It is Great, but Takes a Couple of Missteps

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2008)

The first attempt hurts itself with a poorly explained plot and not enough action. The second spectacularly fails for two reasons: horribly conceived action mostly shown in slow motion, and a plot with more holes than the car Morpheus and Trinity drive during the highway chase from "The Matrix Reloaded." The third "Mission: Impossible" movie finally nails the target. The plot is more reasonable, far better developed, and more clearly explained. The action is better and more intense; it is back to a level that easily allows suspension of disbelief. The supporting roles are better written and acted, and for the first time, the villain works. This movie is by far the strongest of the trio, but could have been even better without its two mistakes.
J.J. Abrams, one of Hollywood's hottest minds after creating "Felicity," "Alias," and "Lost," is the new director. Abrams also wrote the script with "Alias" collaborators Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Their effort yields the right mixture of action, character drama, and story. The gadgets are great. They are more realistic than those in the James Bond films; every one of them reasonably could exist, and many probably do. The most commonplace is the pitching machine, used as a surprise to both the audience and the characters in one the movie's most delightful parts.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) of the IMF (Impossible Mission Force) no longer participates in active missions. He now earns his living training their most gifted entrants; his finest being Lindsey Farris (the lovely Keri Russell, of "Felicity" fame). Now engaged to Julia (Michelle Monaghan), he is enjoying his semi-retirement. Unfortunately, Farris is captured observing Black Market arms broker Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Hunt must make the agonizing decision to help bring her home.
During the rescue, Hunt and his teammates Luther (Ving Rhames), Declan (John Rhys-Meyers), and Zhen (the lovely Maggie Q) discover that Davian is attempting to acquire The Rabbit's Foot. Nobody at IMF knows that is, but Davian's involvement frightens both Hunt and IMF computer expert Benji (Simon Pegg). Ethan also must deal with Theodore Brassel (Laurence Fishburne), the chief executive of IMF, who is more reluctant to take action.
After two bland villains, Philip Seymour Hoffman blows the roof off the dome and into the ozone layer with his performance. Davian is the complete package. When a bystander spills wine on his dress shirt, he does not become angry. In other contexts, however, he is a focused and lethal. Imposing even while bound to a chair, he promises that he will find Ethan's girl and torture her. Although the character tends to remain calm, Hoffman projects a quiet menace that can break to the surface when provoked. Indeed, it is Hoffman's ability that makes his captivity scene, plus all of his others, work so well.
Probably all that needs to be said about the action is Vic Armstrong. The legendary Armstrong is probably the best action choreographer in history. All of the fights, whether involving guns or flying body parts, are created with masterful skill and conceptualization. One of the best is a helicopter chase through a wind farm. Hunt and his team must race to save one of their own while trying to escape their pursuers at the same time. The climax is even better and employs the same device in more serious circumstances. Abrams accomplishes much with the way he captures it all, although a less shaky camera would be appreciated.
Also at his best is Cruise. Hunt's engagement provides a more human subtext, and I have never seen Tom better. He captures the emotions and pressures of Hunt and redirects them with surprising accuracy. Tears stream down his face for Julia. I have acting experience, and true crying is much more difficult than most people realize. Cruise truly instills life into Ethan Hunt.
The first error is the opener. It is a harrowing two-and-a-half minutes, but the scene is incomplete. 80% of the movie passes before we see its conclusion. I first remembered the preceding action being far shorter because when I first saw it, I kept thinking what everybody else likely was, "When will we *finally* get back to where we started?" The beginning is strong enough without the cliffhanger, and its inclusion backfires later on.
The second deals with the Rabbit's Foot. Benji (Pegg) hypothesizes that it could be an "anti-god." Davian's buyers will pay 850 million dollars for it. All of the threats, deception and violence occur because so many people are scrambling to obtain it. When the conflicts are finally resolved, Hunt asks what we are all wondering, "What is it?" The answer is never given. A writer should never deprive the audience of that which they have conditioned them to desire.
These are not small mistakes, but they do not comprise a large part of the movie. The rest of the movie, from the action, to the acting, to the hero and villain, is all beyond recommendable. I rate this movie an eight of ten, but it could have been a nine or even considered for a maximum score. So much is expertly done. Its failings are like to pimples on a beauty queen's face. Although they are ugly, it is still a dang attractive face.