Ethan Hunt returns to the big screen for what may be his final adventure in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” produced by Paramount Pictures. Director Christopher McQuarrie is back at the helm for his sixth collaboration with Tom Cruise. McQuarrie pens the screenplay with Erik Jendresen.
When we last saw Ethan and his team, consisting of Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames), they were grieving the loss of Isla (Rebecca Ferguson) while trying to track down Gabriel (Esai Morales), who had escaped. Ethan also gained two new allies: Gabriel’s former henchman, Paris (Pom Klementieff), and thief-turned-I.M.F. agent, Grace (Hayley Atwell).
Two months later, amid global chaos caused by the Entity, President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) personally reaches out to Ethan for help taking down Gabriel. However, complications arise with the involvement of Kittridge (Henry Czerny), the former director of the IMF, and bumbling agent Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham), who is determined to track Ethan down.
Although I’ve never watched the original show, I’ve always been aware of the franchise’s iconic status. It’s hard to believe that the franchise is nearly thirty years old and has eight installments. Popular opinion suggests that each film improves upon the previous one, with the latest entry running almost three hours. This installment maintains the formula, bringing the franchise to a respectable conclusion.
Cruise still defies all logic with stunts while tapping into his movie star charm, and I appreciated that Hunt takes his share of hits and doesn’t have plot armor. Nearly everyone in the cast gets a moment to shine, particularly returning cast members Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff, who deliver scene-stealing performances in their action sequences.
Esai Morales delivers an impressive performance as a villain, and I would love to see him in a comic book adaptation. The supporting cast also shines, with standout performances from Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, and Holt McCallany. I must also highlight the melanin magic of Greg Tarzan Davis as Degas and Tramell Tillman as Captain Bledsoe, who become new allies to Ethan. Finally, the incomparable Angela Bassett nails her role as the President; one of her scenes gave me chills.
“Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning” is a solid conclusion to the franchise. It offers an unforgettable cinematic experience packed with adrenaline-fueled action, a gripping storyline, and standout performances that leave a lasting impression worthy of the franchise’s legacy.
Final Grade: B+
“Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning” opens in theatres on Thursday, May 22nd.
P.S. Shell out the extra money to see it in IMAX.
Aldis Hodge is back on the case as Alex Cross for Season 2 of Prime Video’s “Cross”. Ben Watkins returns as showrunner, with directors including Stacy Muhammad and Craig Siebels.
Civil War dramas often measure valor through cannon fire and cavalry charges. However, “The Gray House*“valuates valor through coded messages, calculated risks, and the steady nerves of women who understood that information could be deadlier than any rifle. This eight-episode limited series reframes the conflict not from the battlefield, but from the drawing rooms of Richmond, where loyalty is performed, and survival depends on silence.
It’s been a month since I finished my first run at Sundance, and I’m finally getting the chance to see some of the films I missed as they began to premiere. One of those films is “In the Blink of an Eye,” which is available on Hulu. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton and written by Colby Day.