REVIEW: ‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT’ Is An Epic, Bold, Thrilling Installment Yet

Safe to say that the Mission Impossible films are without Tom Cruise’s stunts and the action sequences in general won the audience and make them want them to come back to see jumping at the top floor in Burj Khalifa from Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation’s nerve-wrecking plane opening scene. On Cruise’s sixth outing, Fallout goes beyond an action film and delves deeper to Ethan Hunt’s story.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout follows a failed IMF mission, Ethan Hunt his team joins forces with CIA assassin August Walker in a mission to prevent the syndicate on launching three plutonium bombs across the world.

All About Ethan

In every film, it seems that Ethan has always a way of overcoming his opponents, obstacles and the impossible is something this title hasn’t explored yet, and that’s where the dramatic pulse hit every beat: the narrative fleshes out his character in his relationship with Luther, Benji, Humley, and a Michelle Monaghan’s Julia all the way way back from Mission Impossible 3 thankfully didn’t play out a cameo is a nice callback, and the screenplay wonderfully weaves his relationships and portray their importance, and who they are to Ethan Hunt, and we get the sense of understanding he’s not just a lead but a breathing, living individual that has a life.

Many films have to put Easter eggs in between and some cameos that didn’t work or end up as a fan service that makes these plot device a risk thing but in Fallout’s case it becomes a backdrop of Ethan’s story and revolves around it.

This is where Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay comes in play, his eyes for detail on plot franchise lore adds layers to Ethan Hunt, the franchise’s lore; his directing actors is nuanced in a way that little details of characters’ mannerisms every bit of is genuine that connects the audience and make them matter.

A Different Kind of Mission Impossible

Putting the impossible is what works is something that this film is something is going to blow away the audience, put them at the edge of their seats, every obstacle and action sequences would make us guess, and the story puts the characters in danger that added the tension, and made it look impossible makes you couldn’t take your eyes of the screen.

That being said, having the opportunity to watch it in IMAX is a must – the scale of the visuals are big, the scale and scope of camera work add the epic emphasizing breathtaking, luscious mountainous landscapes of Kashmir. The fight scenes tension, the minimal cuts add that raw, gritty effect fights combined with raw, sound mixing adds that realness and you can feel that adrenaline rush in every frame.

The backdrop offers luscious to varied aesthetics and noir, ominous Berlin scene. The aesthetic of each location and scene tells its own story: motorcycle chase in Paris has that sense of urgency and highlights the architecture and historic scenery.

We Need To Talk About the Newcomers

Fallout’s newcomers Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill and Vanessa Kirby are an absolute force to be reckon with carrying their own set of acting chops, they shine in every scene there in and these actors brought so much personality and life to these characters that gave Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt a run for his money. Angela Bassett’s Erica Sloan effortlessly brings a bravado to her screen presence, she delivered every single line that is snarky yet classy that’s leaves a smile from the audience.

Vanessa Kirby’s White Widow has an angelic presence, dangerous through and through, and her eyes expressed a hundred expressions that you can’t quite pin point her thoughts understatedly unpredictable that adds to appeal to her character. Having an ambiguous character such as White Widow shakes up protagonists and antagonists’ dynamic.

Henry Cavill as August Walker oozes suave and brutal in a drop of hat, and lets loose. He’s got natural charm, carrying a nuanced sinister aura that comes off as captivating and unhinged, and without spoiling Cavill can be scary at some moments yet he shines that makes his performance show that he is a capable actor can do more than Superman. James Bond anyone?

Final Thoughts

Safe to say, that Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the best installment yet and fiery one. It’s a home run for Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise: the action, set pieces, ensemble and everything else is on top form that you’ll savor from start to finish.

Albeit formulaic at times, Tom Cruise’s Mission impossible franchise’s 20+ years existence have put a stamp on the action genre and delivers fresh, exciting films that doesn’t get tiring and dedication on reinventing in every film makes us look forward to the next one.

And for a runtime of 2 hours and 27 minutes doesn’t drag at all, every minute is just engaging and like I said, it’s a film packed of thrills that you can’t take your eyes off the screen.

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

Special thanks to our friends from United International Pictures and Columbia Pictures for the invite!

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is now showing in theaters and IMAX.