A quintessential modern action film

Rating: 9/10 (3 August 2015)

Here I was thinking that Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation wouldn't be able to capture the dizzying heights (both figuratively and literally) of it's predecessor, the 2011 Brad Bird directed Ghost Protocol, itself an excellent piece of cinema...
Boy, was I wrong...
From the get go this film grabs you by the scruff of the neck and refuses to let go. The action seamlessly flows from one set piece to another, packaged together with some wonderful moments of character chemistry and gripping story, which combine to make Rogue Nation perhaps the most explosive movie of the year and one of the finest action movies of the decade.
Tom Cruise slips effortlessly back into the role he has made so iconic by now. You know what you're gonna get from Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, but this movie sees him up the ante once again with regards to the physical acting whilst also adding layer upon layer to Hunt, turning him into one of the most intriguing action heroes in cinema.
Rebecca Ferguson, a new addition to the cast, kicks a large amount of ass in the movie, there really is no better way to put it. Her character arc sees her undergo an interesting and complex story, one that she accomplishes more than capably whilst also holding her own alongside Cruise. Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames all return and once again reprise their roles as Hunt's team. However, one can't help but feel that they are all (save perhaps Pegg) robbed of screen time by Ferguson and prestige by Cruise. Don't get me wrong, the actors are all great but the characters are a little hard done by as the script allows little time for the film's antics outside of whatever mission Cruise is on. Alec Baldwin is a solid if unspectacular addition to the cast; he brings a certain air of gravitas and legitimacy to the film but his character really doesn't have much to do. I won't say too much about the rest of the new additions to the cast as I really don't want to spoil what is a fantastic story.
The film is essentially a 2 hour cat and mouse chase with both sides trying to catch the tail of the other whilst just falling short. The IMF is put under extreme pressure as the repercussions of their past comes back to bite them and the Government begins to lose faith. In this uncertain time a new threat, known only as 'The Syndicate', emerges to strike whilst the IMF is weakest and it is up to Hunt and his team to stop them.
Director Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher, The Way of the Gun) adds a certain grittiness to the action as well as upping the scale in grandiose, yet believable fashion. The movie really is on a spectacular scale whilst managing to avoid becoming a bloated mess of CGI explosions, numerous chase and fights scenes pack a real punch and the stunts are simply jaw dropping. The editing is phenomenal, the camera work stunning and the way the usage of sound differs from scene to scene and setting to setting is incredibly well done, you really have to see it to truly appreciate it - I really don't want to spoil what is truly a masterful technique!
The film's run time tends to drag a little and the pacing takes a few wobbles near the end of the movie, but a phenomenal first two acts make up for what is, admittedly, a slightly weaker third act in comparison. However the way in which the story ties up is excellent and the drama of the piece is most evident here, proving that Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is not just a big brainless piece of fun.
This film is a real chess game; it's intricate and methodical whilst still maintaining what a chess game should be - a game, an entertainment product
It's an intelligent and enjoyable action spy thriller and you really don't want to miss it.