[FILM REVIEW] MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART 1 Review (2023)

Summary: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates:  8th July 2023 (Australia), 11th July 2023 (Thailand), 10th July 2023 (UK), 11th July 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Screenwriter: Erik Jendersen, Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Hayley Atwell (Grace), Sean Patrick Brooks (Officer Evers), Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Henry Czerny (Kittridge), Greg Tarzan Davis (Degas), Carey Elwes (Denlinger), Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa Faust), Mariela Garriga (Marie), Vanessa Kirby (The White Widow), Pom Klementieff (Paris), Esai Morales (Gabriel), Simon Pegg (Benji Dunn), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickewell), Frederick Schmidt (Zola), Nico Toffoli (Drake), Shea Whigham (Briggs)

Running Time: 163 mins

Classification: M (Australia), 13 (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG-13 (USA)

OUR MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART 1 REVIEWS

Dave Griffiths’ Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Review

There is little doubt that the team behind Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 went all out to promote the movie to anyone who would listen. In the post-COVID world where a lot of films sneak into cinemas with little fanfare it was pretty refreshing to see a team go all out – the cast were doing breakfast TV appearances; billboards were everywhere and Tom Cruise was doing guest appearances in front of landmarks right around the world.

There was little wonder that people have been so excited by the fanfare but what about the film itself? Does it hold up to all the excitement? Well, the answer is simple – yes, yes it does. But be warned this is not just a film about crash and bash – this is an action film with a serious side. Think about films like Hunt For Red October and The Firm and you will be starting to feel the vibe this movie puts out.

The film’s opening sequence is a real surprise. The Russians have developed a new top-secret sub that nobody knows about. Therefore, the crew are surprised when suddenly they find themselves under attack – they fight back with catastrophic results. Even worse the attack leaves a key to a device that the whole world wants out in the open for the taking.

Without going into spoiler territory that leaves the United States terrified as the keys are the only things that can control a rogue AI that threatens world domination. The IMF – Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise – Rain Man), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg – Shaun Of The Dead) and Luther Stickewell (Ving Rhames – Pulp Fiction) are soon scrambled and placed on the case to get the keys and bring them to the US.

However of course things don’t go to plan and soon Ethan and his team find themselves once again teaming up with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson – The Greatest Showman) and a gifted young cat burglar named Grace (Hayley Atwell – Captain America: The First Avenger) in a bid to stop the keys falling into the hands of the opportunistic White Widow (Vanessa Kirby – The Crown) who plans on selling it to the highest bidder.

To make the task even harder an old foe returns and hires a hitwoman, Paris (Pom Klementieff – Avengers: Infinity War), to kill Ethan and his crew. And those in the US Government who don’t trust the IMF have sent Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham – Non-Stop) to arrest Ethan and bring him in.

Directed by long-time Tom Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 is not the movie that a lot of people are going to expect it to be. If they are wanting a Fast & Furious style film with a lot of action and very little story, then this is not the film for them. Instead, this film should be considered a thinking person’s action film.

Yes, there are some impressive stunts, Tom Cruise certainly makes sure of that, but there is also a spy/thriller/espionage story here that any James Bond film would be envious off. From emergencies on Russian subs through to foot chases on cobblestone Venice streets and a huge finale involving the Orient Express everything is all brought together with an amazing unique screenplay that explores a crime that maybe closer to what our world will face one day then many will care to believe. Even the stunts themselves are creative – this isn’t just simply car chases and the norm – no these stunt sequences are something very new and if the sequence on the Orient Express involving Tom Cruse and Hayley Atwell isn’t enough to convince the Academy to introduce an Oscar for Stunt Work then nothing ever will.

As just mentioned, while the stunts in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 are impressive it is screenplay, written by McQuarrie and his team, that make the film so memorable. Not only is the plot about a rogue AI well thought out without delving into the territory already explored in films like The Terminator but they fact that they manage to bring characterisation to characters like Paris and White Widow certainly moves this film into a realm that very few action films belong in.

Perhaps the best creation by that screenwriting team though is the character of Grace. They really give Hayley Atwell something to work with and make Grace the character that the audience never really know if they can trust or not. In mere presence in this film provides just as much suspense as some of the stunts and thankfully the writers didn’t decide to go down the cliched path of making her a love interest for Ethan.

There is very little doubt that Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part 1 is a very impressive film, but the good news is it a combination of some smart script writing, impressive stunts and great acting that makes it that way. This well-rounded film is a call back to a time when there was as much work and creativity in a script for a spy film as there was in an Oscar winning drama. Let’s hope that other action franchises take a leaf out of the Mission: Impossible book because this is a real stunner.

David’s rating Out Of 5

Lee Griffiths’ Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Review

Lee’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Review

The big build up concerned Tom Cruise plunging off a massive cliff on a motorbike.

While that was mighty impressive because he actually did it (eight times, I believe), the next to last scene involving a train was significantly more suspenseful.

The plot concerns a see it all, know it all entity that has the power to control the world. 

Let’s face it, artificial intelligence is everywhere, but the entity is a cut above anything mankind has seen before and is constantly morphing.

Accessing this power requires two keys, which are not the preserve of one person.

Not surprisingly, evil forces and the US government are after the same thing.

Tasked with saving the world is the Impossible Missions Force (IMF).

I speak of Ethan Hunt (Cruise), computer whiz Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and technical field agent Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg).

On their side is former MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who allied with Hunt’s team in Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) and Fallout (2018).

Calling the shots is the former director of the IMF now CIA director, Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), last seen in Mission: Impossible (1996).

Conspiring against success is Hunt’s past, which includes a long-time adversary who has brought the former great emotional pain.

Gabriel (Esai Morales) is a powerful terrorist, who works with French assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff).

She get her jollies from destroying anything that stands in her way.

Another impediment is a black-market arms dealer known as White Window, Alanna Mitsopolis (Vanessa Kirby), who we met in Fallout.

And a mainstay throughout the film is Grace (Hayley Atwell), who is loyal to no-one but herself. She is chasing untold riches.

The high-octane ride that is Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is again directed by Christopher McQuarrie. He wrote the screenplay with Erik Jendresen.

It is the seventh movie in the franchise and is the longest yet at 2 hours 43 minutes.

Spectacular stunts, car chases, a runaway train heading for destruction, humour and heart are all part of the offering.

I wouldn’t call Dead Reckoning the best of breed, but the focus on tension works.

Esai Morales is threatening throughout, while the mysterious Paris speaks volumes with her actions. She is not a talker.

Cruise, Pegg and Rhames are a safe pair of hands. Unlike the Fast and Furious franchise, this trio hasn’t yet worn out its welcome.

Talking of welcome, I appreciated the continuing role that Rebecca Ferguson played.

But the female lead is undoubtedly Atwell, whose shadowy character, complete with a sleight of hand and vulnerability, is an important element in the plotting.

I am not sold on the entity story line. Let’s just say it requires a leap of faith, but really that is just an excuse anything to witness dare devil heroics.

Nor am I at all convinced that it needed all but three hours to tell just part 1 of this tale. Still, the slick production values that we have come to expect from Mission: Impossible are very much at play here.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle McGrath’s Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Review

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 Reviews:

You can read our Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One review that ran in The Phuket News here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/mission-impossible-delivers-a-true-dead-reckoning-88864.php

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