You may think sustaining a profitable and fresh franchise for over two decades would be hard, especially when you take into account that Fallout is the sixth installment in said franchise, right? Well, think again. The latest Mission Impossible entry lights the fuse in explosive fashion, demonstrating that summer blockbusters are also able to treat its audience with respect; as in no need to turn off your brain during the movie.
Back to the matter of freshness and innovation, one would naturally assume that shifting director would provide a new take on the spy world and thus keeping it innovative, right? Nope, wrong again. Fallout sees Christopher McQuarrie retaining directorial duties from Rogue Nation and breaking a somewhat expected standard (with every new Mission Impossible flick releasing, a new face would helm it); and quite successfully, I must confess.
The most interesting aspect of this spy-thriller franchise is that each entry manages to critically surpass the previous one. So, does that mean Fallout is the most complex movie of the Cruise lead The plot is relatively straightforward, as Ethan Hunt and his team must work together in order to prevent a massive catastrophe due to highly sensitive plutonium cores. Tom Cruise continues to show the world that at 56 years old you can still be in great shape. I mean, the stunts showcased on screen here are very complex and risky, which include a HALO jump and a suspenseful helicopter sequence that is sure to keep the audience on the edge of their seat.
In a rooftop jump sequence, Cruise broke his ankle and continued the scene, just to get the right shot, for God’s sake! His dedication must be recognized and commended, he never catches a break. The film sees the return of baddie Solomon Lane, this time rocking a beard (I’ll get to Cavill’s own shenanigans in just a second, just wait). Lane evolved as an antagonist and thanks to his role in Fallout, McQuarrie made him retroactively more interesting and compelling.
The film also introduces August Walker, a robust CIA agent played by Henry Cavill. As you may recall, problems arose for Cavill when reshoots for Justice League were taking place, as Superman bears no beard. Cavill kept his facial hair and his bristles would end up getting digitally removed on Justice League, albeit not as smoothly as intended. All of that would end up hurting Superman’s look, as he looked like a videogame character in some shots. So this bears the question: was the mustache worth it?
Well, it depends. It was not an integral aspect of the character, but on the other hand it added a certain weight to Cavill’s performance. Anyway, with all the five-o-clock shadow business taken care of, let’s delve deep into the technicalities of the movie. The cinematography is outstanding; every frame was composed with attention to detail and it results in a spectacular final product. The use of lighting and shadow textures was also pretty neat. I believe it was the most artful of the Mission Impossible films, it had a bunch of flare and class to it. I felt as though the lighting was a character itself, giving an overall ominous tone to the film.
Tonally speaking, this might be the most serious Mission Impossible film to date (yes, I said date because the chances of the franchise ending here are slim to none). Fallout is an outstanding feat not only in the action genre, but also outside of it. It is an engaging flick that manages to stay relevant and ultimately makes for a great cinematic experience. Is it the best action film ever? Pretty dangerous to answer affirmatively as one should refrain from making such strong assertions. Nevertheless, it is one of the greatest live-action films ever crafted.
With that being said, I rate this Mission Impossible: Fallout with an A. What about you? Have you had the chance to go to a Fallout screening? What did you think? Make sure you jump into the comments’ section down below and share your thoughts.
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