Nothing is ever impossible in a Mission Impossible film.

Rating: 7/10 (27 August 2015)

Industry pundits are gob smacked and they have every reason to be. What started as an over the top action spectacle has turned into a refined espionage thriller, albeit still a tall tale, but close on the heels of recent Bond films. Now in its fifth installment, and 20 years later, the Mission Impossible franchise has finally found its niche by almost entirely abandoning the cheese.
In some ways, Rogue Nation could also have the edge over Daniel's Craig's Bond flicks when considering the latter's tradition for forced romance and prototype gadgetry. None of that here, and thankfully, no time inflating fillers either. That said, there isn't much of a story either and John Le Carre fans will eat through the plot before you can say "I spy". Instead, Rogue Nation offers the best thrills in the series where the ride has prominence over the destination. For now, all you need to know is that the IMF has found its diabolical equal in The Syndicate, a shadow organization responsible for orchestrating devastating geo-political terror attacks around the world. But just when Ethan Hunt discovers their leader, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), CIA director Hunley (Alec Baldwin) disbands the IMF, citing unorthodox engagement tactics. Working from the shadows, and double crossed by double agents, Hunt does what he does best – a series of impossible missions that leaves us breathless.
Reprising his role as Hunt, it would only be half-truth to say that Rogue Nation is all Tom Cruise. But with Cruise actually performing his own stunts, it's fair to say that the success of this film emanates from his unmatched delivery as an aging action hero. Unless Cruise is nourished from a secret fountain of youth, doing all that he does at the age of 53 is in itself an incredible feat and worth the price of admittance. The other half emanates from insane white-knuckle action paused only by Hitchcockian moments of suspense. Flanking adrenaline packed car and bike chases are two nail biting scenes – one takes place above the stage of a Viennese opera and the second in an underwater vault which appears to be shot in one take. Both scenes are insanely pulse pounding and precisely why this installment is the best in the series.
That casting takes a backseat could be a dent in the overall making of this film. Although Simon Pegg is back for comic relief and he delivers, Jeremy Renner's inclusion serves no purpose at any point during the plot. Additionally, Harris as the villain is more annoying than threatening, and visibly weak in comparison to Philip Seymour-Hofmann's mesmerising delivery in Mission Impossible III. Even so, none of this diminishes from the sheer entertainment factor of this film and precisely why the franchise has been accumulating a massive fan base.