Mission: Impossible (1996) - Review

Ahead of next week's Mission: Impsossible - Fallout, I will be taking a look back at the entire M:I franchise, beginning today with the original film. 22 years and 5 movies later, does it stand the test of time as one of the true greats in the spy genre?

In Mission: Impossible, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is a member of an elite CIA unit known as the IMF. Tasked with retrieving a disc containing the secret identities of undercover agents across the world, things go horribly wrong when Hunt's entire team is murdered except him. Disavowed by the IMF on suspicions of treason, Hunt must go on the run, piece together a plan to clear his name and discover who the real mole is.

I am happy to say that the original Mission: Impossible most definitely holds up as a stand-out in an often cluttered spy genre. M:I is a rare case of all elements in a film clicking, creating a classic popcorn flick. However, to label Mission: Impossible a popcorn flick would be to do it a disservice, as the layered film has so much more going for it than set pieces and witty dialogue.

Led by Tom Cruise, the pinnacle of "leading man", the terrific cast delivers in every scene. From Emilio Esteves and Jon Voight, to Ving Rhames and Jean Reno, the understated performances throughout create realism within the high stakes story. The team element, something that the Mission: Impossible series would continue to carry on throughout, is at a peak here. One of my favourite scenes is the in the first act, when the original IMF team is planning on how to recover the disc. The banter between the team members really sells that they are a genuine team, which is remarkable considering half the team has little more than cameo level screen-time.

As well, putting together the new team of Luther and Kreiger adds a neat element, almost as if there were 2 separate heist films within 1. In addition, Henry Czerny's Kittridge and Vanessa Redgrave's Max are great foils for Hunt. Finally, Emmanuelle Beart's Claire has some juicy bits of acting where it is wholly unclear how much she knows or doesn't know. I'm positive the character of Claire was based off the femme fatales of the noir detective works.

Writers David Koepp and Robert Towne drafted a compelling mystery that has viewers seeking the answer. While there are certainly clues as to who the real mole is throughout the film, the scene in which we see Ethan piece it all together is just as shocking upon re-watch as it is the first time. Hunt is not a Rambo or James Bond, but his cunning and wit are a thrill to watch in their own right. There are just as many great scenes of dialogue/acting as there are action beats, which is a credit to the writers for having a strong, balanced screenplay.

Director Brian De Palma, along with cinematographer Stephen H. Burum are in top form here, embracing the hokier side of the story but keeping it grounded and playing it straight. The camera tilts and Dutch angles during the Kittridge/Hunt conversation convey how off-put Ethan is, and the quick cuts resemble how closed in Ethan's world is becoming. As well, the split diopter, allowing two separate parts of the screen to be in focus at the same time, is used best during the mole reveal, showing who really blew up Claire's car. The diopter was not something I caught upon first viewing, but I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for these nifty camera tricks upon re-watch.

The Langley heist has been parodied and referenced so many times that by now, it's almost a cliché, but holy cow is it still as tense and breathtaking as it was in 1996. The music cutting out allows every breath and squeak of rope to be heard, and the strain on Cruise and Reno's face is so believable it is hard not to get caught up in it over and over again. The final train showdown between Cruise and the villains is a tad weak by todays standards, certainly in the CGI department, but when that Danny Elfman score ratchets up it is still a satisfying ending.

Mission: Impossible is one of the few summer blockbusters that delivers both in its story and performances, and on over all entertainment value. The movie that set Tom Cruise on his action star path, M: I enjoys great performances from top to bottom, and a tight, whip-smart script that still shocks and awes 2 decades later. Nothing short of FULL PRICE!