2000’s Mission
Impossible 2, directed by John Woo.
Starring Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Richard Roxburgh, Ving Rhames,
John Polson, Brendan Gleeson, Rade Serbedzija, and William Mapother.
What is it about?
Mission Impossible 2
is the sequel to 1996’s original
film (itself based off the 1960-70’s Television series). Tom Cruise returns as
IMF super spy agent, Ethan Hunt, who has to duel with mercenary Dougray Scott,
who wants to unleash a Chimera virus on the world. With expert thief/love interest
Thandie Newton, and returning computer expert Ving Rhames helping, will Hunt be
successful in saving the world from villainy?
Why is it worth seeing?
MI2 is as much a
showcase for director John’s Woo’s talents and tendencies as MI’s is for Brian De Palma- again for
better or worse. Gone are the femme fatale vibes, vanquished in favour of
kinetic swoops and pirouettes, as well as metaphors such as the ocean and
doves. Narratively and chemistry wise it has its issues, but Woo leaves no rounds
in the chamber.
MI ‘s propensity for
over the top action was never in question, but 2 introduces a new phenomenon- that of superstar Tom Cruise as bat
shit crazy when it comes to performing his own stunts. Just how many waivers
did he sign before climbing the mountain seen here? The gulp factor alone will
have you throwing carabiners at the screen. Same for yet another building rooftop
entry mission, an exercise that will have you holding your breath in silence.
And that’s what it comes down to with the Mission
series- set pieces that blow you away. The plot stuff (literally in terms of
production) comes later and is of minimal importance.
Woo’s direction introduces (to the MI series) a new style: that of balletic poetry. Backed by Hans
Zimmer and siren Lisa Gerrard’s glossolalia score, there’s a kinetic motion, a
preference to suggestion and continuity, of swirls and fades in Woo’s interactions.
Whatever by stars staring at one another or exchanging gunfire, those elements
combined with heaping amounts of slow motion showcase Woo’s electricity he became
so renowned for in Hong Kong action cinema, not to mention his previous
American films (Hard Target, Broken Arrow, and Face Off). It’s a treat, until it’s not. Call it too much of a good
thing, or something lost in translation.
Cruise has long been criticized as being just another pretty
face, however, the 4 years that had elapsed between the original and this
sequel show a lot of improvement for Cruise (especially with what I believe to
be his peak: 1999’s Magnolia). He may
never win an Oscar, but there’s no false notes here, whether it’s him hanging
from a cliff or telling his chemistry-less partner what he thinks he should do
with a globe killing virus. It’s a good thing he’s so charismatic, as while
Dougray Scott brings more to the role of villain than Jon Voight, it’s not much more. And it’s
disappointing that love interest Newton reverts to damsel in distress mode,
after a promising start as an enterprising thief who plays a deadly game.
It’s no surprise that the producers of this franchise think
of their set pieces first, and then story second. Specializing in thrills that
are equal parts quiet and explosive, MI2 is a
promising add on to the original, possessing more energy and bombast while
eliminating the dated noir staleness of the original. While some scenes can
grate from lack of chemistry, trying too hard, and just outright lunacy, it’s a
thrill ride that knows what it is and doesn’t pretend otherwise. What’s better
than a spy that knows its purpose?
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