«Mission impossible: Fallout»

Cinema Wednesdays - Nicolas Jutzet

Much like the James Bond films, the main challenge for the director of a «Mission: Impossible» film—especially with this sixth installment—is to keep audiences engaged without wearing them out. All without ever betraying the franchise’s legacy—for fear of upsetting the purists. This mission is far from daunting for director Christopher McQuarrie, who skillfully navigates the obstacles and delivers a successful film in which Tom Cruise, in his prime, excels.

A captivating story

This is the story of a failure. Ethan Hunt, who’s usually always successful, screws up. Like a total novice. A sort of original sin for the monster of egotism and efficiency that he is (or was?), at least on paper. In an effort to protect a teammate, he forgets—for just a few seconds—to keep an eye on his treasure. By the time he comes to his senses, it’s too late. Far too late. The cargo is gone, and so are the thieves. Yet, just like in his other missions in previous installments, the protagonist never does things halfway.

When he goes astray, he puts not just his own humble fate as a reckless adventurer at risk, but that of all humanity. He has just had three shipments of plutonium stolen from him. With these, a terrorist group that the viewers of Mission impossible are well aware that the organization known as «The Syndicate» wants to wreak havoc across the planet. As a reminder, in episode five, «Rogue Nation,» the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) team dismantled it by arresting its mastermind, Solomon Lane, who is now in prison. From the ashes of this small group, a new terrorist organization has emerged: «The Apostles,» no less dangerous and oh-so-determined. They want to purify humanity so that it may be reborn.

There can be no peace without great suffering first. The greater the suffering, the greater the peace. Solomon Lane

Paris: See the White Widow and Die

After being heckled and challenged following his initial mishap, Ethan Hunt finds himself forced to accept—under the unyielding pressure of the icy Erica Sloane, the director of the CIA—a no-nonsense man by the sweet name of August Walker. The problem is, he seems even more of a grouch than our dear Ethan. Their partnership is shaping up to be tense—especially since the newcomer is known for his… brusque manner.

The common goal that unites them—simply saving humanity from the evil that the terrorist organization seeks to spread—allows them to set aside certain animosities. They focus on the objective. After losing the explosives in Berlin, the next phase of the plan unfolds in another European capital. Welcome to Paris. There, after some difficulty and damage, he meets a middlewoman with a piercing gaze: the White Widow. Of course, nothing will go as planned, and the hero will have to push himself to the limit to come out on top. To do so, he’ll be firing his weapon more often than usual. The numerous car chases, rooftop climbs, and hand-to-hand combat scenes offer a chance to (re)discover Paris. The City of Light and its treasures provide a touch of charm amid the violence, which—let’s admit it—sometimes veers into the crude, even the primitive.

The climax, however, takes place in a completely different setting—a region that is no less magnificent, but far more isolated. The calm before the storm. Kashmir, a mountainous region of the Indian subcontinent. It is here that the future of humanity is at stake—nothing less. Will Ethan and his elite team manage to recover the lost treasure? Or will Solomon Lane succeed in getting his revenge? It’s up to you to find out…

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Photo credit: © Paramount Pictures