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Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Based on the television show Mission: Impossible created by Bruce Geller
Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan
Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team (Rhames, Pegg) are faced with a new challenge when an old foe becomes part of a new threat. Now the team is working against the clock to stop a terrifying threat against humanity. Their objectives are anything but clear as they find new friends and enemies in unexpected places.
This film is the sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible series, following up 2015‘s Rogue Nation. The franchise is based on the hit 1966 series of the same name, created by Bruce Geller (Sail a Crooked Ship). Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) was tasked with writing and directing this installment, following up on his work from the previous film. The cast features Tom Cruise (Rain Man) in the lead role. The other returning faces include Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), Alec Baldwin (The Departed), Sean Harris (Prometheus), Rebecca Ferguson (The Greatest Showman), and Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone). The new stars in this film include Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Angela Bassett (Black Panther), and Vanessa Kirby (About Time).
One of the challenges of making six movies like this is making sure that you’re giving the audience a nice mix of what they expect and the unexpected. This story does a nice job with both of those demands. The writing immediately immerses the audience in the world of the film with an excellent opening sequence. From there the script begins to reveal new characters and reintroduce some old faces. The story does a nice job mixing up the expected action and intrigue with some really solid twists. Those twists really help to keep the tension high throughout the entire movie.
The action throughout the film is not only impressive, but also excellently used to move the story forward. The movie doesn’t give time to anything truly gratuitous. Each of the characters has a unique voice thanks to the dialogue in this one. This might not be entirely unpredictable, but there’s a lot of suspense. There are a few twists that don’t work quite as well as they should have, but it doesn’t take too much away from the overall experience. The payoffs are solid, and this one is a great addition to the franchise.
Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt. This is his sixth appearance in what is now an iconic role. Like all of his performances in the franchise, this is a fully committed endeavor. His performance features his typical brand of intensity in both the physical and emotional aspects of his work. He also has great chemistry with both his new and returning co-stars. Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames are just a couple of the returning actors in this one. They do great work bringing their characters back to life in this one. Their chemistry with Cruise, and with one another, really pays off. They also connect nicely with the new faces in this one. One of those new faces in the film is Henry Cavill.
He might be new to the franchise, but he’s no stranger to action. This film was a great example of his ability to handle the physical aspects of his role. Luckily, Cavill also managed to deliver a great overall performance that really helps this one work. Vanessa Kirby and Angela Bassett are just a couple other new additions to the series. Both of them do really good work with their roles. Some of the other familiar faces in this one include Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, and Michelle Monaghan. All of their performances help to round out the film. The entire cast took a good script and elevated the material. There isn’t a bad performance in the bunch.
Okay, let’s talk about the action. Have you ever seen a film that made you think “there’s no way that just happened?”. Or maybe you thought “there’s no chance they really did that.”. This movie will summon similar thoughts for most viewers. Then you’ll be forced to acknowledge that they really did do those things. This movie features some of the most impressive stunt work you’re likely to see. The set pieces are intricately designed, giving the intended impression of complete chaos. This includes excellent fight sequences, shootouts, chase scenes, and vehicle stunts.
As I’ve already stated, the really impressive thing is that all of the stunts are part of the plot. This film doesn’t throw anything unnecessary at the audience. Cinematographer Rob Hardy (Ex Machina) managed to find all the right places to put his camera. The visuals capture the stunts and action excellently. Editor Eddie Hamilton (X-Men: First Class) took the footage and crafted a well-paced film that is a lot of fun to watch. The rest of the visual aspects all come together to make this one work nicely. The sound work is also nicely handled. In addition to nice sound design, the film also has a solid score from Lorne Balfe (12 Strong).
This is a great addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise. Fans of the previous movies should make sure to see this one. It exceeds expectations in almost every aspect. Fans of the new and old faces in this one will also enjoy seeing great acting. The action is awesome and the story is strong. I give this one 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Did You See That One? 