The Upside:
The movie is solidly crafted with respect to the director/editor/director of photography. The acting is universally sound at worst and, with men like Hoffman and Fishburne, is often good or even excellent. The action sequences are perfect for the moviegoer who, having reached his surfeit of Chaucer and Cicero, wants popcorn and explosions.
The Downside:
Not much character development, and not much gripping drama. The story is a bit ordinary too.
On the Side:
At one time or another, David Fincher, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Carnahan, Kenneth Branagh, Scarlett Johansson and Thandie Newton were all going to work on the project. Fincher dropped out to produce Lords of Dogtown, Carnahan left, Thandie Newton chose not to reprise her role from M:I2 in order to spend more time with her family, Branagh had to back out when shooting delays interfered with his forthcoming As You Like It, Scarlett Johansson pulled out and when Abrams came on Moss’ character, which had taken the place of the Thandie Newton character from the previous film, was scratched.
Final Grade: B-
Film Stats:
Starring: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Keri Russell
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Writing Credits: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, J.J. Abrams, Bruce Geller (television series)
Country: USA
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Run Time: 126 min.
Studio: Paramount (official site)
Trailer
By Matthew Alexander, Staff Writer for Film School Rejects
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
I enjoyed your review, Matthew. I found it very honest. I was going to write one myself, but I really had no motivation (and certainly nothing to rave about) after seeing the film.
You captured that in essence by saying it all about the huge action sequences and the horrendous climax and resolution. Simply dreadful ending. James Bond used to fight the bad guy on top of Golden Gate Bridge; here we get the bad guy and hero rolling in the streets of Shanghai.
My biggest problem is the film is so derivative. I found that to be even a worse flaw than the poor characteriztions. Yes, Hoffman is brilliant as always, but should have had more screen time.
Okay, how derivative is it? here's how. The movie borrows heavily from other films and TV"s greatest show 24.
24: the mole who is not a mole; the poor security at IMF; the lone rogue agent out on his own
Total Recall: the device shot up Cruise's nose
True Lies: the wife not knowing her husband is a secret agent
Speed: villain literally loses his head whilst on top of the hero
Goldfinger (and other Bond films): the impossibly gorgeous scenery; the implausibly brilliant nutcase villain
Besides these things, there is no humor in the picture. Bond always had humor, the quick retort, the arched eyebrow as he got the girl. We have none of that here (except a few good lines from Ving Rhames or Fishburne). Cruise doesn't take ownership of the part or imbue Ethan with any exciting traits. There simply is no reason to keep this hero or this franchise going.
The worst part of the film is starting it with Cruise handcuffed to a chair. We have nowhere to go from there. Most of the rest of it is flashback, so I know he's not going to fall off the building in Shanghai or die on the bridge or whatever. I think that was the poorest choice of all.
Final Grade of B-? Man, you are way too generous, Matthew.