Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

The Mission: Impossible series is one of the best action franchises around today. It hasn’t always been this way, but ever since 2011’s Ghost Protocol things have been looking up for Tom Cruise’s flagship films. These last two films have been an example of both the extreme lengths to which Cruise will go as his own stuntman and the correct way to make a ridiculous action movie.

At their core, of course, that is what the M:I films are: bombastic, slightly silly, and self-aware heist films with a unique ability to also tie in more realistic threats than the average “grounded” spy film. I love that these films can walk that line without feeling stressed by doing so, and this latest entry is no exception: Mission: Impossible – Fallout is one of the best action films of the past decade, a monument to fun entertainment and excellent filmmaking at the same time.

I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t express that the plot and characters are just as good as the action sequences. There are some retrospectively predictable plot twists and character developments, but none of these feel trite or weightless. Fallout sells me on every one of its downtime moments, which makes all the fast-paced action sequences and dramatic set pieces matter that much more. I am shocked that a franchise like this has the courage to explore its main character and his motivations like this film does; it asks point blank repeatedly about Ethan Hunt’s answer to the classic philosophical trolley problem and whether he is willing to sacrifice the one for the sake of the many, and it answers it in some very effective ways. Hunt is also seen this time around making deeply moral decisions and weighing the cost of the life that he is considering ending, which is such a change of pace from the standard action film of today that gives no thought to the killing of anyone that stands in the hero’s way. It’s not overly flaunting its mental capacity, but it does set itself several tiers above the typical summer blockbuster.

Despite the excellent storytelling, what we’re all here for is the action sequences – more specifically, the ridiculous stunts Tom Cruise will perform. Some of the things he does in this film seem more like the result of a drunken game of truth-or-dare with writer-director Christopher McQuarrie at the wrap party of the last film, and that is a tremendously good thing if you enjoy white-knuckled tense stunt work. Not only do these sequences fit into the story well and hold a lot of emotion, but they also are helmed masterfully by McQuarrie and cinematographer Rob Hardy; there’s a scene where Cruise and co-star Henry Cavill perform a HALO jump (essentially military parachuting where the jumper releases their chute at a very low altitude) out of a place that is actually shot with Cruise and Hardy in the air in which they almost dance in their freefall. It is one of just many marvels of practical filmmaking that Fallout contains, embodying the deep passion for selling dangerous stunts as real that Cruise and his collaborators have.

Because Fallout has the meat that every action film needs to sell the dramatic feats and acrobatics that they portray, every moment of the film adds to the suspense of the moment and genuinely makes the viewer question whether the main characters will escape alive. I cannot describe the degree to which I appreciate the decision by the filmmakers to ensure that every action set piece furthers character development and/or fits into the story seamlessly. Are there some cool sequences that are there because they are simply cool sequences? Of course there are, but in Fallout they are helmed and executed with such expertise and ease that the film kept my interest for its nearly two and a half hour runtime – I probably could have remained engaged for another half hour or so without a struggle. This film and its thrills are the reason why the summer action blockbuster exists, and I have no doubt that Fallout will someday be seen as one of the best action films of this time and a new benchmark for those that attempt to follow in its footsteps.

My recommendation: If you see just one movie the rest of the summer, this needs to be it.

My rating: 89/100