Why Did I See This Film?

Similar to my love of Indiana Jones, I grew up watching Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible films. Ever since Chris McQuarrie joined the series as director and writer for Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation, each entry seemed to get better and better. I wanted to see if Dead Reckoning Part 1 continued that trend.

Synopsis:

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his rogue IMF Team race to find two halves of a mysterious key, which would unlock the full potential of an all-powerful  new weapon, before other antagonistic parties obtain them and unleash the weapon on all humanity.

Praise:

This film is excellent. It is nearly three hours in length, and I barely felt the runtime. Unlike previous Mission: Impossible films, all the scenes have time to breathe, without dragging out the story. This is only part one of a larger mission, but the film does not feel incomplete. There is no cliffhanger, and the main objective is resolved by the time the final shot is shown. Once that final shot concludes, the anticipation for the next film is only ramped up.

It is not clear if this is the final Mission: Impossible story, or at least the final mission for Ethan Hunt, but it certainly feels like the biggest and most relevant conflict for the franchise. I won’t reveal what the main weapon is, but it is very relevant to many of today’s issues, and the possibilities tied to its potential power are terrifying. The way Part 1 portrays the weapon’s capabilities is eerie in how close to realistic it is.

The entire cast is phenomenal. Tom Cruise once again shines as Ethan Hunt, who is even more badass and charming than before. Unlike some of the early entries in the franchise, Cruise is also not afraid to show his character’s human side—his doubts, his mistakes, and his failures. Hunt is not a one-man superspy who can handle anything that comes his way anymore. He needs help and motivation from his friends and teammates, namely Luther (Rhames) and Benji (Pegg). The film makes it very clear that without their support, he would not be able to complete this mission. Rebecca Ferguson continues to be a highlight as Ilsa Faust, the lethal former MI6 agent who has a close, unspoken and emotional bond with Ethan.

The biggest surprise character in the film is Hayley Atwell’s Grace, a cheeky pickpocket and thief who finds herself drawn into this world of spies. In essence, she is the Carmen Sandiego of this franchise, offering a new wildcard perspective that throws an unforeseen wrench into the whole mission. After seven movies, Grace may be the most fun new character introduced. Her interactions and chemistry with Hunt are some of the best parts, adding elements of screwball comedy and sexual tension reminiscent of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel’s characters in His Girl Friday. This may be the darkest Mission Impossible film yet, but it is also the funniest (more on that later).

Esai Morales as the villainous Gabriel is one of the franchise’s best villains, one who as charming as Hunt and as deadly. Unlike some of the previous antagonists, he is fully involved throughout the story, taking matters into his own hands every step of the way. He has a past tied to Ethan’s days before the IMF, and their conflict is personal. Aiding him along the way is Pom Klementieff’s Paris, a nearly silent French assassin who could best be described as a cross between Harley Quinn and the Terminator. Talk about an insane performance.

The much-anticipated, much-publicized motorcycle stunt performed by Cruise is even more awe-inspiring as it appears in the trailer, but it is quickly overshadowed by a later extended train sequence that is both super tense and super fun. If you are a fan of the game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, prepare to grin from ear to ear.

The only issue I can see certain audiences having with the film is the
humor. As I mentioned earlier, the film has moments of screwball comedy, which worked for me, but may be jarring for people only going for a serious action spy thriller.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go see this film. I loved it.