Product: Mission: Impossible (1996)
Rating: 4.0
Brian DePalma?
For some reason, I was a bit surprised to find Mr. De Palma involved in recreating a television series for the screen. Then, again, why not? Many of us fondly remember Peter Graves receiving his assignment, which we know he will not refuse, though being offered that option. The team which then took over was pretty ingenious but had none of the technology which was to be invented by the mid-nineties. With the help of these devices available when the film was made, DePalma directed a tricky production in which the interrelationships among people are as important as those among hardware. The result is interesting. Jon Voight has the heft to play the senior team director while Tom Cruise seems a bit lightweight to be the team leader ( though he emotes adequately). Other members of the cast meet their specifications as good guys (of either sex) or villains sufficiently well to meet the limited demands put upon them.All in all, a good theatrical conversion of a television show more limited in time to rehearse and time to fill with action. Motivated me to get the two sequels which I have not yet seen.