Ethan Hunt and his team must stop ‘The Entity’. A dangerous AI, that will potentially bring about the end of humanity.
Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who is fondly known in the industry as ‘McQ’ is now delivering his fourth and potentially final ‘Mission’ movie. Co-produced by Tom Cruise and co-written by Erk Jendressen, who also collaborated on the previous, perilous thrill ride of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part 1’ comes the last in the known sequence of a larger than life film series known of course as ‘Mission Impossible’. Within an industry that is constantly looking to push the boundaries of realism and perfection for the audience by Tom and McQ, this final instalment delivers this in absolute spades with the perilous depths of the ocean to the absolute highs of the sky.
Starring the current absolute king of the film industry, the one and only Tom Cruise Mapother IV as Ethan Hunt, and Hayley Atwell returning as Grace. This smash of an almost perfect double bill creates in effect a single massive film in more ways than one. Also returning, is Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Pom Klementieff as Paris, Esai Morales as Gabriel and Angela Bassett as president Pamela Stone, we are once again delivered a barnstorming lineup of ‘A list’ stars taking us on this ultimate thrill ride.
Agent Ethan Hunt once again is tasked with the impossible mission of saving the world from an intangible enemy simply known as ‘The Entity’. An AI which has slowly gained access to the entire planet’s nuclear armament potentially triggering world war III. To stop it, Ethan must once more not only gather the trust of his loyal team but of those who previously sought to arrest him for the past apparent failures within the government’s CIA. The only physical form this ‘entity’ can use and its potential prison, is locked away in the most perilous of places, which Ethan must now find using the cruciform key and ultimately prevent it from finding its safe haven in what could potentially become a self destructed analogue world.
And this is where we are witness to some of the biggest, well documented current cinematic stunts to date. Far from spoiling the film, the depths Cruise went to in the biggest water tank weighing 1000 tonnes to create the submarine scene; runs for a breathtaking dialogue free 15 minutes, was built – and according to McQ – could not be tested until Cruise actually began his filming, creating further problems as his mask created internal reflections obscuring his vision. With also the bi-wing stunt as Cruise was traveling on the wing at 145 mph, he had no means of oxygen curiously making this another stunt where a lack of air could have been a potential disaster. Flying over 4000 sorties, Cruise and McQ once again have gone above and beyond to deliver potential cinematic gold.
With regards to the plot of the film itself, ‘Final Reckoning’ does not fail, but does fall over itself with the need of telling the audience all the main plot points of all the previous seven films. Unfortunately, this comes across as an un-required blunt tool that impedes rather than elevates us into this final mission. The acting from Cruise if anything is getting better as he matures away from young and cocky to older and wiser true workaholic. His co-stars also bring out the best in this thrilling tale that runs for a packaged 2hrs 45 mins, which on the whole wizzes past. Incidentally adding in scenes through post production Atwell was a staggering 8 months pregnant in one of the funniest close-ups in some time.
To paraphrase Tom Cruise, “No movie is perfect. Life isn’t perfect”. In my humble opinion, ‘Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning’ is not a perfect film. The info dumping in the first act stalls the immediate action and gets in the way of the story’s movement; although to have seen just the previous instalment is a must to get the best from this final outing, to realise where certain key characters have suddenly appeared from. I do believe however that ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Pt.1’ actually is movie making perfection. Taking 5 years to bring both instalments to the screen through COVID and writers strikes takes some willpower and Cruise is not someone who will take no from many people and is a testament to his astonishing work ethic. Tom doesn’t want people to say ‘We can’t do it’, he prefers ‘What if we did do it’? Make no mistake, ‘Final Reckoning’ is a thrilling ride that will fully absorb you into the craziness of master Cruise.
With regards to possible future Mission Impossible outings, watch this Space.
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
