A second look: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

Rating: 10/10 (2 July 2008)

My Take: An underrated big-screen version of the classic TV series. The plot no longer confuses after a second view. A thrill-a-minute machine.
At first glance, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE is quite like a self-constructing Rubix cube which finishes itself in the finale, but it rarely remains clear how it got there. But after seeing it again the other night, it became clear to me that MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE wasn't quite as complicated nor convoluted, considering how much complicated other espionage thrillers of this kind have turned out to be. Do yourself a favor: Turn your brains in the "on" position, keep your ears on the listen and wallow in the action-packed, special effects-laden summer entertainment.
The plot itself is a thing of beauty. Where else can you see such a plot that moves from manhunts to double cross, and more secret agent/conspiracy jargon one summer viewer can possibly handle. So go get your glass of water or something, for you wouldn't wanna miss a single strand of detail in this complex summer popcorn action thriller of the adults. Tom Cruise is still terrific as the famed (and framed) IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Ethan Hunt, point-man to IMF director Jim Phelps (Jon Voight, taking over the role from Peter Graves) during a mission to retrieve a NOC (Non-Official Coverts) list, before it goes out in the open, exposing IMF agents from their aliases. After an ambush which spelled certain failure of the mission, Hunt is framed as the suspected moll working for illegal arms dealer named Max (Vanessa Redgrave). To clear his name, Hunt goes over the edge. Whether it has him breaking into CIA secretly while dangling atop the ceiling, or take form of numerous disguises that would make any fan of the original series proud.
The plot gets much more complicated than it sounds, since writers Robert Towne, David Koepp and Steve Zaillian throw in every situation and plot twists it could. The result, while admittedly thick, is clever and gripping. Director Brian DePalma owes more to Alfred Hitchcock than Bruce Gellar, as the film is more thriller than action, but the film works as an exciting piece of entertainment. Clever, fast and and is especially great at keeping the audience guessing. The cast is especially great, even if they aren't exactly Oscar-caliber. Cruise is an especially reliable hero, Voight makes an excellent replacement for Peter Graves (unsatisfied to reprise the role for this film) and Henry Czerny plays another mysterious government figure (after CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER) as Eugene Kittridge. French beauty Emmanuelle Beart sizzles as Phelps' wife Claire and Ving Rhames & Jean Reno play disavowed agents recruited by Hunt to pull off the "Mt. Everest of hacks".
Nothing is at it seems in this film, since DePalma pulls of everything with gusto, Hitchcock-style. Espionage, thrills, and that slam-bang finale (a fight on a speeding bullet train, having a helicopter fly through a tunnel). DePalma also doesn't drown the film with as much special effects as other summer movie rivals, resulting in one of the more promising piece of unadulterated adult summer attraction. Warning: This message will now self destruct in T-minus 3 seconds. 3... 2... 1...
Rating: ***** out of 5.