So as the new, rather spectecular, Trailer arrived yesterday I felt it was the right time to acknowledge my love for the Mission Impossible franchise and what Tom Cruise built.
Today it was announced that the movie would have it’s world premiere at the film festival in Cannes so the cast and crew can undoubtedly take a bath in the long standing ovation by the audience. The spectators there love cinema and are therefor very kind – no matter the actually quality of the movie. But I know this movie will be good. Why do I know that? Because Tom Cruise.
So I grew up watching the 80s Remake of Mission Impossible and was intrigued by the use of technology and the suspense that was created on the same two or three backlots. Jim Phelps was my hero and kind of a TV farther figure. I would have followed him everywhere. Then I saw the first Mission Impossible movie. I was shocked and mesmerized by the boldness using his demise to give way to the one man show that Cruise would make the next two MI movies. It also was my first real interaction with Mr Cruise.
He was young, smart and sexy and his set of values made this cat and mouse game pure fun and something for the whole family (if you recovered from the massaker in the beginning). The first part established him as the new leader with a strong tendency to become a martyr for the world and especially his team mates.
Then there are M:I 2 and M:I 3 and even though they are important for the mythology and are executed very well by a great cast and crew to me they are the weakest of the franchise. I couldn’t even really give you the plot of either of the movies.
Then comes the big reset with M:I 4 Ghost Protocol. A disavowed Cruise uses Simon Peggs comedic genius to create, apart from Ving Rhames Luthor, one of the few stable relatinships that is fueled by a deep friendship and trust. The next flick, Rogue Nation, introduces Rebecca Fergusons Ilsa and this weird romance comes into the mix as she is no damsel in distress but an English operative with an unclear moral compass. M:I 6 Fallout brings back Michelle Monaghan as his ex-wife to create an almost unbareable dramatic situation which was really necessary after the lifeless and stoic Henry Cavill performance that dominated the movie.
Then the real hype came with the first of two parts – M:I 7 Dead Reckoning. The only M:I movie I saw in cinema several times. To me this movie does everything right. The stakes are high, the team is used right and can show again its determenation and deep connection making it the emotional anchor of this bigger than life story and also introducing or better transitioning from Ferguson to Hayley Atwell. The adversaries are the most fun though, Henry Czerny as Kittridge from M:I 1, the lightshow entity, Vanessa Kirbies recurring White Widow, the tragic Pom Klemtieff as Paris and my favourite Esai Morales as Gabriel. The drive and the pace of the story are insane, the humor is on point and the spoken exposition is just on the brink of getting annoying. It’s hard to visualize software and not make it look like a power point presentation of the sales the department. But the art department, as well as the actors (Morales!) make the entity feel alive. Tom Cruise has build a great team and I am not exaggerating when I say that director Christopher McQuarrie will never find another actor that demands so much but at the same time is willing to deliver. And as always Cruise delivers.
Initially planned as a two part movie the upcoming Final Reckoning seems to be the final Ethan Hunt movie for Cruise. If he dies, I hope his death won’t be as senseless as the No Time To Die Bond death.
So what is it what I love about the franchise? As mentioned before it is Cruise’ determination and dedication to deliver the best possible movie. He loves movies and said repeatedly that he tries to watch one movie a day, with a busy schedule like his even this sounds insane, but it’s Tom Cruise and it must be true. And you can tell. Unlike James Cameron or Geroge Lucas he thrives to make the experience as physical as possible. There is CGI, yes, but the stunts Tom Cruise performs are insane offering a whole new world of storytelling and realism as the editing doesn’t need to cut around a stuntman. The team of reccuring actors is great, Angela Bassett will reprise her role from M:I 6 in M:i 8, which creates these very much needed familiarity and emotional center that Cruise can’t deliver. Cruise acting only shines when he gets great people to work with he knows that and surrounds himself with actors that elevate his acting and the movie. I like that he works with McQ for such a long time as I guess I am one of the few people that liked his TV show ‘Persons Unknown’ that starred the late Chadwick Boseman back in 2010. So I feel the dedication that goes into every single frame.
After 30 years it will be hard to let go of Ethan Hunt or even the franchise. As it feels like the biggest action hero of my time will retire.
#M:I #M:I8 #TomCruise #Cruise #Action #Cannes #Stunts #Cinema #Art #McQuarrie #PersonsUnknown
Seen by Greg 