During the epic, 40-minute conclusion to Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Tom Cruise hurtles precariously over the edge of cliff, which caused my mom, sitting next to me, to clamp down hard on me knee—and the knee of the person sitting on the other side of her. No idea who that person was, but if you’re reading this, my apologies.
I didn’t manhandle any audience members, but I too clenched my clammy fists as Fallout’s finale commenced, a fitting end to what is one of the best action movies in recent memory.
Christopher McQuarrie returns to write and direct this masterpiece of stunts, action and suspense, an immensely fun and thrilling spy spectacular that somehow manages to exceed the heights of its predecessor Rogue Nation—also by McQuarrie.
Though it continues the plot of its predecessor—the same villain (Sean Harris) is back, his underlings undeterred by his capture—Mission: Impossible – Fallout is larger, more mature, more dangerous. The stakes seem even higher, perhaps because Hunt and team, unlike in many of the other movies, rarely have the upper hand. They’re playing catch up until the film’s final, desperate, harrowing minutes, and that McQuarrie extends that tension to its apex.
McQuarrie composes each action scene with precision; the violence is purposeful and a beauty to behold. The action—really, the entire movie—is heightened by an absolutely riveting score by Lorne Balfe, one that seems inspired by The Dark Knight in places (even some of the action scenes bear some resemblance). Balfe is new to the franchise, but hopefully he’ll return for Round 7.
Another terrific addition is Henry Cavill, who plays a bruiser of a CIA assassin who operates to his own tune. Cavill is satisfyingly ruthless, a perfect contrast to Cruise.
The movie isn’t without its minor faults—Fallout, likes its predecessors, doesn’t quite know when to be funny, with comedic moments awkwardly injected into otherwise serious and intense scenes as if added during the editing process. There are a few little character decisions that don’t entirely make sense—notably involving someone close to Hunt that I won’t discuss here. The plot takes a backseat to the action.
But none of those faults take away from what Mission: Impossible – Fallout is: a masterclass of an action film, a high-grade thriller that absolutely begs to be seen on the big screen.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.