Review of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) by Harry W — 31 Jul 2016

With the Mission: Impossible series rising to an all new standard with the release of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation had some big shoes to fill.

While the first three Mission: Impossible films all had such difference to them that they played out like independent entities which happened to feature Tom Cruise each time, Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation is the first film in the series to actually have key relevance to its predecessor. The narrative of Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol carries over into its sequel with multiple characters which finally implements a relevant serial narrative into the series. The story still has generic conventions to it which adhere to familiar elements of countless action films inside and outside of the series, but it is engaging on a basis that Christopher McQuarrie finds a way to keep it intense and intelligent. The story follows a predictable structure, but the twists and turns keep viewers guessing while the atmosphere remains rich thanks to the powerful drama implemented in by the screenplay and the support of Joe Kraemer's musical score. The story manages to keep moving along at a consistent pace while using its stylish assets to keep audiences enamoured. For Christopher McQuarrie it's a large step up because his Academy Award winning skills as a writer have not always supported him greatly as a director with The Way of the Gun (2000) and Jack Reacher (2012) being far less-engaging on a narrative level despite good visuals. With Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation, the man brings his absolute A-game and tackles the film with fearless tenacity that proves he really can do wonders in the director's chair.

It's difficult for me to determine whether I consider Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation to be a better film than Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Both films are undoubtedly the true highlight of the series, but Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol's clearest element of superiority is the presence of the most innovative gadgets from the series so far which Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation comes up short on. However, the fifth entry also has the claim of carrying the finest action scenes of the entire series.

Very early into Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, the film creates an immediate display of its action. Opening early on with the sight of Tom Cruise having actually attached himself to the side of a moving plane, the dedication of the production to real stunts becomes clear. Soon after, audiences are treated to strongly-choreographed fight scenes which are shot and edited with the same precision the actors use to fight their way through them. Characters fight in close contact throughout a series of locations, and the director of photography proves capable of capturing much more than this. With a use of slowly-moving long shots, Robert Elswith builds atmosphere during the sniper moments while a use of wider-angled tracking shots and quicker cuts brings the glory of the big chase scene to maximum prominence. The.

Car chase sequence in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is of the highest calibre the series has ever offered with quality that borders on territory of The Fast and the Furious film series (2001-present). The visual effects assist the film at times, but the majority of the stunts in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation are practical which is very refreshing in contemporary Hollywood. And even when the film isn't caught up in its action, the scenery and production design produces a convincing backdrop for the story.

Tom Cruise can be largely credited to the success of the action scenes. With an undying passion for action cinema, Tom Cruise brings his remarkable physical skills back to the role of Ethan Hunt for a fifth effective performance. Doing his own stunts and fight scenes with passionate swift energy, Tom Cruise kicks ass at a tenaciously confident rate in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. The man's physical energy is at its highest during the action scenes, but he also uses it to project intensity in the more character-oriented moments. He tenses himself up with realistic twitches during the most intense moments of the story, but most of the time he stands with a firmly confident stature and strong grip on his weaponry. Tom Cruise is intense inside and out, and his line delivery is as strong as ever. With a perfect understanding of the universe he has worked within for so many films, Tom Cruise conveys the fearless confidence of the protagonist and uses it to create dramatic chemistry with his surrounding cast members and an occasional joke here and there. Tom Cruise delivers another powerful performance in the role of Ethan Hunt, and his traits are still yet to grow tiresome.

But it is Simon Pegg who steals the screen in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Having proved his skills as effective comic relief in the preceding Mission: Impossible film, Simon Pegg takes the chance to expand and add to them in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Simon Pegg keeps bringing humour to the film, but he breathes a new level of dramatic strength into the role of Benjamin "Benji" Dunn because he remains more intense than ever in the role while still keeping funny. His gimmicks never grow tiresome, and his increased dramatic charisma offers some really powerful material to the film. Simon Pegg is an extremely powerful presence in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, and it makes a strong showcase for some of the best dramatic work in his career.

Jeremy Renner returns with a supporting performance that carries strong sophistication to it. Rebecca Ferguson is convincingly unpredictable, Alec Baldwin makes a firm effort and Sean Harris makes a cleverly manipulative antagonist. The return of Luther Stickell is also most welcome as it pays fan service to Ving Rhames' audience.

Under the intense direction of Christopher McQuarrie, Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation maintains the new standard for the series with a pair of powerful performances from Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg and a large supply of incredible action scenes.