Paramount Pictures Skydance Media and TC Productions’ Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is a spy action film. IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is assigned the task of retrieving half of a key from his ally, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). He loses the half key to professional burglar Grace (Hayley Atwell). His friends, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) are guiding him in his mission which is to not only get hold of the full key but to also destroy the Entity, an experimental AI which major powers are out to gain control over. To gain control of the Entity, both halves of the key are required. Community agents and Gabriel (Esai Morales), an Entity liaison officer, are also after the key.
Grace gives the half-key to arms dealer Alanna Mitsopolis (Vanessa Kirby) in Venice. Through this, Ethan hopes to find the buyer of the complete key and the purpose it is going to be used for. By a turn of events, Grace collaborates with Ethan. They decide to board the Innsbruck-bound train where Alanna is supposed to meet the buyer. Gabriel is also on the train, with subordinate Paris (Pom Klementieff). Besides, former IMF director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) and Director of National Intelligence Denlinger (Cary Elwes) are also on the same train. Who will get the key and how?
Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen have written a complete masala film with plenty of twists and turns, friendships and betrayals, drama and action. The first half has one very lengthy action sequence which seems to be never-ending but the second half moves at a very fast pace and, therefore, keeps the audience engrossed. Although the climax, like the rest of the film, lacks novelty, it, nevertheless, has a lot of thrill and excitement for the viewers.
Tom Cruise once again shines as Ethan Hunt. He is outstanding and endears himself to the audience so much that the cinema halls resound with rounds of applause every time he does the impossible. Hayley Atwell is first-rate in the role of Grace. She makes her character believable. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg lend marvellous support as Luther Stickell and Benji Dunn. Rebecca Ferguson makes her mark as Ilsa Faust. Vanessa Kirby leaves a fantastic impression in the role of Alanna Mitsopolis. Esai Morales is impressive as Gabriel. Henry Czerny is adequate as Eugene Kittridge. Pom Klementieff has her moments as Paris. Cary Elwes is adequate as Denlinger. Shea Whigham (as Jasper Briggs) is natural. Greg Tarzan Davis (as Jasper Briggs’ partner, Degas) is alright. Frederick Schmidt (as Alanna’s brother, Zola Mitsopolis), Charles Parnell, Rob Delaney, Indira Varma and Mark Gatiss (all four as heads of the Community), Mariela Garriga (as Marie), and the others lend fine support.
Christopher McQuarrie’s direction is appealing. He plays to the gallery with a fast-paced action thriller. Lorne Balfe’s background music is phenomenal. Fraser Taggart’s cinematography is fantastic. Stunts and action scenes are simply breathtaking. Gary Freeman’s production designing is of a high standard. Special effects and visual effects are outstanding. Eddie Hamilton’s editing is sharp. Dubbing is fantastic.
On the whole, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a hit. It may have started a bit slow but its collections will grow as the positive word of mouth spreads.
Released on 12-7-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 2 shows), Maratha Mandir (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Publicity: very good. Opening: fair. …….Also released all over. Opening was good in the national multiplex chains but ordinary elsewhere. The original English version has also released simultaneously. It is expected to fare better than the dubbed Hindi version.