Film: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
The world's ending again and we're riding on the Cruise factor for the last time. After 7 Mission: Impossible blockbusters, each generally bigger than the last, this is finally the end of Cruise throwing himself off buildings.
What struck me most were the life skills on display throughout:
Leadership - knowing when to let your employees try it their way and trusting them to do the job without sharing the ins and outs
Trusting your instinct
Living without regrets (something Ethan clearly struggles with)
The importance of friendships (in impossible situations)
The film had plenty of flashbacks including references to Ethan’s wife, adding some welcome reminders.
We are used to Americans coming off as arrogant/bad in most (American) action films, but this time they were saved by the female president, who returned in the shape of Angela Bassett. Though I may have missed the significance of why her son was being talked about.
The MI bingo card got a good workout:
Masks worn - one (classic!)
Planes chased and subsequently hung from - one (Cruise never disappoints)
Underwater without proper attire - one (how does he hold his breath that long?)
Asking for trust - one (or maybe five, I lost count)
Riding a motorbike precariously - none I recall
A trusted member of the team who is disloyal: I think only one
Watching famous city skylines disappear - many
I did second-guess a few lines (I recall shouting 'the internet!' in my head before the character said it) so it’s maybe a tiny bit predictable in places. But you don't go to see MI (or any spy action) for the realism. You go to see the tech and spectacle.
I liked the two conversations happening at the same time approach - clever filmmaking that saved a bit of screen time without losing any impact.
The real testament to how good it was? I went in tired (evening films are usually no-gos for me) and expecting to need the loo. I came out 3 hours later, having never left the seat I clung onto frequently. We didn't even finish my box of Maltesers - and that NEVER happens.
A fitting end to Cruise's impossible journey.
8½/10
PS I did go to the cinema last week too, but for only the second time in memory, I walked out. Sadly, we sat through an hour of The Surfer first. This adds a new category of Nic Cage films: unwatchable. Previously, we only had good and bonkers-but-watch-as-it 's-Nic Cage.