Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Sean Harris

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

The Story:
After intercepting a terrorist plot to deploy nerve gas, IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) feels that he can prove there is a "Syndicate" out there - a rogue nation that is the antithesis of the IMF.    However, before he could reveal this information, he is kidnapped and subjected to torture before being freed by the mysterious Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson).

Meanwhile, back in D.C., Chief Director of the CIA Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) and operations director of the IMF William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) are before the Senate Intelligence Oversight committee, where Hunley demands the IMF be disbanded due to lack of oversight control.  His wish is granted, and the IMF is disbanded, making Hunt a man without a country as he tracks down the ever elusive Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), a rogue MI6 agent who controls the Syndicate.

Hunt continues his search for Lane and to prove that the Syndicate exists, with the help of (now former) IMF agents Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames) and Brandt himself, as well as Faust - although no one knows whose side she's really on.  As the adventure heats up and the globe-trotting increases, Hunt begins to wonder if Lane is his equal - or someone even better than he is.

The Synopsis:
"Rogue Nation" is the fifth "Mission: Impossible" film.  The fifth.  Typically, for a franchise to make it this far, there's some duds in between.  Even "The Fast and the Furious" had "Tokyo Drift."  However, with the "M:I" series, there isn't one dud in the bunch.  "Rogue Nation," far from the best, is still a delightful action-adventure romp filled with intrigue, suspense, humor and, of course, action.

Say what you will about Tom Cruise, but he's the heart and soul of this franchise.  Without him, it would fall apart.  It was rumored that, after "Ghost Protocol," the reigns would be handed to Jeremy Renner to run with.  Looking at the "Bourne" series, we learn that would be a tragic mistake.  So Renner remains where he was in "Ghost Protocol," and we're all the better for it.

As far as the story goes, it actually picks up where "Protocol" ended, as the IMF track down the Syndicate Hunt mentions at the end of the previous film.  So in a way, "Rogue Nation" is a continuation of "Protocol," much like "Quantum of Solace" was a continuation of "Casino Royale."  However, unlike the Bond film, this one can stand alone as its own film, and from the first harrowing moment (that airplane scene with Cruise hanging from the side) to the final takedown, "Rogue Nation" hardly has a moment for the audience to breathe.

Aside from that insane airplane hanging scene, there's several moments that leave the audience gasping for breath in "Rogue Nation," including an underwater scene that would make anyone claustrophobic, as well as an intense motorcycle race through the streets of Casablanca.  The action is furious, and it hits you hard.  However, mixed between are some light-hearted and humorous moments, mostly brought by the ever-delightful Simon Pegg.  Even in the pulse-pounding moments, he manages to make light of the situation.

The breakout star of this film is Rebecca Ferguson, who plays a much different femme fatale than other "Mission" films.  She keeps switching sides, and leaves you wondering whose side she's really on.  Is she good?  Is she bad?  Is she neutral?  Her actions range from one option to the other to the next, and she does some amazing take-down stunts in the process.  The only low the film has is in its main villain, who gives a purposefully raspy tone that makes you feel he's a more over-the-top caricature of a bad guy rather than just pure and simply evil, but that's a small negative in an otherwise overly positive film.

The Synopsis:
Say what you will about Tom Cruise, he's the heart and soul of the "Mission" franchise, and as long as he keeps Ethan Hunt going, the films will continue to impress.

The Score: A