May is the month of “M:I,” as we look back at the six “Mission: Impossible” films from May 2-10. Next up is the sixth entry, “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” (2018):
Continuation of the themes
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” is a continuation of the themes from writer-director Christopher McQuarrie’s previous effort, “Rogue Nation” (2015), but here he really clicks into gear, filling the first half with intrigue and the back half with action.
This entry continues the series’ trend of never having precisely the same hero lineup, but there’s so much good stuff jammed into the two hours and 27 minutes that we hardly notice the absence of Jeremy Renner’s Brandt, the best addition from the previous two films.
“Mission: Impossible — Fallout” (2018)
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Writers: Bruce Geller, Christopher McQuarrie
Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames
The running time is a minor drawback of “Fallout,” upon theatrical viewing. If you really have to pee, you best do an Ethan Hunt-style full sprint to the bathroom. Not since the 1996 original has it been so important to pay close attention to plot details.
We wonder “Who is on whose side?” and “What are their goals?” Hunt (Tom Cruise) and Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson), established as love interests in the last one, are playing at cross-purposes here, leading to an emotionally tense moment wherein Hunt has to run over Ilsa in his car in order to achieve his ends.
Henry Cavill, the DCEU’s Superman, joins the loaded cast as potential double-agent August Walker, a CIA liaison on this IMF mission. (His mustache here is why it had to be digitally erased for “Justice League” reshoots.) One refreshing thing is that for the first time in a while Hunt and his team have the backing of the U.S. government rather than having to go rogue to save the world.
Good use of its roster
“Fallout” makes good use of all its players. Benji (Simon Pegg) finally gets to wear a mask, and darn if he doesn’t nail his Wolf Blitzer impression. Luther (Ving Rhames) has a nice moment where he outlines Ethan’s heroic qualities to Ilsa.
Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) continues to be a fine villain, riding the momentum from “Rogue Nation.” He and his Syndicate agents again outline their philosophy that widespread suffering will lead to true peace — hence the group plans to detonate a pair of nuclear bombs.
It’s arguably lazy that McQuarrie uses the same villains with the same philosophy in two consecutive movies. However, “Fallout” is so loaded with smaller intrigues that it’s nice to have some knowledge already in our back pocket.
The director ups the action ante in both down-to-earth and spectacular ways. I love ground-based showdowns like when Ethan is running from enemies through Paris and the chase enters the midst of a large congregation in a beautiful old church. Again, McQuarrie is a bigger fan of winking humor than his predecessors on the series – Hunt apologizes to the congregation before resuming his sprint – but I’m OK with it since he doesn’t go too far.
Getting to the chopper
As for the spectacular: The final act amid the mountains of Kashmir speaks for itself as it features a helicopter chase, defusing of two bombs and hand-to-hand combat between a hero and a villain. It’s almost too much, considering how many thrills we’ve had up to that point.
Although the franchise has changed a lot since the beginning, McQuarrie is well aware of its history, making use of a familiar face in the final act. Additionally, it’s suggested that The White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) – a broker between parties dealing illegal goods – might be the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave’s Max from the first movie.
At the well-to-do rave party that provides the setting for the film’s opening fistfights, The White Widow gives a speech saying her mother aimed to shape a good world with money earned from operating in a bad world.
Whether the person is lying or believes it in their heart, as Lane does, “Fallout” is skeptical of the notion of good outcomes arising from evil acts or dirty money. Hunt needs not even be philosophical about this: He always saves the individual even if it puts billions at risk. It’s surprising but also rather refreshing that “Fallout” doesn’t condemn him for it.
I suspect Hunt will continually be tested in future films; McQuarrie will helm the seventh and eighth entries in 2021 and ’22. He might want to invent a new villain to keep things fresh, but the Lane duology goes in the books as a pair of elite intrigue-driven actioners.
Schedule of reviews
Saturday, May 2: “Mission: Impossible” (1996)
Sunday, May 3: “Mission: Impossible II” (2000)
Wednesday, May 6: “Mission: Impossible III” (2006)
Thursday, May 7: “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” (2011)
Saturday, May 9: “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation” (2015)
Sunday, May 10: “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (2018)
Also of interest: Shaune’s rankings of the six “Mission: Impossible” films