Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One

Released July 12, 2023

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

*No Spoilers *

The Mission Impossible series is the gold standard for summer Hollywood blockbusters and Dead Reckoning: Part One is no exception. This is a tense adrenaline rush full of entertaining but meaningful thrills throughout. The 2 hours and 43 minute runtime flies by and despite being “Part One“ isn't bogged down with set up and has a satisfying conclusion. The movie is a great example of efficient story telling. Every moment earns its place and nothing is superfluous. Each beat tells the story, reveals character, or expresses the theme and it never drags its feet while doing so. The introductory sequence alone was so well constructed that it could be a short film and should be studied as an example of efficient screenwriting. It establishes the conflict, sets up the stakes, and provides an emotional hook while keeping the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.

The story is straightforward but still full of intrigue. In typical Mission Impossible style, Ethan Hunt/Tom Cruise and his team have to complete their objective (getting an item) before anyone else does or there will be world ending consequences. The formula is tried and true, but Dead Reckoning constantly steps up the tension with multiple characters all converging on the same objective. As soon as you think someone is about to succeed another player enters the fray. It is the exact kind of nail biting tension I want from the franchise. Just like the first Mission Impossible’s unforgettable wire hanging scene Dead Reckoning also has its own version of the famous “sweat droplet” moment that comes after a fantastic escape room obstacle course through a moving train that is so well done!

The individual character arcs are simple but also surprisingly effective for how strongly they speak to the themes of the franchise and this entry in particular. To Ethan Hunt, saving one life is just important as saving the rest of humanity. Hunt is a great action protagonist because he cares and the movie captures how his morality is a constant source of conflict. What separates Dead Reckoning from other action movies is how every moment of action or spectacle actually serves the story. The stunts, chase sequences, and fight scenes always tell us something about a character and involve some kind of dilemma or dramatic choice. This is meaningful action that speaks to the audience. In keeping with this Dead Reckoning has the most urgent and emotionally charged “Tom Cruise sprint” of the franchise. More than ever before we need him to make it to his destination in time and we feel every bit of worry and concern as he is bolting across the screen.

The acting is very good, dramatic scenes are done better than you would expect and the physical performances are top notch. I couldn’t see a single shot where a stunt double was taking Cruise’s place, and I am not surprised given how these movies are marketed by highlighting Tom Cruise actually doing the insane stunts himself. The dedication to capturing these in live action without relying on CGI is amazing. It is a visceral experience that grounds the danger the characters are facing in the real world. Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) deliver their best performances of the franchise. Rebecca Ferguson (Dune) returns as Ilsa Faust and is just as great as ever. However, the real stand outs are the newcomers. Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy) plays a cold, unhinged, and ferocious assassin so perfectly that you almost forget how sweet and silly she was as Mantis in Guardians. Esai Morales (Titans, Ozark) plays a perfectly irredeemable villain who fits as a mirror and rival to Ethan Hunt. For me the highlight of the cast was definitely Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Grace. Unlike most characters she is totally new to this world and it was refreshing to see her reactions to the insanity that Hunt and even the audience have become used to. The way her and Cruise play off each other makes for such a fun dynamic. Atwell is capable, charming, and clearly having a lot of fun and it makes it easy to become attached to her character and interested in her arc.

Technically speaking this is a full A+. The sound design is absolutely perfect. You can really tell how dedicated the team was at creating an immersive, clear, and well balanced soundscape that draws you in. The music composed by Lorne Balfe (Mission Impossible: Fallout) is the most bombastic score yet, with a rich brassy texture and lots of hard hitting drums. It is also non-stop and uses so many different versions of the classic Mission Impossible theme throughout the movie, a triumphant version for the big stunts, a somber and quiet arrangement when characters are in peril, and a strange and eerie rendition whenever the villain is creeping in the shadows.

After Fallout’s handful of full frame IMAX sequences I was a bit disappointed that this movie, while partially shot for IMAX, remained in the wider 2.39:1 aspect ratio. It doesn’t take away from the movie but I personally was hoping some of the bigger stunts would be enlarged to the fill the whole screen with the IMAX aspect ratio. That aside the cinematography is fantastic and truly shows off how many of these stunts were filmed on location with practical effects. Close angles inside of vehicles, sweeping aerial shots, or well framed fight scenes demonstrate the craft that went into choreographing these scenes. The movie spans several locations around the world and they clearly filmed this in those cities and not on a set. Using the labyrinthine streets of Rome for a brilliant car chase or the narrow corridors of the Venetian canals for a claustrophobic hand to hand brawl, it truly takes advantage of the stunning places it was shot in. You must see this on a big screen with premium sound so I would recommend an Atmos or AVX experience over IMAX.

Each entry into the franchise has had its own unique feel and Dead Reckoning is trying to take the best bits of everything that came before to perfect what a Mission Impossible movie. This is definitely the most comedic and thankfully the humour fits. It is not quippy or distracting but used at the right moments to help humanize the characters and bring levity while not undercutting the more dark and heavy moments.

Overall this was one of the best theatre experiences of the year so far. I had high expectations after seeing Fallout but Dead Reckoning: Part One still delivered on all fronts. A tense and non-stop action movie, simultaneously satisfying on it’s own while perfectly setting up Part Two. You will enjoy this even more if you have been a fan of the series but newcomers to the franchise can still have a great time without having seen the previous movies.

9/10 - A near perfection of the Mission Impossible format, brilliantly paced tense action clearly shot in-camera, on location, and with real performers. This is what an action blockbuster should be and we need more of it. A must see on the big screen but not necessarily IMAX.

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