Review of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) by Markus R — 21 Dec 2015

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is probably my favorite so far in the series. It is nothing original, but simply the manifestation of perfected formula. It's characters, plot elements and many ideas were handpicked from a bin of action movie cliches, but they are gathered together to create a film with undeniable style. It has very sharp, elegant visuals of high tech heists and high class operas coupled with a thrilling, subtly dark energy. We've seen everything in this movie many times before, but it's so well-done here that it's hard to criticize. It has genuinely awesome, gripping action sequences, such as the shootout at the opera, the replacement of the chip in the underwater vault and the final chase scene that ends with Lane in a glass box, which was brilliant. Part of the reason the film succeeds is also its intelligence. Instead of performing crazy stunts and blowing up everything, the impossible mission here involves making very clever decisions in the face of difficult circumstances. The film makes you think, something few action films do.

The acting is good, but generic and there are little dashes of humor here and there along with some seldom hiccups of awkward/corny dialogue. Ethan Hunt is hard to relate to because he is such a mythic, unrealistic character, "the manifestation of destiny". He gets away with everything. The narrative is largely derivative because you know at the end everything will tie up into a perfect knot. Another strength of the film is the leading lady because she is the most complex character in the film. She provides an intriguing and emotionally engaging performance, unlike the stock action heroes the film is populated with. We relate to her because she's caught in limbo between two sides and we can't figure out who's side she's on. She's also a talented fighter who's capable of defending herself in a film dominated by men. It's refreshing to see a strong female role in an action film and Rebecca Ferguson brings grace and cool confidence to the movie.