QUICK CUTS #14

How Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning fares, Sean Penn's escape from Macau, and a look at those that served...

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, and Esai Morales

🍎🍎🍎 1/2

Over nearly 30 years and eight Mission Impossible films, almost everyone has a favorite Tom Cruise (or Ethan Hunt) stunt. There have been plenty of jaw-dropping mountain hangs, yet there have also been death-defying motorcycle chases, tense underwater assignments, and even underrated hand-to-hand combat scenes in unlikely places. His nail-biting wire sequence in the first Brian De Palma-directed film might have set the template for purists, but the ante was surely upped in subsequent parts. Hanging off the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is a personal favorite, but close behind was his barehanded ascent on a military plane, and a motorcycle jump off a steep Norway mountainside (filling in for an Austrian setting). Not as obvious, but no less admirable, were what seemed like countless running and chase scenarios across rooftops in Paris and London (during which he infamously broke his ankle while filming MI 6).

During Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, supposedly the final film in the Tom Cruise era of the franchise, the actor once again runs as if his life depends on it, and even jumps off a real U.S. carrier ship (which would be the ultimate stunt for most actors to tackle). Not content with that, though, Cruise also appears to fly a 1930s Boeing Stearman biplane in a genuinely thrilling sequence before jumping off and onto another model 10,000 feet in the air. He’s also reportedly claimed that his pivotal extended underwater diving scene, which was likely far more intense to film than it is to watch, was the most difficult thing he had to do in this movie.

But it would be hard to convince the moviegoer next to me of that, as he was fast asleep by this time. And while that may seem a surprise as Tom Cruise is running, jumping, hanging, and flying his heart out for you, the movie ticket buyer, the truth is that this film is not only lengthy (at nearly three hours), but wildly chunky and uneven. As the first hour is spent paying homage to MI films of yesteryear, it’s also surprisingly killing off a main character, following up on more recent additions, and getting us up to speed on the current state of the world. This time out, that world seems more jingoistic and ultra serious too, with Angela Bassett as the U.S. President, Nick Offerman as one of her key military advisors, and Henry Czerny as a CIA Director determined as ever to take Hunt down.

It also doesn’t help that a mysterious AI form known as “The Entity” — so prominent in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One — a film with a far more coherent pace — is once again the main villain. You can’t see it. It doesn’t talk. And yet, it’s about to take over the world’s nuclear weapon arsenal and kill everybody! Muhahahaha… Hoping this happens, and doing all he can to help it complete the task, is Gabriel, portrayed with appropriate smugness by Esai Morales, who pops up now and again to remind everyone what a bad guy he is and Muhahahahaha, how he’s going to help destroy the world! His sentiments are cartoonish, but menacingly effective.

Far more welcome are appearances and scenes with various characters who have played such pivotal roles in previous films. Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames lead the pack with a mostly serious tone here, but are also capable of providing laughs and deep emotional depths when it’s required. Meanwhile, Hannah Waddington and Tramell Tillman make the most of their brief turns as Admiral Neely and Captain Bledsoe. And Hayley Atwell (Grace) and Pom Klementieff (Paris) steal scenes as a pickpocket and an assassin, respectively. “I don’t think, that’s your job,” Paris says to Hunt at one point in French. “I kill people”.

If it is to be the end of this MI-Tom Cruise era, well, you can’t go out much better than what director Christopher McQuarrie and company have cooked up for the final half hour. It’s genuinely thrilling, with a surprisingly powerful emotional touch. And the door is left open just enough that if there is another mission (should Ethan Hunt choose to accept it), then the gang will certainly come together again. One just hopes that the villain is more human than “The Entity” and that the stunts are just as creatively inventive, yet perhaps, more age-appropriate. After all, at 62, Tom Cruise isn’t getting any younger.

THE GREAT MACAU ESCAPE!

During a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux podcast, actor Sean Penn was asked about his 1986 arrest, in, of all places, Macau, for, of all things, attempted murder! It all took place while Penn was making the film “Shanghai Surprise” (which Penn skewers under his breath here). He ends up filling in the blanks in an incredulous tale that will have frequent visitors to the Portuguese enclave nodding knowingly with a smile…(full story below)

THEY SERVED

There have been some notable deaths in the entertainment industry over the past several weeks. Among them was three-time Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Robert Benton, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 92. Benton was best known for directing the 1979 Best Picture winner “Kramer vs. Kramer”, as well as co-writing “Bonnie and Clyde”. He also won an Oscar for the screenplay for the Sally Field starrer “Places In The Heart” and directed Paul Newman in a late career film “Nobody’s Fool”, another Academy Award nominee.

Joe Don Baker, seen above, was generally known for either playing a cop or the heavy (and sometimes both at the same time) in dozens of films. One of his best-known roles was as the pure but violent sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 film “Walking Tall”. Other roles included parts in “Charley Varrick”, “Fletch”, “The Natural”, “Cape Fear”, and three James Bond films. Baker passed away earlier this month at the age of 89.

And just this week, George Wendt, best known for his role as Norm in the hit TV series “Cheers”, passed away in his sleep at the age of 76. His happy-go-lucky beer-drinking role in the comedy garnered him six consecutive Emmy nominations, though he never won. Wendt also had several other eclectic acting appearances, including as a Saturday Night Live “superfan”, a frazzled Dad in one of Michael Jackson’s music videos, and appearances in such films as “Fletch”, “Never Say Die”, and “Spice World”.

THE FINALE

A look at the Aurum Theater, Exchange TRX in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition to offering IMAX and a 270-degree panoramic capability, there’s much more going on than what’s showing across the 11 screens. Luxury recliners, private cabins, bespoke service, and regular drink specials are all part of the experience. Those who truly want to indulge can order fresh omakase dishes, burgers, milkshakes, and more, freshly prepared and delivered right to your seat.

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How Do You Like Them Apples?

(out of five)

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 = Golden Delicious

🍎🍎🍎🍎= Honeycrisp

🍎🍎🍎= Granny Smith

🍎🍎= Esopus Spitzenburg

🍎= Rotten To The Core