Supercharged by its star’s infectious energy to entertain his audience, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One doubles down on the franchise’s winning formula to deliver a fast-paced, immersive, and entertaining action-thriller.
Reinventing the franchise with a bold (and timely) approach, the film follows Ethan Hunt (portrayed by Tom Cruise) and his crew of IMF operatives as they face off against and attempt to dismantle a weaponized artificial intelligence system known as The Entity.
Taking the franchise back to its roots, Dead Reckoning Part One often feels like a visual and stylistic homage to 1996’s Mission: Impossible. Director Christopher McQuarrie successfully meshes the twisty heist-thriller elements of that film with the adrenaline-fueled, stunt-driven action sequences that the series has come to deliver in subsequent entries. The resulting film, therefore reinvigorates the franchise while also acknowledging its long-standing legacy.
At 2 hours and 43 minutes, Dead Reckoning Part One never lets its audience feel the hefty runtime, thanks to being loaded with daredevil stunts and dialogue scenes that lend the film some breathing room while conveying key plot points. Kudos must be given to director McQuarrie for a sprawling yet economical script, and to editor Eddie Hamilton for maintaining the tight pace of the film throughout.
Speaking of daredevil stunts, Tom Cruise and McQuarrie ensure they raise the bar when it comes to inventive practical action filmmaking. From a one-handed car chase, riding a bike off a cliff, and a fistfight on top of a moving train, each set piece has been carefully designed to offer something fresh to the audience, keeping them glued to the screen and on the edge of their seats.
Alongside the stunt team’s expertise and craft, the film is equally complimented by Fraser Taggart’s dynamic cinematography. Composer Lorne Balfe, who returns from Mission: Impossible – Fallout, builds upon his prior work. Combining elements from bongo drums to marching bands, Balfe delivers yet another memorable and exhilarating music.
While the first half of a complete arc, Dead Reckoning Part One concludes on a neat and satisfying note, leaving audiences anticipating the insane stunts Cruise and McQuarrie have cooked up for their delight for the next installment.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 