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"Mission: Kill the
Bad Guys & Save the
Girl" |
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Directed by J.J. Abrams
- Written by Alex
Kurtzman & Roberto Orci
Starring Tom Cruise,
Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Michelle Monaghan, Keri
Russell
Distributed by Paramount -
2006 - 126m - Rated PG13 |
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Mission...Impossible? Nah, Ethan Hunt's on the case... |
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The
three “Mission: Impossible” films have all been radically different.
The first one, under Brian DePalma’s direction, was sophisticated and
complicated with an almost European feel to it (it also had a no
characterization whatsoever). Part two, under John Woo’s direction,
was a dumb, loud, over-the-top demonstration of slow motion. Now, part
three, under JJ Abram’s direction, feels like a combination of the
last two. It’s pretty smart (as far as summer blockbusters go) and
it’s filled with wild and intense gun battles and chases. I have now
given all three “Mission: Impossible” movies a “B,” and even though
these films are part of the same series, the grade has been given for
completely different reasons.
JJ Abrams was a good choice to helm “M:I-3.” Those who have watched
“Alias” and “Lost” could tell you that. He brings style, wit and
intensity to a film that could have been a simple retread of the
previous films. If you take the espionage scenes by themselves, this
is the best “Mission: Impossible” yet.
The reason for the action? The evil Owen Davian (Phillip Seymour
Hoffman) is trafficking arms and it is up to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)
to save the day. Naturally, in true “M:I” style, things are blown up,
shot and those nifty disguises and gadgets are put to good use. Ving
Rhames is back as Hunt’s partner, Luther, and Laurence Fishburne,
Simon Pegg and a multitude of others join the cast.
The new cast is put to fine use here. The last two films have
essentially been the “Tom Cruise Show,” with Ethan Hunt running around
shooting things by himself. Abrams wisely makes the action here a
“team effort.” It’s boring to watch Tom Cruise Rambo his way through a
hundred henchmen. It’s exciting to watch four people cleverly work
together to outsmart their adversaries. This leads to one of the most
exciting action scenes in recent memory: a covert infiltration of
Vatican City.
Just about all of the action works in “M:I-3.” The villain, played by
the ever-brilliant Hoffman, is fantastic. The idea of our heroes being
SPIES, not action heroes gives the entire film an interesting
perspective.
Why the B?
There are two reasons. One is a valid complaint and the other is
unprofessional and childish.
The valid complaint is that Abrams attempts to characterize Hunt and
the other characters. However, everyone is so broadly drawn that the
relationship subplot falls completely flat. These are characters that
work best when they are simplified…no one in this film is even close
to being complex enough to make me care about them. The action is
broken up by sentimental drivel, and the final shot is bone-chillingly
similar to the final shot in “Lethal Weapon 4” (perhaps the worst
ending of all time).
The second complaint is…well…Tom Cruise. The man has pretty much gone
bonkers in the real world and since Ethan Hunt requires Tom Cruise to
play, well, Tom Cruise, it becomes hard to watch him. Adding to this,
Hunt’s girlfriend (played by Michelle Monaghan) looks so much Katie
Holmes that you expect (as my friend put it) Tom Cruise to announce
that he has “eaten the placenta” in the middle of the movie.
Am I saying Cruise is a bad actor? No. He is often brilliant. However,
like many actors, when he is not playing a real role, he is playing
himself. Did this figure very much into my final grade? Not really.
People who watch this years down the road will probably have no
problem with it. But right now…it sticks out in a scary way.
Cruise’s personal life aside, this is a competent and fun film and a
fantastic directing debut for Abrams. Considering his television
projects and “M:I-3,” this is certainly not the last time we’ll hear
from him. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
Email Me! |
TC Candler's
Comment
Mission: Achieved
There is a trend in recent movies to open with a
scene that occurs later in the film.
Alternatively, there may be a voice-over
explaining something that occurs near the end of
the story. Many films have opened with this
device over the years, but it seems to be an
epidemic lately. Only a handful of films have
ever really used the open-book foreshadowing to
maximum effect. Were it not for the example in
Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) latest impossible
mission, I may have been tempted to give this
film an even better grade.
As it stands, "Mission: Impossible III" is still
a really top-notch action blockbuster that comes
closer to the superb 1996 classic than it does
to the woeful 2000 dud sequel, directed by the
pitiful John Woo.
I wish this film hadn't opened with Owen Davian
(Philip Seymour Hoffman) counting to ten in
front of a bound and gagged Ethan Hunt,
imploring him to divulge the whereabouts of the
'Rabbit's Foot' or else condemn his girlfriend
to a bullet in the brain. I would have much
preferred to have that scene take me by surprise
later in the film. It would have had more
impact.
However, on to the good stuff...
After settling down with a nice girl, Ethan Hunt
has retired into training mode rather than being
a field-operative. His girlfriend, his friends,
her family... They all think Ethan is a nice
young man working for the highway traffic
research department.
Of course, seeing as there wouldn't be a movie
without it, there is a scene where he is talked
into returning for one last crucial mission --
saving a captured operative that Ethan once
trained, named Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell).
In a spectacularly gritty action sequence, Ethan
rescues Lindsey from a heavily guarded warehouse
and then takes her on a helicopter ride from
hell amidst a field full of gigantic energy
windmills.
There are about half-a-dozen insanely impossible
missions scattered throughout the two-hour
running length. One involves negotiating the
catacombs of the Vatican. One involves an
utterly decimated bridge. One has Ethan
restrained like Hannibal Lecter. One has him
swinging between skyscrapers in Shanghai. And
one has him journey to the afterlife.
J.J. Abrams, of TV's "Lost" fame, directs this
mega-flick with a modicum of coherence,
something coincidentally 'lost' on most action
directors these days. At no time during this
film did I feel 'lost' during hectic sequences.
He is sure-handed enough to tell this story
without resorting to incomprehensible mess to
cover up the parts that audiences wouldn't
normally buy.
Tom Cruise plays his signature role with the
self-assurance of a seasoned pro. He is in
desperate need of some good press... and I think
he deserves some for this thankless film. It is
not the type of film that critics like to
applaud too loudly... after all, this is pure
entertainment. But he is brilliant here as the
American version of James Bond.
Ving Rhames also returns as Luther, the suave
and oh so confident techno-geek. Ethan's new
team members include Zhen, played with elegance
and sexy confidence by Maggie Q, and a rather
subdued character named Declan played by
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (recently seen in "Match
Point").
Michelle Monaghan plays Julia, Ethan's main
squeeze. She is that 'perfect girlfriend'
type... A beautiful nurse who trusts Ethan and
all his mysterious secrecy. She is assuredly a
new movie star and will soon be offered dozens
of 'girlfriendy' roles.
One real surprise was a brief but quite
astonishing performance from Keri Russell, who
seemed to virtually disappear after ending her
title role in the critically acclaimed TV drama
"Felicity". She plays so much against her
delicate image here that it blew my mind.
Perhaps that is the reason she took the role.
As for Oscar winning Philip Seymour Hoffman... I
am not sure that he gets enough screen time as
the villainous Owen Davian, but when he does, he
is dastardly vicious and cold-hearted. He was an
inspired choice for this role.
Overall, the film delivers all that is promised.
I wish they hadn't tried to get clever with that
opening scene choice, but the rest of the film
redeemed itself. The stunts were inventive and
exciting. The characters were more human than
they were in either of the two previous efforts.
The story had more emotion than most entries in
the genre. "Mission: Impossible III", should you
choose to accept it, is going to end up as one
of the best action films of 2006. This review
will self-destruct in 5-seconds... ... ... ...
... psssshhhht.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
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