"Mission" does the impossible

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2006)

For those walking into the new Tom Cruise movie "Mission: Impossible III," a question should be floating around on their mind: Is it too soon? After Cruise's fiasco of a public relations affair last year, his Church of Scientology, and the whole couch-hopping incident and the suspicious May-December TomKat romance with actress Katie Holmes, is "Mission: Impossible III" too soon for actor Tom Cruise? Can his career be saved by one more measly feature film?
The answer: Yes.
This is quite simply the best Cruise movie I've seen in years and the actor has never been better. In top form as IMF Secret Agent Ethan Hunt, there's no hint of "Cruise-control" here and there's plenty of explosions and scenery-jumping to keep even the most skeptical movie-goers on edge.
You should be surprised that "Mission: Impossible III" will include the usual difficult story, special effects gadgetry, at least one moment of intense suspense, and jaw-dropping stunt-work present in the first two films; "Mission: Impossible" came out in 1996 and was directed by Brian De Palma, while "Mission: Impossible II" was directed by John Woo in 2000. None of the films share the characteristics of the Bruce Geller television series from which they've lifted their names; only the title and spruced-up theme music remain. Now we're at part 3.
Critics have already slated the lack of plot, endless explosions and shoot-outs, and twisting storyline. I guarantee you that those who criticize the plot are only ticked off because they couldn't wind through the turns themselves. It's not even worth describing in any detail, really, since any attempt is an exercise in futility. In fact, it could be summed up like this in one sentence: Ethan Hunt is apparently out of the IMF business and is about to be wed to fiancée Julia (Michelle Monaghan), who has domesticated the adventurer, but before he can start the celebrations, he must track down cold-blooded arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the mysterious "Rabbit's Foot," and that's all you need to know.
Directed, quite competently, I might add, by "Alias" J.J. Abrams, the film opens with fresh "Capote" Oscar-winner Hoffman's Davian interrogating Hunt about the whereabouts of "Rabbit's Foot" while holding a gun to Julia's head. From there on in and after the credits, the movie just kicks into overdrive in delivering twisting and turning (whatever there is) plot and a globe-trotting odyssey from Berlin to the Vatican to Shanghai. Abrams and "Alias" fans should not be displeased with such break-neck pacing.
There is a supporting cast that includes Ving Rhames as "M:I" regular Luther Strickell (the only actor other than Cruise to appear in all three films), Laurence Fishburne as Hunt's boss Brassel, Billy Crudup as Hunt's supervisor Musgrave, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, and Simon "Shaun of the Dead" Pegg as Hunt's fellow IMF allies. But as Owen Davian, Hoffman is the most surprising and is quite intense, if not somewhat underused, as he eats up the scenery whenever he appears on screen. He's the yang to Cruise's ying and the two play off each other throughout. I really liked him and he's simply the best "Mission: Impossible" villain yet.
But what about the rest of the movie, you ask? Well, like the story it's not worth describing though there are a number of genius action sequences including a helicopter chase through a windmill field, a shootout on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (which brings back memories of another spy caper, 1994's Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle "True Lies," which featured a similar bridge-destruction scene), and Cruise having to break into a top-secret medical facility by swinging from one building to another because the rooftops are guarded. These action scenes could be regarded as typical of the genre or artificial, since everything here seems to be a special effect, but I dismiss that criticism since it's a summer movie and it can't possibly get any deeper.
And lastly, what about newbie father Tom Cruise? Is he good? Yes, he is. It's been 20 years since he flew with the best of the best in "Top Gun" (1986) and it's easy to see how far he's progressed since those reckless fly-boy days. Cruise is not on "Cruise-control" at all; he's on full automatic. He goes where the action goes and we can leave it at that. So what's next, Mr. Cruise, the anti-God weapon in "Mission: Impossible IV?" Cool. See you at the theater then.
Third time's a charm, ain't it?
10/10