Virtually ageless Tom Cruise is back as fearless Agent Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible-Fallout”. “Fallout” may be the best summer movie of 2018. I think Writer and Director Christopher McQuarrie’s “Mission: Impossible” sequel is one of the best action movies of all-time. Tom performs all of his own stunts like skydiving out of a military cargo jet over Paris in the helmeted pressure suit. In fact production on “Fallout” halted when Tom broke his ankle leaping between buildings.
Rob Hardy’s breathtaking and pristine cinematography captures the adrenaline rush as Tom races on his motorcycle through cluttered traffic in Paris or when he soars his helicopter to catch his adversary’s over the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir. McQuarrie electrifies in the restroom fight scene as Tom and Henry Cavill’s Agent Walker throw down with martial arts expert Liang Yang. Relentless punches, elbows, and kicks awe for several minutes.
Christopher’s “Fallout” is by far the best “Mission: Impossible”, elevated in pulse-pounding action accelerating throughout 2 hours and 30 minutes. Chris’s story is nearly too convoluted in its betrayal. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by its emotional gravitas, and Tom Cruise’s authentic humanity.
The good man is the Hero. In a signature scene, an innocent women police officer stops Ethan and his team’s escape. While Ethan convinces the officer to let them pass, a villain mercilessly shoots her down. Enraged, Ethan shoots down all five men. Character can be fate. Ethan’s dearest friend Luther, played by powerful quiet Ving Rhames, tells Ilsa, played by beautiful strong Rebecca Ferguson, that Ethan loved only one woman before her. That he let Julia, played by beautiful kind Michele Monaghan, go keeping her safe, so he could save the world. Luther says, “He’s a good man. If you care about Ethan, walk away…”
Ethan is the hero, who gave up the love of his life to save the world. That’s the high price to pay, even for the noble cause. The Hero deserves better. Tom Cruise passionately enrolls in Ethan’s tireless conviction to do what’s right, and protect the innocent. Tom’s unspoken sadness in Ethan too, resonates.
As “Fallout” opens Ethan messes up his mission to recover three weapons-grade plutonium cores when he chooses to save the life of his friend. New IMF (Impossible Mission Force – I think) Lead Alan, played by solid Alec Baldwin, reminds Ethan of his tragic flaw: he chose “one life over millions”. I’d say that’s more honor and compassion. No longer trusting Ethan, CIA Head Erica, played by smart bold Angela Bassett, mandates that her best Agent Walker, played with humorlessly ironic strength by Henry Cavill, accompany him in the plutonium recovery.
Ethan and Walker’s mission leads to the mysterious anarchist Lane, played by eerie calm Sean Harris. Lane believes, “The greater the suffering, the greater the peace.” Ethan and Walker form a reluctant alliance with notorious arms broker White Widow, played cleverly by beautiful cunning Vanessa Kirby.
So Ethan once again accepts his mission to save the world from annihilation. Strangely, this time around is wondrously captivating. In Tom’s authentic sense of Ethan’s loss, we get the depth of what’s at stake for him.
Yes, Ethan valiantly risks his life to prevent the nuclear terrorist threat. But does he find peace at the end of his great suffering? Does he discover love again? Ethan is a good man. He deserves peace. He deserves love. Ethan is like all of us. “Mission: Impossible- Fallout” is spectacular thrills in one of the best ever action movies. What makes “Fallout” so satisfying is that we pull for the Hero to find peace, to find love.
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Originally Published on IMDb