Films for Breakfast

Tom Cruise has been entertaining audiences for over forty-years, proving that he could take up just about any role given to him, within any genre or scale. Some may say his most memorable work would be that of Maverick in the Top Gun films or his more dramatic roles like Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, or Collateral – but in my eyes, Tom Cruise has always been defined by the Mission: Impossible franchise. Not only has the franchise managed to remain as relevant and exciting as it was when it began over twenty-five years ago, but it has somehow gotten better with each instalment. It also helps that the franchise is so synonymous with that of Tom Cruise, and how his death-defying stunts serve as year-early marketing anytime he attempts one of them. Cruise is a man of many talents, but it’s undeniable that his strengths lie largely within being a showman; and the Mission: Impossible franchise is the perfect opportunity for him to flex his muscles and defy the expectations of its audience. In a Summer full of underwhelming, bloated, CGI-fests, it’s so nice to see something as practical and enthralling as Dead Reckoning is. Cruise is back to save the Summer two years in a row!

Dead Reckoning follows Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team as they track down a mysterious and terrifying new rogue A.I. that could threaten all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. As they track this threat around the world, the team comes across an enemy from Ethan’s past named Gabriel (Esai Morales) – without spoiling it, this instantly adds an extra layer of importance for Ethan and his gang to stop Gabriel, no matter the cost. Gabriel and this rogue A.I. both serve as a perfect foil for Ethan and the team, as they firmly represent everything the IMF tries to stop. On the side of Gabriel, he is a villain who understands the weakness of Ethan Hunt is also his greatest strength; and that is his love for his team. He makes it abundantly clear very early on that he will go after Ethan’s team in order to achieve his goal, and that instantly fuels Ethan to take him down.

As for the A.I. side of the plot, I could easily see this being one of the most divisive elements of the entire franchise for some people. However, I really appreciate what Cruise and McQuarrie were going for here, and found it to be highly effective. This A.I. means to threaten the entire world by sabotaging our sense of truth and perspective, as well as predicting each and ever person’s inevitable future based upon their past. Ethan is a character who, historically, tries to see the good in people; he believes in redemption, and he never stops trying, even when the odds aren’t in his favor. This could also be taken as a commentary on the rise of use of artificial intelligence not only in the entertainment industry, but almost in every other corner of society. Cruise is a man who thrives on practicality, and it feels delightful that he is using Mission: Impossible as an outlet to directly combat the idea of artificial intelligence. Even aside from what it means within the subtext, McQuarrie crafts a genuinely eerie look at how terrifying a rogue A.I. could potentially be, making it highly effective.

When Tom Cruise first stepped into the role of Ethan Hunt back in 1996 with the original Mission: Impossible film, Brian DePalma added such a unique flavor to the direction that drove Tom Cruise (who was also a producer at the time) to decide he wanted each entry of the franchise to be taken over by a new director; that way they kept each mission feeling fresh. John Woo, J.J. Abrams, and Brad Bird all left their mark on the franchise and delivered something worthwhile in their own way. With that being said, I don’t think there has ever been a greater match than that of McQuarrie and Cruise/Mission: Impossible, as he just fundamentally understands what makes this franchise so special, and continues to find ways to escalate and make it better each time. The action sequences here are obviously thrilling, as there’s an all-time car chase sequence taking place in Italy, and an absolutely jaw-dropping sequence taking place on a train in Norway that instantly becomes one of the best set-pieces this crew has ever pulled off – and that’s saying something!

On top of the stellar action sequences and stunt work that you’ve come to expect from the franchise, Dead Reckoning paves room for a lot of sincere character moments that pay-off big-time if you’re a fan of the series. The most compelling aspect of Ethan Hunt as a character is his commitment to his team, and how he values their life over his own. This specific mission, and how the central villain puts to test Ethan’s moral code, is enthralling; and it makes the sequences where Ethan bonds with his team all the more special. The cast this time around is also firing on all cylinders, as Tom Cruise predictably brings his A-Game in every conceivable way – from the stunts, to the charisma, to the dramatic weight of Ethan being burdened with impossible choices and missions, he has this role completely locked down. Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ving Rhames are all predictably great, but newcomer Hayley Atwell nearly steals the show with how entertaining and charismatic her character Grace is. Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, and Shea Whigham are also notable newcomers, completely eating up their roles – and it’s absolutely delightful to see Henry Czerny back as Kittridge (who last appeared in the original Mission: Impossible) as he completely chews the scenery in every frame he’s in.

Some may take issue with how sporadic and a little bit silly the artificial intelligence subplot is, and it may be a bit too sprawling for some at points – but I found the entire thing to be so enthralling and genuinely unlike anything else I’ve seen at the theater since.. well.. the last Tom Cruise movie. At this point, with Dead Reckoning finding us seven-films-deep into the franchise, the cast and crew simply have the magic locked down – they simply know what good the audience want and come to expect, and they know how to continually not only deliver them, but continue to topple them with each new entry. McQuarrie’s direction is so precise, like a beautiful, chaotic choreography of thrills and excitement. At this point, it’s simply a work of art; and Dead Reckoning just further cements the franchises’ place alongside the best of all-time.

5/5