It keeps getting better!

Rating: 9/10 (20 August 2015)

The longest running international spy of 18 years is now a fugitive who is sought by the CIA for inevidently saving the world. Ethan Hunt's impossible mission, whether or not he chooses to accept it, will be to survive and of course, save the world from a rogue organization that had its inception within the IMF. With some commendable dedication to not just the stunts and action but also to the production of this franchise, Tom Cruise returns to the role that he is most comfortable with and is most appreciated for. Christopher McQuarrie ('Jack Reacher') takes the reigns of directing this time and brings back the intricacies and guile in Brian De Palma's 'Mission: Impossible'. With some exemplary action sequences, smart protagonists, an intricate plot of deceiving espionage and some desirable futuristic high tech, Ethan Hunt is here on a mission to entertain and as usual, he does it in style.
Hunt and his team have just intercepted a terrorist cell flying out with a stash of nerve gas missiles on an A-400 cargo plane. The seemingly death-defying stunt is what makes Tom Cruise among the most watchable action stars and soon afterward, his suspicion about a discreet terrorism funding organization called the Syndicate becomes real when he is kidnapped by one of their members, the bone doctor. His escape is aided by an undercover operative named Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) who might have more to reveal about the Syndicate. Meanwhile, owing to their previous interceptions including the recent one at Kremlin that caused massive collateral damage, a committee of Senators agree with CIA director Alan Hunley's (Alec Baldwin) testament to disband the IMF to make it a part of CIA. Hunt is now on a run from the CIA, without his team and with limited resources. There are several mysteries that he needs to uncover including the identity of the man he encountered at one of their hideouts and his link to the Syndicate, Ilsa's true intentions and allegiance, the retrieval of the encrypted drive and its disruptive contents. Each sub-plot gets further entangled in the other, with the rogue Syndicate threatening to unleash terror forces all over. It will take more than just Ethan's will to succeed in this mission that's shrouded in mystery like the London fog in the climax. Impossible, but doable.
The storyline, although convoluted at times, strives to be opaque like in Brian De Palma's version, which is a good thing because the mystery adds an enduring value. Every sub-plot and every character unify to a sensible conclusion with the occasional humor and sarcasm to ease through the twists. Some of the action sequences are frenetic and some just gravity defying. Cruise still chooses to perform most of the stunts by himself and that is quite commendable. Apart from the aircraft hanging scene, the film's highlight is definitely in Morocco. After the gripping sequence in the underwater server station, the action moves to the streets of Casablanca with Hunt and Benji in a thrilling car chase with superbikes in hot pursuit. The sheer adrenaline can be felt throughout the sequence as the BMW roars through every sharp corner and straight. This is followed by a superlative bike chase through the mountains which makes up for all the money's worth by itself. Then, to add to the eeriness of the sub-plots, the climax in London's foggy streets takes us back in time to some Hitchcock style thrills as Ilsa has a knife fight with the bone doctor. The other Hitchcock inspired sequence, the assassination attempt at the Opera in Vienna, is among the film's most adroitly executed ones.
At age 53, Tom Cruise still has the ability to be all over the screen. His commendable efforts go beyond just the stunts that he chooses to carry out on his own. He has immersed himself deep into the role of Ethan Hunt, embodying the charming spy who almost gets himself killed every half hour. Cruise's dedication to this franchise is necessary for both its running as well as his own career. No matter who or what he is off screen, he is a remarkable entertainer as agent Ethan Hunt, whose impossible missions keep us hooked in awe. Simon Pegg as the techie side-kick is geeky yet funny enough for us to care about his survival. Jeremy Renner's Brandt is always in a spot between the CIA and his commitment to Ethan's crew and he balances things pretty well. Alec Baldwin has some cheeky lines and adds the right amount of gravitas to his character as a CIA director. The surprise act of the film however is Rebecca Fergusson as Ilsa Faust. She is vibrant, kicks ass in action sequences and is just an equal match for Ethan without being an unnecessary interest of another kind.
Fingerprint verification on car windows, encrypted flash drives that require the Prime Minister's authentication, high tech gadgets and of course, those crazy masks to change identities, make this a thoroughly exciting espionage film. The plot is thick enough to keep you engaged yet not contrived to just fill in gaps between action sequences. Rogue Nation is what Bond films used to be like. It's a complete entertainer by all means and among the most satisfying action films of the year that also enables Tom Cruise to keep this franchise alive. Light the fuse people..
9.113 on a scale of 1-10.