Mission: Impossible

I started my recent Tom Cruise binge with Jerry Maguire, a movie that I deeply connected to on this particular rewatch. It was so refreshing to see Tom Cruise: Movie Star again, as opposed to Tom Cruise: Action Star as we know him today. Tom is a committed and talented actor, and watching that movie and a few that followed before he made the switch to mostly action was a refreshing reminder of why I'm such a fan. Tom was consistently making movies with top tier directors and filmmakers that challenged and entertained his audience. 

Mission: Impossible came out in 1996, the same year as Jerry Maguire,  so it's no surprise that this first entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise isn't so much action heavy as it is a spy thriller directed by auteur Brian DePalma (Blow Out, Dressed To Kill). Something about that year for Tom. He had just grown out of that boyish look (he's a BABY in Top Gun), and suddenly Tom becomes a little more confident, a little more captivating. He's really growing into Tom Cruise: Movie Star at this point and that's mostly what we get here too. 

Spoilers for Mission: Impossible to follow. 

After 6 entires, the Mission: Impossible franchise has become one of the most beloved action series out there. But again, this first installment is more than just action. Oscar winning screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown) and director DePalma were more interested in the intrigue of it all, the mystery. I never watched the show the film is based on, but I'm going to assume it was pretty close in tone . A slower, yet still entertaining thriller aimed at adults. 

Not to say the later entries betrayed any M:I trademarks, just that the series has become synonymous with action more than anything else nowadays. Not that that's a bad thing either, but I forget how small this movie is compared to the others. The stakes are high, but they aren't yet global. In fact, there isn't much globetrotting at all. Again, none of this is bad! The stakes are still clearly set, and they feel immediate and real. DePalma even kills damn near the entire team off as the first act twist (EMILIO!). It's pretty wild. 

Speaking of twists, it's so fun to watch this movie knowing how everything goes down, especially in the initial mission at the gala. You can't unsee the other IMF team now, but I love it. I also love that some of the masks worn in the movie are actual make up prosthetics, like when Tom is playing the Senator at said gala, it's just Tom Cruise in make up. It's a small detail, but one that I love none the less. 

Of course, the most memorable sequence is the NOC list heist, where Ethan and his team of disavowed agents break into CIA headquarters to get the list of all undercover agents over the world in an attempt to see who killed his team and why they framed him for it. Tom actually does a high wire act, entering the heavily guarded room from the ceiling and never touching the ground.  The entire sequence is a series highlight, setting the bar for set pieces to come. 

Aside from the green screen heavy finale (which is great, BTW), the action that is on display is largely practical and totally engrossing. Also, cool stunts! Not 'hanging off a cliff or building or plane cool, but still cool. 

This first entry proved to be a perfect blend of movie star, director, screenwriter, and premise that just works. No one could know that 5 more movies later, this would be considered one of the best action franchises ever. As such, this movie feel very singular now, yet it still feels part of the whole as well. Good shit, y'all.  

The film opened on May 22, 1996 and ended up grossing $180 million in North America and over $457 million worldwide, so of course Mission: Impossible II happens. And yes, part II is the only bad entry in the entire franchise, but I'm still looking forward to revisiting it and digging into why exactly it was the top grossing M:I film for 20 years. 

But that's for next time, my children.