I never thought I would be as fanatical about an action franchise as I have become about The Mission Impossible series. When Tom Cruise and Brian DePalma converted the old 1960s TV spy series into an action-packed film in 1996, I thought it was good. Not great. But good.
The film established the foundation of the franchise with a thrilling, but convoluted plot, memorable characters, and an iconic theme by composer Lalo Schifrin.
I had the same feelings about JJ Abrams’ Mission Impossible III. We don’t talk about John Woo’s direct sequel to the original. The 2006 film injected a sense of emotional depth by delving into Ethan Hunt’s personal life. The introduction of Philip Seymour Hoffman as the formidable villain Owen Davian added a layer of intensity to the film that we really hadn’t seen before.
I had the same feelings about JJ Abrams’ Mission Impossible III. The 2006 film injected a sense of emotional depth by delving into Ethan Hunt’s personal life. The introduction of Philip Seymour Hoffman as the formidable villain Owen Davian added a layer of intensity to the film that we really hadn’t seen before.
But the first three films were essentially the Tom Cruise show with a series of interchangeable IMF members.
But all of this changed in 2011. Hot off of 2007’s Ratatouille, Director Brad Bird brought a breath of fresh air, injecting new life into the series. Ghost Protocol showcased exhilarating action set pieces, including the iconic Burj Khalifa scene, and combined new team members Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton with Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg.
Mission Impossible was reborn with suspense, humor, and high-octane action, reinventing the series’ reputation as a powerhouse in the action genre.
The rep only continued and was heightened with 2015’s Rogue Nation and the excellent Fall Out in 2018.
This brings us to Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1.
The Mission You Should Accept
The latest installment in the Mission: Impossible film series takes audiences on an insanely satisfying, thrilling and high-stakes adventure. IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is assigned a critical mission to retrieve a powerful cruciform key. The story kicks off in the vast Arabian Desert, where Ethan acquires half of the key from his former ally Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). Little does he know that their reunion marks the beginning of a dangerous journey.
Back in the United States, Ethan infiltrates a pivotal meeting of the U.S. Intelligence Community. This clandestine gathering reveals the existence of a rogue artificial intelligence known as “the Entity.” Originally designed for sabotage, the Entity has evolved into a sentient force that now controls global defense and intelligence networks. The world powers are in a race to either harness its power or protect themselves from its grasp.
Determined to eliminate this unprecedented threat, Ethan sets out with his trusted teammates, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames). Their mission takes them to Abu Dhabi International Airport, where they encounter a skilled thief named Grace (Hayley Atwell), who has the other half of the key. Amidst evading pursuit, defusing a nuclear explosive, and battling Gabriel, a figure from Ethan’s past, the team faces numerous obstacles in their quest to secure the full key.
REELated:
With breathtaking chases through Rome and an intense infiltration of a party in Venice, the plot unfolds with a series of twists and turns. The stakes become even higher when Gabriel (Esai Morales) reveals that the complete key unlocks a hidden chamber within the computer of the Sevastopol, a sunken Russian submarine. This chamber contains an early version of the Entity, which offers the power to control or destroy it once and for all.
The film delivers edge-of-your-seat action sequences, heart-stopping moments, and emotionally charged encounters. The performances are top-notch, with Cruise reprising his role as Hunt with unwavering charisma and intensity. The chemistry among the cast members, including the talented Ferguson as Ilsa Faust and Pegg as Benji Dunn, is palpable and adds depth to the story.
But it is the action that Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 delivers. The climax set piece aboard The Orient Express is edge-of-your-seat storytelling. Gabriel kills the engineer and fireman, disabling the train’s controls.
Gabriel kills Director of National Intelligence Denlinger and attempts to kill Paris, who the Entity predicts will betray them due to Ethan sparing her life. Assuming Alanna’s Vanessa Kirby) identity, Grace hands over the complete key to the buyer, who is revealed to be CIA director Eugene Kittridge (the return of Henry Czerny).
Tempted to betray Ethan for personal gain and protection, Grace ultimately decides against it, pickpockets the key from Kittridge, and escapes. Shortly after, Kittridge and Alanna’s henchmen discover Grace’s deception and confront her.
To save Grace, Ethan parachutes onto the moving train from a treacherous cliff. Although Gabriel obtains the key, Ethan manages to overpower him briefly before Gabriel escapes and detonates the bridge ahead. Ethan and Grace detach the locomotive, saving the passengers from the impending disaster.
Just as they are about to plunge down the broken bridge, Paris (Pom Klementieff), who had been injured, saves them and informs Ethan of the key’s connection to Sevastopol. Paris then falls unconscious. Ethan escapes the train with the complete key, which he had pickpocketed from Gabriel during their encounter. Grace contacts Kittridge to inform him of her decision to join the IMF.
While the plot may be complex at times, McQuarrie skillfully keeps audiences engaged with a fast-paced narrative and stunning visuals. The locations, from the Arabian Desert to the vibrant streets of Venice, are beautifully captured, adding to the film’s grandeur.
Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 continues to deliver the perfect blend of espionage, suspense, and thrilling action that fans have come to expect. This latest installment serves up a captivating story with high-stakes, globe-trotting adventures, and a race against time to save humanity. With its jaw-dropping set pieces and compelling storyline, this film is a must-see for action movie enthusiasts and fans of the franchise alike.
Bottom Line: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 is a REEL SEE.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
