<p>Mission Impossible Rogue Nation <br />English (U/A)<br />Cast: Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson and Sean Harris<br />Director: Christopher Macquarrie<br />Rating: 3 stars (***)<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tom Cruise is back again with the fifth film of the “MI” franchise. And yes, he and his team are doing the impossible again, like sliding off a top-speed motorbike with nary a scratch, or surviving car wrecks that would put Rohit Shetty to shame. And per usual, things keep getting too personal. And too James Bond-y for the film franchise to stand out. <br /><br />So while the Impossible Mission Force is dissolved and its personnel Benji (Pegg) Brandt (Renner) — Rhames’ character Luther Stickell comes in later — are absorbed by the CIA following pushes by its chief Hunley (Baldwin), Ethan Hunt (Cruise) goes into hiding, hunted by his own country as he himself hunts an elusive group called the “Syndicate”. And just like hunt seems one step ahead of the CIA, the Syndicate seems one ahead of him. <br /><br />Adding to the chase and action is Ilsa Faust (Ferguson), who it seems is either serving the nasally raspy British baddie (Harris), or aiding the MI6 take him down. Which is it? Decide for yourself.<br /><br />This isn’t director Christopher Macquarrie’s first collaboration with Cruise, and while the actor seemed miscast in “Jack Reacher”, he seems more of a plot device to execute the action scenes in “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation”, or “MI:5”, for short. Most of the memorable acting takes places between Renner and Baldwin, with Harris, Ferguson and Pegg putting in their two bits from time to time.<br /><br />The action takes place at a fast pace, necessitated only by the compulsion to cover plot holes or inconsistencies. And while the “impossible” element is present in a lot of the stunts, few of them seem plausible.<br /><br />In all, this is an out-and-out action film that merits leaving a lot of your brain alone, barring for the climax and the resolution of the crisis. The final capture of the antagonist is indeed a breath of fresh air, and the manner in which the IMF is reinstated — albeit predictable — is lifted beyond mediocre by what little histrionics Baldwin and Renner are allowed to display on screen. That alone merits half a star, which rounds off this review.<br />“MI:5” is a treat for your violent side. Go for the adrenaline rush. Expect little more.</p>
<p>Mission Impossible Rogue Nation <br />English (U/A)<br />Cast: Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson and Sean Harris<br />Director: Christopher Macquarrie<br />Rating: 3 stars (***)<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tom Cruise is back again with the fifth film of the “MI” franchise. And yes, he and his team are doing the impossible again, like sliding off a top-speed motorbike with nary a scratch, or surviving car wrecks that would put Rohit Shetty to shame. And per usual, things keep getting too personal. And too James Bond-y for the film franchise to stand out. <br /><br />So while the Impossible Mission Force is dissolved and its personnel Benji (Pegg) Brandt (Renner) — Rhames’ character Luther Stickell comes in later — are absorbed by the CIA following pushes by its chief Hunley (Baldwin), Ethan Hunt (Cruise) goes into hiding, hunted by his own country as he himself hunts an elusive group called the “Syndicate”. And just like hunt seems one step ahead of the CIA, the Syndicate seems one ahead of him. <br /><br />Adding to the chase and action is Ilsa Faust (Ferguson), who it seems is either serving the nasally raspy British baddie (Harris), or aiding the MI6 take him down. Which is it? Decide for yourself.<br /><br />This isn’t director Christopher Macquarrie’s first collaboration with Cruise, and while the actor seemed miscast in “Jack Reacher”, he seems more of a plot device to execute the action scenes in “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation”, or “MI:5”, for short. Most of the memorable acting takes places between Renner and Baldwin, with Harris, Ferguson and Pegg putting in their two bits from time to time.<br /><br />The action takes place at a fast pace, necessitated only by the compulsion to cover plot holes or inconsistencies. And while the “impossible” element is present in a lot of the stunts, few of them seem plausible.<br /><br />In all, this is an out-and-out action film that merits leaving a lot of your brain alone, barring for the climax and the resolution of the crisis. The final capture of the antagonist is indeed a breath of fresh air, and the manner in which the IMF is reinstated — albeit predictable — is lifted beyond mediocre by what little histrionics Baldwin and Renner are allowed to display on screen. That alone merits half a star, which rounds off this review.<br />“MI:5” is a treat for your violent side. Go for the adrenaline rush. Expect little more.</p>
