Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise,  Jeremy Renner,  Simon Pegg,  Rebecca Ferguson,  Alec Baldwin,  America Olivo,  Ving Rhames,  Sean Harris
Running time: 131mins
Rating: 12A
Release date: 30th July, 2015

We last saw Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in action in 2011’s GHOST PROTOCOL and this fifth instalment has injected the same energy, fire and action, which has brought the franchise speedily back to life.

There are few new surprises to the concept of the film: heart pounding action sequences in an array of fabulous locations, spectacular stunt work in abundance by the man who seems to have no fear – Tom Cruise, throughout the movie is shot with such visual flair and the on-screen energy between the cast members make it equally as intoxicating – and fun.

Director Christopher McQuarrie has once again created a film which is easy to watch, utterly entertaining and the narrative is well strung together, all whilst wrapped superbly in heart pounding action sequences and comical aplomb.  

At the end of GHOST PROTOCOL, we saw Ethan Hunt (Cruise) prepping his IMF team to investigate the Syndicate, the evil organisation that became a regular antagonist in the old 60s TV series. ROGUE NATION starts with CIA head Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) disbanding the IMF because of their extreme ways and disbelief that this mysterious foe even exists. While Benji Dunn, (who is played brilliantly by Simon Pegg) and William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) are deployed to Washington desk jobs, Ethan remains out in the “shoot to kill” cold, convinced the Syndicate leader Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) is attempting to establish a new world order by staging an escalating series of catastrophes and terrorist attacks.

Luckily for fans of the franchise, they will once again see the old team reunited, including Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), to outfox the Syndicate. The challenge they have is to discover why Lane needs a red box computer file hidden in an underwater databank in Casablanca that only the British Prime Minister (Tom Hollander) can unlock. Of course, this makes Hunt and his team suspicious, so the daredevil agent joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who could be part of the deadly criminal collective bent on causing global chaos.

This is the moment when we finally get to see the highly promoted airplane stunt that Cruise did  – not a stunt double – and you can take our word for it that is as terrifying as it looks, especially if you are planning to watch it on the IMAZ screen. It is difficult to work out whether Cruise is fearless or insane for participating in that scene!

Aside from the stunning stunts and action packed sequences, ROGUE NATION’s other biggest success is the camaraderie between Cruise and his computer-genius sidekick Pegg, who bounce off each other so well throughout the movie. We don’t see as much of Jeremy Renner and Ving Rhames in the earlier scenes until the action takes place in London.

Some of the best, most tension-laden and technically striking sequences in the entire film occur at the Vienna opera house during a performance of Puccini’s Turandot. With three marksmen drawing in on the Austrian Chancellor, Cruise’s Ethan navigates his way to halt the assassination attempt. The fantastically shot action is beautifully entwined with the famous aria Nessun Dorma which plays an equally important role within the gripping action.

Of course, like with all of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE films in the franchise, the action does not stop there. We are treated to a delicious array of motorcycle races through Morocco, breathless hi-tech underwater escapades and of course there is the issue of a ticking bomb finale.

Sean Harris excels in his role as anti-IMF chief Solomon Lane with a chilling mischievous earnestness and full credit must also go to Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, whose character is complex, conniving and is basically like a triple agent. She also exudes great onscreen chemistry with Cruise and her dialogue consists of some rather memorable and comical moments.  

However, it is of course Tom Cruise, who makes these fast and furious treats such a bright and breezy delight. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE would not be the same without him and he is a big reason for making the movie just so brilliant.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ROGUE NATION is a classic case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. All of the things we love about the franchise have remained in tact and that is what makes the film so scintillating. Five films in and the franchise is still going strong. The challenge of combining action, stunts and comedy is pulled off effortlessly. ROGUE NATION is everything you could want from a 21st Century spy film: cool but not cheesy, action-packed but with a great narrative, serious in its thrills, but with the sense of fun that we have come to expect from the movies. One thing’s certain: Tom Cruise is at his very best… and we love it.

Verdict

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