- MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE
- Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell and Ving Rhames
- Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 2 hrs 43 mins
- Paramount
Tom Cruise just turned 61 last week. But when you watch his latest action thriller you may not believe that. To call his latest “Mission Impossible’ epic “a non-stop rollercoaster ride of action” may actually be a slight.
A new, top secret submarine is testing out it’s new technology – one that makes it entirely invisible to any kind of radar. As the sub is about to end it’s journey the captain is alarmed to find his sub being identified and fired upon. This can’t be happening. Right?
While the first two film in the “Mission Impossible” series were entertaining, heled by acclaimed filmmakers Brian De Palma and John Woo. Yet, there always seemed to be something missing. That missing piece was found in Part III, under the direction of J.J. Abrams. A combination of action and story that continues wth the seventh installment of tghe series, “Dead Reckoning.”,
This time the story finds Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his Impossible Mission team (Rhames and Simon Pegg) trying to find the way to stop an A.I. program known as the Entity that is becoming more and more sentient. Along the way, they cross paths with a world class thief (Atwell), a true villain (Esai Morales) and even their own government, which, of course, is an oxymoron since by rule the government has no knowledge of their actions.
And what action it is! From high speed car chases and train rides to an amzing freebase jump of fthe back of a motorcycle (no spoilers here – it’s in the commercials) the film actually is a non-stop roller coaster ride of action!
In between the spectacular set pieces is a well crafted story, co-written by director McQuarrie, who won the Oscar nearly three decades for the legendary “The Usuasl Suspects.” The story here has the same attention to details that McQuasrrie brought to “The Usual suspects” and we are kept guessing who is good and who is bad with each new twist.
Despite a running time of nearly three hours, the film flows smoothly, with nary a slow moment on screen. That being said, I can understand why they decided to split the story into two films, as I can’t see audiences sitting through a five hour plus epic, no matter how entertaining it is.
One more note. Cruise is a producer on the film and my only thought is because no other producer would insure him. He has upped the ante of his stunts in every “Mission Impossible’ film and his work here is among the best I’ve ever seen on film.
You’re mission, shoud you decide to accept it, is to check out “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” as soon as you can.
On a scale of zero to five I give “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” four and a half stars.