fifth one. Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby returning performances were shorter here, but as always, wonderful, Shea Whigham and Greg Tarzan Davis get more than expected and their buddy cop antics are a lot of fun. Pom Klementieff gave a very interesting performance as a character and she was amazing in terms of action sequences – there is an alleyway fight that is nothing short of a masterpiece of work between her and Cruise. Esai Morales was a good intense villain, and last but not least Hayley Atwell at possibly her best performance she’s ever in and I think she might get to the top of a lot of lists a favorite Ethan Hunt’s sidekicks besides his own team. She was incredible and her presence was lovely every single second of her performance. Her character and dynamic with Cruise were fresh in comparison to everyone who has come before and their chemistry is magnetic.
Lorne Balfe does the music once again and yet again it’s a highlight of the film, he knows how to elevate everything so well and really hammers home the emotional beats.
If I were looking for faults, and they are so nominal to be frank, but the second act drags a little to the extent that it felt like they were repeating themselves. Although even then they are stylishly filmed – the Dutch-angles never got old. The single, solitary, disappointment comes as the credits roll, and you remember you’re going to have to wait until next year to see how it all end.
‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I is another strong entry in the action/spy series, with Cruise looking slightly older, but not less determined to save the world. Will the sequel to this film will be his last outing – who knows but I do know we will all be there for Part Two..and after that…well we’ll see.
And lastly, it is truly a cinematic experience that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Grade: A
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“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE” FROM PARAMOUNT PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2023
Review Screening: Tueday, June 27, 2023 ~ Courtesy of Paramount Picture
Peggy at the Movies 