Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Photo: Paramount Pictures
By Megan Bianco
The Mission: Impossible franchise has become one of the most unlikely, yet most successful, movie series in Hollywood. Starting out as just a gritty remake of a popular television show, the M:I flicks are some of the most guaranteed hits, critically and financially. This is mainly because of its star: Tom Cruise. While each James Bond has come and gone each decade, there has been only one Ethan Hunt. This August, Ethan and company are back in action for Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation.
Following Ghost Protocol, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) has now gone rogue with his sidekick Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) while fellow agents Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) are on the lookout for him. Ethan thinks he can prove the Syndicate exists and is out to assassinate the world’s leaders. Along the way, he finds a new ally in possible double agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson).
Alec Baldwin co-stars as the CIA director and Sean Harris portrays the lead villain. With the exception of M:I-2, Mission: Impossible is one of the few franchises to continue growing in quality with each movie. Granted, the plot itself in Rogue Nation is basic espionage intrigue like the previous features, but Christopher McQuarrie’s direction, the quick editing and effects and the cast’s chemistry excel to great results. Cruise is good as usual, but the real stand out is Ferguson, who leads the movie all on her own when Ethan isn’t on screen. Rogue Nation shows this summer’s blockbusters are still delivering the fun and excitement.