Mission Impossible-For De Palma To Make More Than One Good Film Every Ten Years
Mission Impossible is one of those films that you knew would be successful right off the bat. The name recognition was a sure fire way to bring people into the theater and there was ample opportunity to take exploit the advances in visual effects and special effects since the original television series aired. The film has a slick look with good set design and overall good effects. The fairly weak script, centers around agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) who has been set up as a disloyal agent.
Yes, director Brian De Palma has been directing for a million years, but, now cover your ears or eyes, but lets face it, De Palma is pretty over rated when you look at his body of work. It is true he has directed some big films but there have been so many mediocre films as well. After 30 plus years there must be a few hits right? Mission Impossible isn’t a bad effort, but a younger diaper free director who doesn’t need his nap might have made Mission Impossible sizzle a bit. It was sort of a goofy fit to try and make a hip young, highly stylized film with a guy like De Palma. I know Carrie was great, I know Scarface was great, the Untouchables was great but all three of those scripts were slam dunks and were aided by brilliant casting. Really, the good films are so sporadic from De Palma and he has had so many opportunities that it is unfair to include him alongside the great directors. Sorry, Scarface make not a career.
The highlight of the film, is of course, the variety of action sequences, gun play, spy toys and explosions and thus the effects folks deserve some real credit for carrying the anemic script. However, the strong cast greatly assists in keeping the audiences attention on the screen. Cruise seems very happy playing the part and does not seem as though he only on set to pick up a check. In fact, Cruise rarely seems as though he is “just showing up.” Jon Voight, Ving Rhames and Jean Reno are all very solid in there roles, however, the one note Reno is becoming a bit tedious. One is always left thinking Reno is capable of more but either is not being offered the scripts that allow him to branch out or lacks the courage to take such scripts when offered. Either way it would be refreshing to see Reno playing a homosexual or a serial killer or a guy who thinks he is a bunny, anything, maybe he has done both in his native France, regardless it would be nice for American audiences to see such a performance.
That aside, if you are into spy flicks you’ll be happy enough. The film does little that is original or innovative and the script sort of chugs along, but most be satisfied. Again, Mission Impossible was a no brainer by the studios due to the name recognition and their “gamble” paid off to the tune of over $400 million dollars. De Palma in all fairness could have done a worse job with the roughly $80-$90 million dollar budget at hand, so points must be given there, as much of the budget does show on the screen. In the end, however, there is just not too much to get excited about. You’ll probably fill a little dumber as you walk out of the theater, but hell, just wait until the sequels, you’ll really walk out feeling like the village idiot.
Story C
Acting B
Visuals B
Originality/Innovation C+
Enjoyability Grade C+
Home Theater/HD Factor B
Overall Grade C+
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