Mission Intense

Rating: 9/10 (6 May 2006)

In the opening scene of "Mission: Impossible III", a tortured and bound Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) screams at the villainous Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman),"  I swear to God, I will kill you!" Davian is about to kill someone beloved to Ethan. First time feature Director J.J. Abrams ("Alias" and "Lost") starts full throttle showcasing the sheer intensity of Cruise and Hoffman at the emotional arc. Both Cruise and Hoffman are two of the screen's most intense and driven actors. This dynamic along with the awe inspired stunts fuels "Mission: Impossible III" emerging as a great action thriller. This time around MI:3 is more personal, and generates an emotional investment in it's characters. In the screenplay by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Abrams, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is now a retired operative who trains recruits for the IMF (Impossible Missions Force). Kurtzman, Orci, and Abrams also employ an effective narrative device by opening in the middle of the story, then retracing their path.
No longer in the Game, Ethan has found the love of his life Julia (Michelle Monaghan). They have plans to marry. Julia is a doctor, who has no idea who Ethan really is. Ethan's story is that he works for the Department of Transportation as a traffic planner. Apparently, saving the world from global terrorism is in his past-- until Ethan receives a call from IMF supervisor John Musgrave (mysterious Billy Crudup) during his and Julia's engagement party. Apparently, Ethan's star student, Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell), is missing in action. Lindsey was to uncover the covert operation lead by the deadly international arms dealer Davian (Hoffman). Davian covets an omnipotent weapon called the "rabbit's foot". The "rabbit's foot" refers to the mythological "anti-god" weapon. Ethan's mission: Retrieve Lindsey and reveal the whereabouts of the "rabbit's foot".
Ethan accepts the mission and reunites with best bud Luther Strickell (Ving Rhames), along with new members Declan (charismatic Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and Zhen (stunning and deadly Maggie Q). In the spectacular ensuing operation, things go horribly wrong. Politically savvy IMF Director John Brassel (the great Laurence Fishburne) chastises Ethan and crew for the rash operation. Their new mission targets Davian directly and obtaining the "rabbit's foot". There are also hints of a conspiracy from within.
Once Abrams sets the stage for his story, MI:3 floors into overdrive with non-stop thrills, world class action sequences, and gripping emotion. Ultimately, MI:3 is a conflict of vengeance between Ethan (Cruise) and Davian (Hoffman). In the balance of this outcome is Julia (Monaghan), the love of Ethan's life. Consequently, this installment of "Mission: Impossible" is the most effective and most gratifying. Director and writer Abrams masterfully orchestrates the visuals and action sequences. Those familiar with the movie trailer saw Cruise bouncing of a car from an exploding missile, and Cruise's free fall dive from a skyscraper is heart stopping. Though what really distinguishes MI:3 is the underlying love story and the dynamic hero and villain conflict embodied by Cruise and Hoffman. "Mission: Impossible III" works as personal story of extremes: love versus revenge.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is surprising, powerful, and commanding as the merciless and venomous Owen Davian. Surprising in that this is such a departure from his Academy Award Winning performance in "Capote". Hoffman creates in Davian, a villain whose malevolence is almost visceral. Tom Cruise is his match in intensity. Cruise as Ethan Hunt is powerful, and his intensity and innate charisma serve him well here. As Ethan, Cruise is the classic hero: strong, determined, brave, and compassionate. Cruise performed almost all of his own stunts. Whether he uses martial arts skills to dispatch bad guys or is hurling to the streets on a failed parachute, he displays amazing physicality and spirit. Cruise seems to remain ageless. Michelle Monaghan is captivating and vulnerable as Julia. Keri Russell is very strong as Lindsey. Laurence Fishburne is so effective in a deceiving role as Brassel. Ving Rhames is Ethan's rock. Rhames commands a quite power. Though his Luther should have gotten more screen time, he grounds MI:3 .
Abram's "Mission: Impossible III" is spectacular and stunning eye candy with its mind blowing action and international locales. Although it is its classic story of the forces of good versus the forces of great evil that compel, and for that acknowledge the talents of Tom Cruise and Philip Seymour Hoffman. At its heart MI:3 is also a love story that provides its emotional stake. MI:3 is well worth watching.