Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning Review

An Interesting Cultural Paradigm for a Post Vibe-Shift America

Ultimatum is exploring a new format. I'll continue to craft my long-form deep analysis pieces and release my In Kino Veritās podcast every Wednesday. Today, however, I'm debuting a contemporary review series, blending succinct analysis with my signature reflections (spoiler free). Enjoy!

First Thoughts & Themes

What does a dashing white male lead, an '80s-inspired black/white guy best-friend duo, Russian baddies, a tomboy lesbian badass, unapologetic American global hegemony, a black female President, an alt-right would-be assassin, and unabashed celebrations of violence and risk-taking have in common? All feature prominently in this summer’s blockbuster: Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning and it’s attempt to set the new standard paradigm for post vibe-shift America.

This film attempts to establish a new cultural footing by navigating between lingering woke sensibilities and the emerging aesthetic values of a post-vibe shift era.

Whether it succeeds remains uncertain, but it undoubtedly reflects a critical turning point in American mainstream cinema. Final Reckoning walks a fascinating tightrope: it retains enough racial and sexual diversity to satisfy mainstream liberal sensibilities without the explicit, tokenized grievance politics characteristic of earlier 2020s films.

Noticeably, the film restores prominence to competent and charismatic white protagonists; something that, even a few years ago, might've sparked controversy. The subtle embedding of woke elements suggests an acknowledgment of liberal victories as a new cultural baseline, rather than something to overtly champion or confront.

If Final Reckoning’s cultural balancing act resonates with audiences, expect this nuanced formula to become Hollywood's default blockbuster template.

Now, to the actual film…does it deliver on the fundamentals?

P.S. I actually think this paradigm may very well work. LMK in the comments if you agree or disagree

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Brief Review

My experience with the Mission Impossible franchise was previously limited to its original 1996 entry. It’s a fun, action-packed thriller, albeit not exactly Criterion Collection material. Still, the franchise has long exemplified mainstream Hollywood action done correctly, and Final Reckoning largely honors this tradition.

For newcomers, though, the initial act is densely layered with references and call-backs, making the early narrative somewhat difficult to follow. Long-time fans might delight in these nostalgic nods, but casual viewers might struggle with the rapid introduction of characters and historical plot threads.

The film’s narrative centers around "The Entity," a rogue Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that has commandeered global cyberspace; rewriting history, altering media, and plunging the world into paranoia and martial law. Most alarmingly, this digital menace threatens planetary annihilation by hijacking global nuclear arsenals.

Ethan Hunt, played by the impossibly youthful Tom Cruise, must assemble his team-classic Mission Impossible fare-and retrieve the AGI's source code, aiming to destroy it entirely. Here, the film introduces a pertinent contemporary question: Can humanity responsibly wield the power of AGI, or will attempts at control inevitably fail, resulting in catastrophic consequences?

The film shines brightest in its action sequences. Cruise, famously performing his own stunts, delivers adrenaline-fueled spectacle and authenticity that many modern action films lack. His team's members though occasionally reduced to functional comic relief, maintain likability and cohesion throughout.

Interestingly, the most memorable scene departs from high octane action. A methodically tense sequence where Hunt navigates the interior of a sunken submarine in a cutting-edge diving suit. This slower-paced interlude nicely breaks the film's otherwise relentless tempo, highlighting effective pacing seldom seen in modern thrillers.

It was truly awesome and the best part of the film.

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Character Development & Performances

Despite my limited familiarity with the Mission Impossible series, the longstanding relationships among the characters felt genuine and well-earned. There's a palpable sense of camaraderie and shared history, particularly evident in scenes involving Ethan Hunt’s loyal, brilliant friend: proficient in everything from intricate medical procedures to navigating complex computer hardware. Such relationships, deeply embedded in the franchise’s lore, translate well even to newcomers.

The performances largely adhere to established action-thriller archetypes: the sexy femme-fatale assassin, the steadfast sidekick, the conflicted love interest.

Yet, the actors manage to elevate these standard roles through sincerity and charm. Tom Cruise, though offering little emotionally new, remains convincingly committed to his iconic portrayal of Ethan Hunt. Meanwhile, Hayley Atwell delivers a commendable performance, bringing depth and charisma to her character.

Unfortunately, her romance with Cruise’s Hunt occasionally feels contrived—perhaps relying too heavily on backstory or interactions developed in previous installments, leaving their relationship somewhat under-realized in this particuler film.

Still, Atwell’s nuanced delivery and compelling screen presence helped maintain my engagement, even when the script doesn’t fully flesh out her motivations or romantic chemistry.

Overall, while the emotional depth may be modest, the genuine warmth and believable bonds between the core cast members ultimately bolster the film’s appeal in my view.

P.S. The Inuit woman was wonderful & the best side-character by a mile.

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Finis

Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning achieves its primary aim. It entertains, even if it stretches slightly too long at 2.5 hours. The story itself offers little innovation, relying instead on well worn thriller conventions executed competently for the most part.

More intriguingly, is its clear intention to bridge the widening cultural divide in America’s post-vibe-shift landscape. Final Reckoning attempts to resonate across intellectual divides without pandering too overtly to either extreme; a balancing act as challenging as any stunt Cruise performs on screen.

Ultimately, its a fun action-packed adventure without much substance. Exactly what it was aiming for most likely.

Ultimatum Rating