Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation

The fifth incarnation of the Mission: Impossible franchise begins with a spectacular, pulse-pounding stunt in which IMF agent Ethan Hunt climbs aboard a huge cargo plane as it's taking off (and that is really Tom Cruise!). Ethan discovers that terrorists known as The Syndicate, led by sinister Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), are discrediting the IMF by recruiting former intelligence operatives around the world to destabilize countries and eliminate major international figures. But no one will believe him, including the incoming CIA chief (Alec Baldwin), who disbands the entire operation. Enter mysterious Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a lithe femme fatale ostensibly from Britain's MI6, who has infiltrated the Syndicate, yet may or may not be playing both sides. Since she resourcefully saves Ethan's life—not once but twice—she earns some credibility with suspicious IMF operatives (Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg). Adding unexpected touches of humor, writer-director Christopher McQuarrie here superbly crafts intricate, fast-paced, espionage suspense, with numerous highlights, including an eye-popping assassination attempt in the Vienna Opera House during Puccini's Turandot; a daring dive by Ethan into a whirling maelstrom; and a car-and-bike chase in Morocco. Cruise is heroically resilient, often matched stunt-for-stunt by Sweden's stunning Ferguson. (And in the interests of full disclosure, my son, Don Granger, was one of the producers for this exciting entry in the long-running series). Highly recommended. [Note: Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by star Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Heroes…” (8 min.), “Cruising Altitude” (8 min.), “Mission: Immersible” (7 min.), “Lighting the Fuse” (6 min.), “Cruise Control” (6 min.), and “Sand Theft Auto” (6 min.), and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine action thriller.] (S. Granger)