Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
A new threat has invaded the world in the form of a sentient A.I. intelligence known as "The Entity" which knows everything about everyone due to the world's reliance on technology, and every nation wants to control it for their own nefarious purposes. Only IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) wants to destroy it, and enlists his team consisting of computer technician Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), technical field agent Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and disavowed MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) to track it down. He soon finds he's not the only person searching for it, as his old adversary Gabriel (Esai Morales) is also tracking it down in hopes of using it to rule the world, along with pickpocket master Grace (Hayley Atwell) who doesn't understand its purpose but knows people who will pay handsomely for it. As Ethan races against time and his past, he struggles with maintaining course with the mission and valuing his friends' lives in the process, concerned that Gabriel will once again take someone he loves.
The Good:
Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have been working on "MI" films since 2015's "Fallout," and it's been a match made in cinematic heaven. The two men collaborate closely and have a rapport with one another that allows them to fully let loose and do things that most action films could only dream of - and that's mostly due to Tom Cruise's insane belief that he performs his own stunts. At a little over 60, Cruise continues to push his body to great lengths to not rely on shoddy CGI or body doubles, but make the films as believable and plausible as he can. "DR" is no different, as he once again goes unafraid into the void, risking his life for the perfect stunt shot. In fact, the first scene filmed was his epic motorcycle drive off a mountain because he truly felt he would die, and wanted that scene shot first in the event that happened. Obviously it didn't, but it didn't detract from the pulse-pounding feel your heart went through watching him pull it off. It's something CGI will never attain, and proves Cruise to be one of the last true action stars out there.
Speaking of pulse-pounding, the action in this 163 minute epic comes at all angles, from the opening scene in a submarine to an intense chase through an airport and culminating in a thrilling no-holds-barred battle on a moving train, "DR" doesn't let up on its action. It's something "The Flash" or even "The Dial of Destiny" wanted to achieve, but again only Cruise and company could pull it off.
Hayley Atwell is a welcome late addition to the "MI" family, as she balances her natural charm and humor with her pique physical prowess to play Grace as a woman who's clearly no damsel in distress, but every part Ethan's equal. Although seen as a mere pickpocket, she proves that she has the intelligence to be so much more, and it's something Ethan sees in her and helps hone in, allowing her to become a vital asset in his plan to save the world.
The "villain" in this film is the A.I. sentient entity that proves the dangers technology delivers, and something all the more timely considering the world we live in today. Now, A.I. is being created to be almost sentient on its own, where it can write letters and entire scripts with just a prompt that makes it seem like a human did it. They also have technology to change vocals so that you could wish someone a Happy Birthday with George Clooney's voice. As A.I. advances, it's only a matter of time before it learns of its own existence and finds itself more worthy than humanity, and "DR" centers on that fact. "The Entity" knows everything and uses technology to its advantage, something that severely hinders Hunt and company from finding it. It's terrifying to think about, and the story here really sheds light on what could happen if A.I. runs amok.
The Bad:
"Mission: Impossible" blends action and storytelling, but "DR" lacks a bit in that respect, but only because it leans too heavily on the MacGuffin trope. To stop "The Entity" they have to find two halves of a key that are, of course, separated and hidden so the entirety of the film is spent globetrotting the world in search of them. It's generic, but thankfully it's overshadowed by the overarching theme and the action that encompasses it.
With a strong, stacked cast as "DR" delivers, there's bound to be a few duds, and unfortunately that comes from the performances from Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby. Kirby returns in her second outing as the White Widow, but is more a caricature than anything, existing merely to serve as a broker for the key and not really offering anything of value. It's Ferguson's performance that's the most disappointing, as she seems to not even want to be in the film in her few short moments, to the point where I almost forgot she was in it in the first place. It doesn't help that Atwell is basically her replacement, and both women have similar physical features that blends them together.
The Verdict:
Despite a generic story of searching for pieces of a missing key, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" more than delivers on what the franchise is best known for: pulse-pounding action, intense chases, and Tom Cruise proving once again that he's unafraid to stare death in the face with his suspenseful stunts.
The Score: A+
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