Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) - Review

The stakes have never been higher, the villains have never been badder, and Tom Cruise has never ran farther. Strap in, it's time to review the 6th installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

***Addendum: I know, I know, i'm reviewing the 6th film before the 4th and 5th. I tried to get them all done, but I really wanted to see this movie sooner than later. I promise, I'll make it up to you one day. Maybe a reader's choice review? Hmmm...Now, on to the review.***

In Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF are attempting to apprehend the remaining members of The Syndicate after the arrest of criminal mastermind Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). When a case of nuclear-grade plutonium falls through the team's fingers and into the hands of The Syndicate, Ethan is paired with CIA watchdog Walker (Henry Cavill). The IMF must track down the plutonium and stop a plot to release Lane before The Syndicate can unleash catastrophic damage on a global scale.

A direct sequel to Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, and the only direct sequel in the franchise, M:I6 feels like the culmination of 22 years of storytelling. Tying the series together in several places, the film feels appropriately grandiose, both in story and in stunts.

The cinematography is directly responsible for the film's scale. Several breathtaking visuals flash throughout, from a circling shot of Ethan atop London's skyline, to a frantic chase through the Himalayan mountains. One of the most thrilling stunts in the film sees Cruise and Cavill perform a HALO jump out of an airplane, into a thunder storm. The camera starts at the end of the plane, and we get a breathtaking tracking shot of Hunt running out of the plane, the camera following in front, allowing the viewers to jump with Ethan. Very strong work from coordinator Rob Hardy under the direction of returning helmsman Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise's current muse.

McQuarrie, who also wrote the screenplay, seems to really understand what makes a Mission: Impossible film work. The team dynamic is in full force, with Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) back along for the ride. These two have terrific chemistry, combining for some good laugh lines. As well, the hokey masks and elaborate sting operations that have become the series trademark are used excellently here, especially one early scene featuring a neat CNN cameo.

Cruise is in fine form as Ethan. Fully committing himself to the physicality of the role, Cruise should be admired to his dedication to realism. During preparation for this film, Cruise not only broke his ankle (AND FINISHED THE SCENE), but also learned how to fly a helicopter all so he could stay in camera. In an age where CGI is the norm, it is so refreshing to have the actor literally doing the things we see on-screen. Cruise is strong with the dialogue and emoting as well, and while I do prefer the younger Tom to the elder statesmen, there is one terrific bit of acting that comes when Ethan is re-united with someone from his past. The many emotions running through Ethan are easily read on his face, showing that Cruise still has some of that dramatic juice left in him.

Henry Cavill is a nice addition as Walker. To talk too much about the character would be to delve into spoilers, but suffice to say that Cavill is convincingly brutish. Harris is serviceable as Lane. The Blofeld to Cruise's Bond, the majority of his dialogue is vaguely threatening statements, lacking any real substance in the performance. Rebecca Ferguson is back as Ilsa Faust, who gets quite a bit of screen time for a role that historically in this series lacks depth. I was glad that Ferguson returned in this film, as I feel Ilsa is a good counterpoint to Hunt.

The plot is quite convoluted, and it would not shock me at all if audience members feel lost at points during the movie. That said, this is a great wrap up to the back trilogy, if not a wrap up to the entire series that boasts a fun cast, strong camerawork and death-defying, thrilling stunt work and action sequences. The final mountainside helicopter chase and ensuing fight scene will have you on the edge of your seat, I promise. While I'd love to see one final impossible mission with Ethan and the team, and I would be fully satisfied, if not a little sad, if this was their final outing. FULL PRICE. If you can, see this in IMAX for the full experience.