Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Movie Review

Mission Impossible is one of the most venerable action franchises in film; it’s also a rare case of a series which has gotten better and better over time. After a four year wait, the series has returned once again with Rogue Nation, potentially claiming the distinction of best summer action film of 2015 in the process.

The film picks up immediately after the previous film with IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in pursuit of the omnipresent Syndicate organisation. What is it and what do they want? It’s Ethan’s job to find out and after a relatively straightforward opening action sequence, the likes of Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) all get roped into a highly unpredictable, highly entertaining thrill ride which takes them to multiple locations around the world. Building on top of the layer Ghost Protocol created, the mission this time around is more a game of wits; the Syndicate is no easy opponent and Ethan and his team must not only beat them at their own game, but also avoid the prying eyes of the CIA, led by Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) who seeks to shut down the IMF following their less than subtle operating procedures. The shadowy nature of the organisations present leads to far more twists and turns than you’d expect in the series, which adds to the tried and true formula of intense action sequences broken up by more subdued character driven moments. The franchise’s extravagance is also intact, with flashy scenes in Austria and London showing off the high tech gadgets the series is known for. In short, Rogue Nation gives us increased stakes and a faster pace, setting the film apart from its predecessors while also giving it a different kind of tone; something which the series has prided itself on with different directors over the years.

If you’ve seen any of the previous films in the Missions Impossible series then you’ll know exactly what to expect from the simple yet strong main characters; Tom Cruise is once again great as Ethan Hunt, bringing both an array of emotions and an exemplary physical contribution to the proceedings. Simon Pegg is just as good as he was in Ghost Protocol, maintaining the comic relief a second time. Going into the film, I had a sinking suspicion that Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson would be under-used as a love interest, but nothing could be further from the truth; her performance as Ilsa Faust is highly detailed and thoughtful. Throughout most of the film it’s difficult to tell just what her motivations are and this creates even more unpredictability in the plot. Dare I say it; she could match Tom Cruise in terms of acting prowess in the series despite not always holding the spotlight. Rounding off our package of protagonists is Ving Rhames as Luther; it’s great to see him make a full comeback after his absence in Ghost Protocol. Even the villain (played by Sean Harris), a major sore point of the previous film, is far more developed and fleshed out, with proper ties to both the characters and the plot as opposed to the sake of simply having an antagonist. The returning characters of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation are just as well-rounded and developed as you’d expect, but the newcomers could be even better, elevating the film above the “play it safe” routine of many sequels.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation proves once again that the series is second to none when it comes to physical stunt work in the action genre. You’ve already seen Tom Cruise hanging on for dear life from the side of a A400 Airbus cargo plane, but like the other films in the series, Rogue Nation always has a trick up its sleeve. The film’s finest moment comes around hallway through, where a trio of fantastic and well-crafted set piece moments in Morocco come roaring in one after the other; it’s riveting stuff, the best of which I won’t spoil here. The cinematography remains top notch across every action scene, making use of a variety of angles to really transport the audience into the action. The music is just as strong, matching every scene with its arrangement and variation. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation wouldn’t have worked as well as it does without great stunt work and special effects; I’m happy to report that the filmmakers still have a strong understanding of what makes the franchise work.

Mission Impossible Rogue Nation is easily the biggest and best of the entire series. Its breakneck pacing, intense stunts and strong characters all coalesce perfectly in one of the best action films of the year. It’s also great to see it break the trend of bad fifth entries in film franchises. There’s absolutely no reason to miss this terrific thrill-ride if you’re a fan of action or films in general.

Rating: 5/5 Stars