MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT
US, 2018, 147 minutes, Colour.
Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Wes Bentley, Wolf Blitzer.
Directed by Christopher Mc Quarrie.
What more is there to say about the Mission Impossible series? It began on television decades ago, enjoyed a gimmick where messages detonated within five seconds of their being read, at a theme melody by Lalo Schiffrin which stayed in the imagination and was transformed, even inflated, into a huge-budget, star-filled drama by Brian DePalma? in 1996. It consolidated the action career of Tom Cruise – if it actually needed consolidating! And that was over two decades ago. And then, sequel upon sequel, the box office and audiences reinforcing the popularity.
So, here is Cruise’s Ethan Hunt now in his mid-50s, not slowing down at all, and the actor continuing to do his own daring stunts. Christopher McQuarrie? has been writing screenplays and directs for the second time.
There is some continuity with the previous film, the villain played by Sean Harris, the presence of Rebecca Ferguson as an MI6 agent, the continued support of Ving Rhames as Luther and, comic touches, with Simon Pegg as Benji. In a sense, we know where we stand.
This film opens with action adventure, plutonium deals in Berlin which go awry, talk about an arch-villain who wants to control world power with nuclear weapons, and associates who proclaim a bizarre philosophy of peace coming through violent upheaval.
Authority figures appear, Alec Baldwin in charge of mission, Angela Bassett asserting authority from Washington DC, and a kind of minder imposed on Ethan Hunt in the form of agent Walker, played with some customary stolidity by Henry Cavil.
One of the attractions of watching these espionage stories, tough fights, traditional car chases through cities, slam banging into traffic, motorbikes and mayhem, is the interspersing of the action with vistas of cities, this time the landmarks of both Paris and London, attractive helicopter flights over the cities. The use of St Paul’s in London, the cupola and the roofs creates excitement. But, the best is kept to last, the action taking place in Indian Kashmir, a village with medicos from the West working with the locals, vast mountainscapes and deep valleys, cliff ledges, and some final climax moments with both Walker and Hunt literally cliffhanging.
The basic plot is not particularly new, mad villains, nuclear threats, dominating authorities, betrayals… However, for some minutes at the end, Michelle Monaghan appears as Hunt’s former love interest (having appeared in two previous films).
Audiences will know what they are getting – and, because this is what they want, they will be satisfied.
1. An extraordinarily successful franchise? 1996 to 2018? And a perennially energetic Tom Cruise?
2. The basis in the television series, the secret agent, the messages, disguises? Nuclear disasters, split second timing to avert disaster? And the musical score by Lalo Schiffrin?
3. Audience response to Ethan Hunt? And the Tom Cruise persona? From his 30s to his 50s? Yet, still being an agent, still active, still athletic, doing his own stunts?
4. The presuppositions of this film, the collaboration of Luther and Benji, the past relationship with Julia, the fight with Solomon Lane, the CIA authorities…
5. The use of locations? An opening in Belfast? Transition to Paris, the beauty of the city, the helicopter shots? The contrast with the darkness of Berlin? The transition to London, the landmarks of the city, the helicopter shots? The climax in Kashmir, the landscapes, the village, the mountains and cliffs, the rugged beauty? The musical score?
6. The situation with the plutonium? Dealers and sellers? The set up in Berlin, Benji and Luther, Luther tricked, the shootout, the mysterious Master spy, his identity?
7. The transition to Paris, gala celebration, the crowds, the lively music, the set up with the White Widow, her being a broker, a mysterious brother and his associates, her looking for the mysterious mastermind?
8. The CIA, the mad scientist, his message of destruction and peace, in the hospital, the deal with him to reveal the identity, agreeing to broadcast his manifesto, Wolf Blitzer and the CNN news? The revelation of the truth that this was fabricated – after sequences of the Vatican in Rome, Mecca being destroyed?
9. Alan Hunley, work in the CIA, reliance on Ethan, the meeting, the discussions? The contact with Erika? Her taking over, the introduction of August Walker? Tension within the group?
10. Walker going with Ethan to the Paris party, trying to track down the mastermind, going to the men’s toilet, the innuendo, fighting the man, his being a decoy? Ethan presenting himself as the mastermind, the discussions with the White Widow, her attraction, ruthless?
11. Deals? The involvement with Solomon Lane? For him to be freed and exchanged? Audience knowledge of him from the previous film? His appearance, bearded, taken, kept?
12. The atmosphere of Paris transferring to London? Solomon Lane? Taking him? The White Widow and her dealings? The masked police, assailants?
13. Good old-fashioned car chase through London, cars, streets, dead ends, cyclists, crashing traffic?
14. The elaborate chase in St Paul’s Cathedral, the dome, along the roofs of London, Benji and his directions – and making mistake in directions?
15. The confrontation in London between Erika and Alan Hunley? The exposing of Walker as the mastermind? The death of Hunley? The intervention of Erika?
16. The setup, Lane seemingly taken away, yet sitting in the chair – and Benji revealed as sitting in the chair, with the mask?
17. Ilsa, part of the pursuit, shooting but not wanting Ethan? Her work with MI6, her being blamed for the failure in the previous film? Her wanting to get Lane and be indicated? Erika promising to do this?
18. The transition to Kashmir, the encounter with Julia and her husband, their work, humanitarian? The chance for Julia to communicate with Ethan, meeting a genial husband? Her being where she ought to be?
19. Yet the tension, searching for the bombs, the detonator? The possibilities for defusing? The tension for the search? Lane, urging Walker to go on the helicopter, his remaining, being willing to die? Trapping Benji? Luther pursuing? Also and her interventions? The fights, the danger, the time? Julia helping with the cutting of the wires?
20. Ethan, the helicopter, climbing, the cargo ball, slipping down, climbing up, the pursuit, the attempts to crash into the other helicopter? Walker and his behaviour? The climax with the two helicopters crashing, the continued fight, the detonator, the fight on the edge of the cliff, both going over, climbing back, the literal split second timing, getting the detonator, no explosions?
21. Mission accomplished - and audiences ready for another episode?
