For Cruise, it's Mission Accomplished

Mission Impossible: Fallout
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Vanessa Kirby, Angela Bassett
Score: ★★★★½

FILM REVIEW
By RENYUAN OUYANG 

He was hung over 600m above the Dead Horse Point in Utah, he climbed the world’s tallest building, and was strapped to the side of an airplane in the middle of sky.

Who is this this daredevil? He is Ethan Hunt, he is Tom Cruise, and he is back!

The 22-year-old spy franchise reached the cinemas on August 2 with its sixth instalment, Mission Impossible: Fallout.

The latest instalment follows an attempt to recover nuclear bomb materials from terrorists, which seems to have some relation to the antagonist Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) from Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation.

With the support of Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) regular team members Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames), previous female lead Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) returns and seems to be a resistant force during the recovery mission. Complications are added with the inclusion of Hunt’s ex-wife Julian (Michelle Monaghan). 

Fallout is just as stylish as the first Mission Impossible film. And in another nod to the first movie, Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) emotional state is just as important as the unexpected plot twists.

When the series was first introduced to theatres in 1996, director Brian De Palma infused the film with his psychodrama style and echoes of that have returned in the latest instalment under McQuarrie’s direction.

The camerawork and Cruise’s acting in Fallout are both to be commended, with Ethan Hunt’s emotions conveyed strongly through a combination of strong camera angles and effective body movements. 

This shows audiences a more accessible, human side of Hunt, rather than just the invincible special agent we have seen in the past.

It's a strong contrast with recent instalments, where the main focus was the stunts rather than the storyline.

Even so, Cruise – who is known for extreme stunts such as jumping out of moving planes, cliff climbing and rooftop chasing – delivers some of his most thrilling stunts yet. 

The soundtrack sets the tone, especially during Cruise’s action-packed scenes. Cello and guitar are used to make viewers tightly grip the side of their seat.

Fallout was able to deliver a conclusion to storylines started in the 2015 installment, Rogue Nation, while bringing back the soul of the original Mission Impossible.

For Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, they now can say “Mission Accomplished”.