Review of Mission Impossible (1971) by David P — 30 Jul 2015

The original "Mission Impossible" contains several intriguing plot turns that elevate the stakes just a slight bit above typical action fare, particularly when coupled with excellent performances from Tom Cruise and Jon Voight.

The excellent first act is wonderfully subversive of the direction one expects the film to go in, anchoring Ethan Hunt firmly in serious loss and failure. The plot thickens from there, and even if the direct links between characters are sometimes blurry, the film overcomes a cornball final action sequence on the strength of its stars and the heft lent to the proceedings by the plot.