Mission: Achieved

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2006)

Mission: Achieved There is a trend in recent movies to open with a scene that occurs later in the film. Alternatively, there may be a voice-over explaining something that occurs near the end of the story. Many films have opened with this device over the years, but it seems to be an epidemic lately. Only a handful of films have ever really used the open-book foreshadowing to maximum effect. Were it not for the example in Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) latest impossible mission, I may have been tempted to give this film an even better grade.
As it stands, "Mission: Impossible III" is still a really top-notch action blockbuster that comes closer to the superb 1996 classic than it does to the woeful 2000 dud sequel, directed by the pitiful John Woo.
I wish this film hadn't opened with Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) counting to ten in front of a bound and gagged Ethan Hunt, imploring him to divulge the whereabouts of the 'Rabbit's Foot' or else condemn his girlfriend to a bullet in the brain. I would have much preferred to have that scene take me by surprise later in the film. It would have had more impact.
However, on to the good stuff...
After settling down with a nice girl, Ethan Hunt has retired into training mode rather than being a field-operative. His girlfriend, his friends, her family... They all think Ethan is a nice young man working for the highway traffic research department.
Of course, seeing as there wouldn't be a movie without it, there is a scene where he is talked into returning for one last crucial mission -- saving a captured operative that Ethan once trained, named Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell).
In a spectacularly gritty action sequence, Ethan rescues Lindsey from a heavily guarded warehouse and then takes her on a helicopter ride from hell amidst a field full of gigantic energy windmills.
There are about half-a-dozen insanely impossible missions scattered throughout the two-hour running length. One involves negotiating the catacombs of the Vatican. One involves an utterly decimated bridge. One has Ethan restrained like Hannibal Lecter. One has him swinging between skyscrapers in Shanghai. And one has him journey to the afterlife.
J.J. Abrams, of TV's "Lost" fame, directs this mega-flick with a modicum of coherence, something coincidentally 'lost' on most action directors these days. At no time during this film did I feel 'lost' during hectic sequences. He is sure-handed enough to tell this story without resorting to incomprehensible mess to cover up the parts that audiences wouldn't normally buy.
Tom Cruise plays his signature role with the self-assurance of a seasoned pro. He is in desperate need of some good press... and I think he deserves some for this thankless film. It is not the type of film that critics like to applaud too loudly... after all, this is pure entertainment. But he is brilliant here as the American version of James Bond.
Ving Rhames also returns as Luther, the suave and oh so confident techno-geek. Ethan's new team members include Zhen, played with elegance and sexy confidence by Maggie Q, and a rather subdued character named Declan played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (recently seen in "Match Point").
Michelle Monaghan plays Julia, Ethan's main squeeze. She is that 'perfect girlfriend' type... A beautiful nurse who trusts Ethan and all his mysterious secrecy. She is assuredly a new movie star and will soon be offered dozens of 'girlfriendy' roles.
One real surprise was a brief but quite astonishing performance from Keri Russell, who seemed to virtually disappear after ending her title role in the critically acclaimed TV drama "Felicity". She plays so much against her delicate image here that it blew my mind. Perhaps that is the reason she took the role.
As for Oscar winning Philip Seymour Hoffman... I am not sure that he gets enough screen time as the villainous Owen Davian, but when he does, he is dastardly vicious and cold-hearted. He was an inspired choice for this role.
Overall, the film delivers all that is promised. I wish they hadn't tried to get clever with that opening scene choice, but the rest of the film redeemed itself. The stunts were inventive and exciting. The characters were more human than they were in either of the two previous efforts. The story had more emotion than most entries in the genre. "Mission: Impossible III", should you choose to accept it, is going to end up as one of the best action films of 2006. This review will self-destruct in 5-seconds... ... ... ... ... psssshhhht.
TC Candler IndependentCritics.com