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Cruise returns as the bold, intrepid Ethan
Hunt, one of IMF’s most elite operatives There’s a slight change of
venue as he is not in the field anymore, training other agents for
the organization. His gallant ways have nearly been tamed by,
although she doesn’t know it, his fiance’ Julia, played smartly by
Michelle Monaghan. That’s right, Hunt is about to settle down into a
relatively “normal” lifestyle which makes him considerably easier to
identify with.
While enjoying his festive engagement party,
Hunt receives one of those special phone calls requesting his field
services once more. His protégé, agent Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell)
has been kidnapped and held hostage by notorious black marketeer,
Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) . Feeling obligated, he decides
to accept the mission, teaming up with new comers Zhen, John
Musgrave (Maggie Q and Billie Crudup) and faithful mainstay Luther
Stickel (Ving Rhames) in order to rescue her. It turns out to be a
lot more involved than he or his cohorts bargained for.
J.J. Abrams aptly transfers his tv directing
talents to the big screen, bringing a fresh look by concentrating
on the human side of Hunt rather than the “impossible” side. Of
course this is supplemented by the fast paced, hard hitting action
like car chases and helicopter chases, harrowing gun battles and one
on one combats. The visceral entourage
can get a bit dizzying but Abrams handles it
superbly. Now that Cruise’s character has found someone to love,
his weaknesses are exposed as well as his strengths. Ethan has a lot
more to lose besides his own life on this mission.
His urgency to save those that he loves is so
absolute, it was a trifle unnerving and disappointing to see him in
a panicky, supplicating exchange with Davian. I couldn’t imagine
tough IMF agent Ethan Hunt in such a desperate position.
Besides some of the best acting Cruise has done
in any M:I film, the stunts seem have become more dangerous- and
more purposeful. Not like the motorcycle ballet he and DougRay Scott
performed in 2. One feat in particular, Hunt must figure out
mathematically and is so amazing, it’s actually believable.
Ving Rhames as computer guru Luther Stickel
provides the obligatory comic relief this round. Essentially, he’s
an amusing Jiminy Cricket type conscience to Ethan, trying to
convince him that a real relationship is simply not possible in this
business. He gets up close and personal even during some of the most
intense moments. This, however does not diminish Luther’s
willingness to aid Hunt in whatever mission he’s engaged in.
Abrams’, Kurtzman’s and Orci’s chic,
hard-hitting script introduces some of the best allies Ethan’s ever
had in Zhen, Musgrave and Ferris who proves she’s capable of hanging
with a big boy agent like Hunt. Unlike with Ferris, my only concern
was that there was hardly any back story for the other two. Laurence
Fishburne’s hard-nosed John Brassel also suffers from this
unjustifiably. Short histories can enhance a story without
necessarily prolonging it, especially for such talented actors. Is
there a Hollywood script rule against that or something?
Despite these few misgivings, what makes M:I:3 a great film
dramatically as well as bracingly is Ethan Hunt’s character arc. He
probably discovers more things about himself than in the last two
missions combined making the third a sort of consummation of life
itself. Mission Impossible 3 is definitely a mission worth accepting
for any action movie fan. |
