The 1990’s were a breeding ground for action films,
with such fare as Face/Off, Bad Boys, Die Hard, and The Matrix, but one of the
most influential and longest lasting franchises also came out of this decade –
Mission: Impossible. The first film in
this long-running series hit theaters in 1996 and grabbed the audience in a way
that no one thought would, or even could, happen.
Mission: Impossible tells the story of IMF Agent
Ethan Hunt, who is framed for the murder of his entire team during a mission
gone wrong at the Prague Embassy. Now a
fugitive, Hunt must sneak into the CIA headquarters to retrieve a confidential
computer file that will prove his innocence.
This is one of my favorite 90’s movies and is the
beginning to my favorite action franchise of all time. The interesting thing about this film,
however, is that it’s probably the least action packed of the series. It definitely has some fantastic action
sequences, particularly the train scene, but at its core, this is a heist film,
and a damn good one at that. The film
starts off with an interrogation that turns out to be a setup, complete with
soundstage, a not-dead dead girl, and Tom Cruise in an awesome mask (one of
many throughout the film). This really
sets the pace for the rest of the film, giving the audience just a taste of
what’s in store for them.
With a tight 110 minute runtime, Mission:
Impossible clocks in as the shortest of the series and the only one under two
hours, but that is by no means a negative.
They move through the plot in a quick, yet concise manner, which works perfectly
for a heist/action film. You don’t want
to linger too long with the slow scenes, as it would just seem unnecessarily
dragged out, and it's those slower scenes that are the real meat of this film. Yes, the action is great, but it's the character work that truly drives this story, particularly from Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt.
At this point in time, Tom Cruise was already a
household name, with performances in films like Top Gun, Rain Man, A Few Good
Men, and Interview With The Vampire, but it was this film that put him on the
map as a viable action star, leading to roles in films like Minority Report,
Jack Reacher, and Edge of Tomorrow. It
was the beginning of a career shift for Cruise, and one that would truly define
his ongoing legacy in Hollywood.
However, Cruise wouldn't have been nearly as successful without the excellent cast he was joined by, including
Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno, Emilio Estevez, and Vanessa Redgrave. Emilio was a highlight in the scenes he was
in, and the chemistry between Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames made it feel like they
were old friends. It’s no wonder Rhames
has stuck around throughout all the films.
He brings an unmatched energy to all of his roles, and this film is no
different. You instantly like his
character and are routing for him to stay a good guy.
Between the famous wire scene in the computer room
and the intense train sequence, this film is a wonderful addition to the 90’s
action genre, and while it is a little dated with its use of floppy drives, it
still holds up today.
The Merc’s Score: 8/10
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