Movies

Cannes: Even bad exposition can’t trip up Tom Cruise, flying high with ‘Mission Impossible — The Final Reckoning’

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In the city of Cannes, France – Tom Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt from “Mission: Impossible” series made a dramatic entrance back in 1996 by holding onto a speeding train through the Chunnel, narrowly escaping a helicopter attack. The French might describe it as a ‘dramatic entrance’. In “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” of 2018, he jumped from an airplane and free-fell over four-and-a-half miles to land on the glass roof of the Grand Palais in Paris. Now, for the grand finale of the franchise, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” Ethan Hunt has arrived at the Cannes Film Festival with the intent to conquer.

Excited spectator outside the premiere pushed his Chihuahua toward Cruise, hoping to show it was donning a pink sweater with his likeness. Another displayed a DVD of “Mission: Impossible 2” from the year 2000, which is often considered the weakest installment in the franchise. Nonetheless, Cruise agreed to take a picture with her. “” the announcer on the red carpet exclaimed.

The French actors haven’t had a fortunate run in this series: Emmanuelle Béart was wounded by gunfire, Jean Reno was destroyed by an exploding piece of gum, Léa Seydoux was thrown from the Burj Khalifa. (Pom Klementieff, whose character is named Paris, has managed to survive and co-star in this eighth installment.) However, even without speaking French, one could sense the thrill on set.

On this occasion, Cruise was making his third visit to Cannes, and it required almost half an hour of time to traverse the 60-yard stretch of red carpet. This was quite a tiring amount of waving, even for someone like him who is renowned for his cardio fitness. He made sure to greet everyone who had turned up to cheer him on, and he even stepped back a few paces to ensure eye contact and give a heart thump to the fans in the corner.

Movies

Wes Anderson penned ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ specifically for an actor, and ahead of its premiere at Cannes, we had a chat with Del Toro about the most significant part of his acting journey.

2022 marked a significant milestone for Tom Cruise, as he prepared for the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was poised to jumpstart the pandemic-stalled movie industry. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or and received a salute from eight French fighter jets. During his initial visit in 1992 for the film “Far and Away,” he openly expressed his feelings about the Rodney King verdict, stating that it left him feeling ill. Now, it seems Cruise carries the responsibility of advocating for the value of cinema-going experiences, much like Ethan Hunt is often tasked with saving the world. Unlike many other actors, Cruise appears to recognize that he represents an era in filmmaking that may be fading away, striving to become this century’s equivalent of Charlie Chaplin.

At the premiere of “Final Reckoning”, the atmosphere had a touch of a lively bar mitzvah party. The music ranged from dance floor hits like Kool & the Gang and Joan Jett, to remixed versions of Lalo Schifrin’s thrilling “Mission: Impossible” theme. Four beatboxers mimicked police sirens, while a live saxophonist and violinists added a touch of sophistication. Despite the rule change in Cannes about women not wearing voluminous dresses on the steps, Hayley Atwell, portraying Grace, a former pickpocket turned secret agent, chose a bold gown. It was red with flared sections at her hips and ankles, giving her a resemblance to the vintage biplane featured in the movie. It seemed like Tom Cruise could have posed next to her for a promotional photo.

Initially, as the movie commenced, there was a solemn atmosphere, almost as if we were attending a funeral. The farewell to Ethan Hunt kicks off by showcasing Tom Cruise’s career spanning three decades, a display that could easily pass for his eventual honorary Oscar acceptance speech. In the opening scene, President Erika Sloane, portrayed by Angela Bassett, expresses gratitude for Ethan’s lifelong dedication and service. Later, she secretly communicates a code with a significant date – May 22, 1996 – which coincidentally marks the debut of the “Mission: Impossible” series. Throughout the film, there are many grand speeches and heavy moments, but it lacks the usual playful tone. In essence, it feels like the beginning, middle, and end all rolled into one, a continuous farewell that lasts for approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes.

The eight “Mission” films can be divided into two main categories. Initially, the first four films had a pattern of switching directors and tones, even Ethan’s character was portrayed differently: Brian De Palma depicted him as a cynical innocent; John Woo, as a passionate ladies’ man; J.J. Abrams, as a devoted family man; Brad Bird, as a nearly speechless human caricature. In contrast, the last four films are all directed by Christopher McQuarrie (who also co-wrote this script with Erik Jendresen), but they haven’t significantly developed Ethan’s character. Throughout these films, we are repeatedly told that Ethan is a risk-taker and rule-breaker — which seems strange for a spy who frequently dons masks of other people’s faces like party hats.

Entertainment & Arts

Witness the heartfelt standing ovation granted to Tom Cruise and the ‘Mission: Impossible’ team during their film’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival.

Among the “Mission: Impossible” series, “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” set for release in 2023, stands out as a film where recalling events from the preceding installment is essential. This movie introduced the malevolent AI antagonist, the Entity, and its cold-hearted henchman, Gabriel (Esai Morales). These characters provided an engaging contrast to Tom Cruise’s character, serving as a menacing duo who prefer digital manipulation over physical exertion. In this upcoming film, the Entity aims to wipe out humanity within four days unless it can be shut down using a key that unlocks a device in the Arctic Ocean, which is connected to a crucial component that Ving Rhames’ character, Luther, is struggling to construct from a makeshift hospital bed hidden in the London subway system. As Cruise fights off an adversary, he growls, “You waste too much time online!

In simpler terms, the recent movie skillfully combined Atwell’s character Grace and the quest for the key, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone similar to a thrilling car chase through Rome in a vintage Fiat, complete with romantic hints conveyed through clever magic tricks. However, the narrative seems burdened, not only by the impending-doom themes like Bassett’s portrayal of the President considering the destruction of an American city as a preventive measure, but also by its excessive use of omniscient perspective that often interrupts the tension by jumping between past and future events. Instead of showing us what happened five minutes ago in flashbacks or predicting how a stunt might look in flash-forwards, the story could have just focused on the action as it unfolded.

Instead of exchanging lines about Ethan’s daring acts before they happen, the cast seems more like they’re sharing facts and strategies, rather than engaging in conversations. It’s like they’re working on a group project with their points listed one after another. No one interrupts each other’s dramatic moments; it feels like they’re reciting instructions for assembling an IKEA bookcase. It’s hard to find anything less exciting, even with Fraser Taggart’s brilliant lighting that makes everyone look on the brink of tears. Yet, within this setup, Simon Pegg shines as Benji, Hunt’s tech-savvy sidekick for years. Similarly, Tramell Tillman, Lucy Tulugarjuk, and Rolf Saxon all deliver compelling performances. Notably, Rolf portrays a character who was once threatened with duty in an Alaskan radar tower – a punishment that eventually happened to him.

However, it’s Tom Cruise’s performance as Ethan that makes “Final Reckoning” a must-see on a big, booming screen. Despite seemingly impossible escapes, his character continues to endure situations that defy logic. (A sudden close-up of Atwell’s animated chest seems to be an unexpected attempt to divert attention from the improbability of the situation.) What I find most captivating about Ethan is his portrayal as a hero who isn’t perfect. Hanging onto the wreckage of an airplane with the wind blowing his hair back and causing his teeth to chatter like a bulldog in a convertible, he is, in fact, visibly rattled.

The aerial pursuit scene is simply amazing. It’s as if Isaac Newton had showcased velocity by tossing an apple into a whirling bucket. Yet, the thrill of it is surpassed by a striking underwater sequence where Cruise dives solo, in utter quietness, performing stunts that leave you incredulous. I can’t say for certain how long he was submerged – at one point, my pulse seemed to cease – but there are shots of vertical water curtains and the main character huddled shiveringly alone that gave the impression that this franchise wasn’t just aiming to surpass itself, but to outshine “Titanic” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.

While the ominous rumble of sound effects echoed through shots depicting a submarine precariously perched on a cliffside in the abyssal sea, my mind wandered back to Charlie Chaplin’s iconic scene of a cabin slipping off a cliff from his 1925 film “The Gold Rush,” which turns a century old this autumn. Interestingly, or perhaps intentionally, the same film was the opening act at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. If there’s a Cannes Film Festival in 2125, it might showcase a centennial screening of a Tom Cruise classic – not any “Mission: Impossible” sequel, but rather the original, first, third, or fourth installment. Yet, I have no doubt that its enthusiasts will continue to applaud passionately regardless of which movie is shown.

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2025-05-15 16:31

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