Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning”
Stars: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Janet McTeer, Greg Tarzan Davis and Nick Offerman
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Scriptwriters: Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen
Composer: Max Anuj and Alfie Godfrey
Cinematography: Fraser Taggen
Skydance/Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Running Length: 165 Minutes
Well, action fans, Tom Cruise has survived filming Part Two of the “Mission Impossible: Reckoning” film in which Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) continues to keep the world safe from destruction. Since the villain here is mechanic, (artificial intelligence) and out to re-create the world in its image, the battle is on. From the moment the curtains open and the film begins, hold on to the popcorn container and your soft drink because you will be on a roller coaster ride. The team of actors who work with Cruise are here and that includes Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementlieff and Greg Tarzan Davis. Angela Basssett plays the United States President. This time, the rich soundtrack is by Max Anuj and Alfie Godfrey, with the “wow” cinematography by Fraser Taggen. All set? Here we go.
The basic story continues from the last “Reckoning” film and concerns chasing Gabriel (Esai Morales) who worked with Entity, the new artificial intelligence. It is a game of cat and mouse with stunts you wouldn’t believe, and yes, there is hanging from a plane, included. Hunt and his team have to keep the Entity from destroying the current world and building one of its own. Also, there is a sort of Doomsday Cult that forms around the Entity and they have to be dealt with. There is a way to destroy this creation, but how fast to get it and this involves traveling the globe in pursuit of bad guys. Some of the hold-your-breath moments are when Ethan is in a submarine trying to escape while the thing is falling apart under water. The other concerns being up in the air, and I mean UP with death-defying stunts. Tom Cruise gives us his all. This is akin to “Top Gun: Maverick.” The last Tom Cruise box office hit.
The film is long and each of the major cast members has his or her moments to be on screen. My favorite is always Ving Rhames and whose character of “Luther” is always a winner. Simon Pegg has the sense of humor and Esai Morales is a properly nasty villain. Angela Bassett has the Presidency down pat. Hayley Atwell works well with Tom Cruise as does Greg Tarzan Davis. However, there are moments when the camera catches a look at Cruise’s face and there is a certain sadness there. A reflection of time past and what is to come in this land of movie making. Ay age 62, there are just so many planes to hang from and just so many villains to chase.
From beginning to end, “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is on full charge. This is just a guess, but methinks there are other installments ready to be made into “Mission” films. We know Tom Cruise is here to stay. Since under the water and in the air have been taken, how about a moon landing? There must be a traitor there somewhere.
Four Tocks
Copyright 2025 Marie Asner
