Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

Director Christopher McQuarrie
Screenplay Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendersen
Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny, Pom Klementieff

Once more, into the breach. Tom Cruise gifts the world with another non-CGI extraveganza with a relatively coherent, yet still interesting plot. In this 7th episode of the movie series lifted from the classic television show, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and company are pursuing an artificial intelligence (AI) program called Dead Reckoning.The prelude gives us the clear impression that the AI has no particular interest in being pursued.

Hunt is summoned by now CIA Director Eugene Kittridge (a wonderful callback by the woefully under utilized Czerny) to obtain two keys essential to the program. The U.S. Government is one of many entities that feel they could put this to use as a potential weapon of course. Then there is Gabriel (Morales), a ghost from Ethan’s past who would like to get the keys so he might unleash the power of AI on the world in a blast of chaos. Hunt, of course, wants to kill it.

The pursuit is interupted by pickpocket Grace (the apt and delightful Atwell), and once she’s caught up in the intrigue, her life is changed forever.

McQuarrie and Cruise have pullled this series right to the top of the heap in an era where many movie makers feel justified making films with such animation as to feel like literal cartoons of CGI. What we experience with the first entry Dead Reckoning, beyond some of the best action sequences of the year, is crisp dialogue, nice but not complex plot points, enjoyable character development, and for the first time in a few films, actual stakes.

One might not enjoy the sacrifices made in the effort to save the world for the seventh time, but it certainly gives hope that the conclusion of the series could go any direction. That’s a feeling that has not existed for a few films.

The effects are all top rate, especially the climax, Everyine is utilized effectively, especially newcomer Atwel and Klementieff. I don’t think I have seen a film with so many female action characters. Cruose is such a generous co star everything feels completely legitimate rather than forced.

Stories vary as to whether this is the second to last entry for Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Personally I don’t see him stopping this or any amount of filming until way after he’s become a candidate to be replaced by AI. That may be why he wants to stop it.

(***** out of *****)