I want to hate Tom Cruise.
Sorry. Hate is a horrid word. Despise, then.
I want to despise Tom Cruise.
I blame his face. And his off the screen actions. And his religious choices.
See? When I put it on paper it seems rather disgusting to despise someone for such things. Although that Scientology stuff is so incredibly filthy. But I guess Tom saw Going Clear too because rumor is he is leaving the cult. So maybe it will be ok to embrace the fact that, as a Movie Star, I like Tom Cruise. And considering he has been a “A-Lister” for 30 years I think it is safe to say that a lot of people like to watch Cruise pretend to be badass.
His most redeeming quality is the documented fact that he is a nut. I’m not talking about the jumping on the couch or the arranged marriages (plural). I’m speaking about the “I’m the biggest Star in the world and I do my own damn stunts, dammit!” thing that has led to many a spectacular action sequences over the years.
And the older Cruise gets, the higher the bar goes.
The stunts in Mission Impossible- Rouge Nation are fantastic. Harrowing and breathtaking. That’s all you need to know. Tom hangs from a plane, speeds on a motorcycle and reportedly holds his breath for 6 minutes (although that underwater scene looks incredibly aided by computer effects and this claim may be as valid as existence of Xenu).
This fifth installment nearly hits the same level of entertainment achieved by Ghost Protocol, capturing the chemistry and comedy of the supporting cast. These films have become action-by-committee as Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames are back to provide laughs.
While watching the film I couldn’t help think that these Mission Impossible films are much like the Fast and Furious films: they have gotten better as the series goes along and they fully embrace the ridiculousness of what is going on up on the screen. Rouge Nation is an action film of the modern time. Self-aware, over the top and fully committed to showing you something to get your toes curled.