Since its debut in May 1996, Mission: Impossible has had an indelible impact on modern action cinema. Based on the 1966 espionage series created by Bruce Geller, Mission: Impossible is one of the few franchises that consistently offers audiences a taste of the ‘old-fashioned’ blockbusters with impressive stunts and practical effects.
At this point, it is clear that Tom Cruise is the immovable axis on which this whole world of espionage pivots, thanks to his commitment to providing as much spectacle as possible. The last installment in the series, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning stands as a tribute to both Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and the long-running, thriving saga.
In Cruise’s final rodeo as Ethan Hunt, “the world is changing, truth is vanishing, war is coming.” The premise is a continuation of the plot of Dead Reckoning Part One and centers on a rogue artificial intelligence called “The Entity,” which is capable of manipulating global technology systems and is bent on seizing all nuclear weapons to eradicate humanity. The Entity is, of course, an omnipresent, elusive enemy, and to make matters worse, it is being supported by a doomsday cult, which, for some strange reason, desires the annihilation of everything and everyone.
In this sequel, Ethan and his IMF friends must access and override The Entity’s source code to prevent a nuclear apocalypse. To do so, the superspy is forced to navigate all manner of adversity, from harrowing underwater escapes in icy seas hundreds of feet below the surface, to long aerial chases in classic biplanes, to brutal hand-to-hand combat. After all, it wouldn’t be a Mission: Impossible film without Agent Hunt challenging every conceivable limit. As Commander Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins) astutely observed in MI:2: “It’s not ‘Mission Difficult’, is it?”
Fortunately, the main characters of Dead Reckoning Part One are back, including seasoned computer scientist Luther (Ving Rhames), resourceful communications technician Benji (Simon Pegg), as well as former thief-turned-agent Grace (Hayley Atwell). They are joined by new and lethal allies Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis). The Entity’s former henchman, Gabriel (ably played by Puerto Rican actor Esai Morales), once again emerges as the antagonist with a disconcerting relationship with the A.I. to say the least.
With a budget of between 300 and 400 million dollars, this production spares no detail. The high-octane story, set from London to South Africa via the most exotic stops, is notable for its impressive level of production and incredibly intricate and breathtaking sequences. It is action cinema at its purest, and it is immediately clear that Cruise is still a daredevil when it comes to performing ambitious (almost superhuman) stunts that few actors would ever consider pulling off.
Written by Erik Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning offers a sense of closure for the franchise while examining the potential dangers of A.I., global nuclear systems, and the future of humanity in an increasingly technological world. It also leaves us with a subtle commentary on the importance of human connection and the responsibility that comes with personal choices.
For those of us who appreciate Tom Cruise’s increasingly flashy and dangerous stunts, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a delightful treat. Will it be Cruise’s last mission as an action hero? Time and the box office will tell. For now, the actor has said goodbye in style and with an open heart.
