Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning - Ethan Hunt and I

Mission Impossible  - The Final Reckoning

English / Spy / Action
169 mins
In Cinemas 

LONG POST ALERT

Prologue

You are warned — reading this is a mission if you “choose” to accept. This is an exposition — much like most of Final Reckoning. Much like the movie, this article will talk about everything Tom Cruise (as Ethan Hunt) means to this franchise and may induce melancholy. Much like I was during the movie, you might be frustrated with the pacing of this article and find yourself tearing your hair out, yelling “Get a move on!”

However, much like Ethan Hunt goads the POTUS to “Trust me — one last time”, having given nearly 30 years to this franchise, you may just want to do that! After all, our life is a sum of our infinite choices, and you may choose to accept this mission — or not (but I’m sure you will!). This message will probably self-destruct in five minutes 😁

The Exposition

Back in 1996, the first Mission: Impossible opened in India on the weekend of October 4/5 — a good four months after its U.S. release on May 22, 1996 (an important date in Final Reckoning). I remember taking a bus to Shivaji Nagar, then walking to Plaza Theatre (which is now the MG Road metro station) to stand in line for advance tickets. I recall waiting for about an hour —standing in line  twice — because we were four people and could only buy two tickets per person.

It was a Friday afternoon, and I remember the theatre was testing the print and the sound. The iconic theme by Lalo Schifrin (this version) played multiple times. Standing outside in line, we were all cheering. Plaza was an art deco theatre with average sound — but in the ’80s/’90s Bangalore, only a few cinemas screened English movies.

Given the delayed release, we had heard plenty of press and word-of-mouth about this cool spy movie — the anticipation was palpable. The next day, the movie experience was divine! I will admit, the “each person’s version of the event” structure had me stumped, but the iconic vault break-in and the fight on top of the TGV had me gloating. While Top Gun had happened (which I saw a couple of years earlier at the age of 12/13 — English movies were a big deal back then), Mission: Impossible made me a follower.

When the second instalment released (arguably the weakest in the franchise — you could skip it unless you’re a completionist!), I was in the middle of engineering college. A couple of my friends and I (one of whom will definitely know if he reads this!) wished we had that hair. One of us even managed to find a replica of those glasses from the bike chase!

Almost 30 years after the first film, the latest entry opened in India on a Saturday morning (rare!) — a full week before its North American release. That says something about how much we’ve grown as a country and as a market. Credit, of course, to the 62-year-old Tom Cruise, who still draws people to theatres. (His last two movies have made over $2 billion at the box office!)

Over the 30 Years, Across 8 Movies, Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt Has:

• Rock climbed in Utah with no gear

• Climbed the Burj Khalifa in a jaw-dropping sequence

• Held his breath for 6.5 minutes underwater

• HALO jumped into Paris

• Hung on to the door of a military aircraft

• Flown a helicopter in a climactic battle

• Jumped off a cliff on a dirt bike, base-jumped, and parachuted onto a moving train

• And now… hanging from the wings of a biplane!

Not to mention:

• Countless heart-pounding bike/car chases (Rome, Paris, Morocco)

• The greatest skirmish ever filmed in a men’s bathroom

• And my personal favourite — those breathtaking runs in Kyiv, London, Paris, Venice, Sydney, Shanghai..

That is the  commitment Tom Cruise brings to cinema — realism and effort that fans value more than just the on-screen stunts. This is what I salute, because I too believe the right kind of cinema is meant to be enjoyed on the big screen.

If You’ve Gotten This Far…

…you, my friend, much like me – chose to accept the mission.

Final Reckoning is Dead Reckoning – Part 2 (its original title). You’ll definitely benefit from watching all previous films, as this one calls back to even the tiniest details. Some are subtle, most are integral to the murky plotting and characterizations.

The first 60% of the movie plays out like a reckoning for Ethan Hunt. Every character and scene reminds him — and us — of the consequences of his past choices. The mission briefing almost feels like an Oscar In Memoriam montage, setting the tone for what to expect. Many characters are revealed, many more introduced. Everyone gets a chance to emote and contribute to the nostalgia trip. Anything more would be a spoiler.

This is definitely writer-director Christopher McQuarrie’s weakest entry (he’s helmed the last four films). The movie feels like the second part of a five-hour cut. It might have worked better as a standalone like Fallout (widely acknowledged as the best). Many scenes could have been trimmed; a lot of the political exposition could have been cut. Even the humour is dialled down due to the serious premise.

The plots in these movies have always been outlines — not to be taken too seriously. Unfortunately, this one tries a bit too hard to be relevant, focusing on the perils of AI and global power structures. While it aims to wrap up the larger narrative, some of the exposition could’ve been traded for two or three more action set pieces or classic face-swaps!

When It Kicks Into Gear…

…you get the best of Ethan Hunt — doing the impossible. The underwater sequence is so nerve-shredding, the entire theatre went silent — I even stopped biting down on my nachos! The aerial scene is so thrilling and realistic, it ranks among the greatest action moments ever filmed. And yes, we get to see the run — and it thrilled me to the bone!

Cinematography is beautiful — sometimes too intimate, with close-ups of teary eyes (for an action movie!). The underwater lighting and staging are GOAT-tier. The locations are stunning, as always. The score is functional but not outstanding — I missed Lorne Balfe, whose energy defined Fallout and beyond (he apparently dropped out due to scheduling conflicts).

Pom Klementieff gets satisfying payback — she’s terrific. The last two movies had the weakest antagonist in Gabriel. Hayley Atwell spends much of the movie looking shocked, but she’s earnest and emotional. New additions like Hannah Waddingham (as an Admiral in a curious American accent) and Tramell Tillman (as a submarine captain) make a solid impact.  Simon Pegg’s Benji gets a lovely arc, as does Ving Rhames as Luther, who gets a beautiful segment. Angela Bassett, as POTUS, brings gravitas. 

Epilogue

Ultimately, the movie rests heavily on Tom Cruise’s 62-year-old shoulders and naturally aging face. He still carries it — manfully and brilliantly. You watch, mouth agape, thighs trembling, as the skin on his face nearly peels off from the wind force while hanging off a biplane. Who knows how much more he has left in the tank — especially as an action star — but thank you, Tom Cruise, for existing as Ethan Hunt in my lifetime.