Review of Mission Impossible (1971) by Radek C — 19 Dec 2011

Mission: Impossible, inspired by the old TV series, is the first in a now four-film franchise, and generally works as an exciting, over-the-top spy movie. On a technical level, there are virtually no flaws at all, with Scarface and The Untouchables director Brian De Palma crafting a slick, stylish, action-packed, and well-made film, that keeps you engaged and holds your attention throughout its 110-minute runtime.

The acting, for the most part, is also good, if unremarkable, with Tom Cruise managing to turn in a decent performance as Ethan Hunt despite his superstar persona. Jon Voight plays well against type as the traitorous IMF agent Jim Phelps, and Ving Rhames, Emmanuelle Beart, Jean Reno, and Henry Czerny round out a strong supporting cast.

The main problem with the film is the story and characters themselves, which tend to take a strong backseat to the action. Despite the involvement of acclaimed screenwriters David Koepp, Robert Towne, and Steven Zaillian, they fail to make the audience connect with the characters, and don't help the problem by making a story that's near-impossible to decipher.

I give them credit for attempting to craft a tale that doesn't insult the intelligence, unlike most summer blockbusters these days, and they do attempt to create a sense of continuity, but the story simply isn't engaging enough, and the climax, despite its technical wizardry, falls a tad flat as a result.

The ending implies that the missions of Ethan Hunt will continue, and while the first Mission: Impossible was probably a mission worth accepting, I doubt it will inspire many repeat viewings.