IMFMission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Directed and Written by Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Alex Baldwin, Simon Pegg

After working with Cruise on the excellent Edge of Tomorrow and also on Jack Reacher, McQuarrie seems to understand how to make a Cruise movie better than anyone. This movie could not help but make me wonder what was the first non-stop action movie? A movie where there were no romantic interludes, no friendly exchanges of longer than two sentences, no visits to Mom. Because that’s what this movie excels in-moving smoothly from one action scene to the next. Only during the sequences featuring torture does the pace slow.

But that’s not a criticism exactly. This is a smooth, lucid, good-looking, exciting film. One scene taking place in the Vienna Opera House is both beautiful and thrilling. We are offered a serviceable if slightly familiar villain, several nice twists, enough humor to leaven the action and good rapport between members of the IMF. Nobody will go away hungry.

Patti Abbott
In addition to being the Crimespree Senior Film Critic, Patti has penned numerous short stories and her debut novel, CONCRETE ANGEL, is in stores now. She hosts a look at Forgotten Books every Friday with readers, writers and reviewers at pattinase.blogspot.com. She hopes you’ll join in.