Tom Cruise has had a remarkable career, starring in numerous spy thrillers such as the Jack Reacher series and 2017’s “American Made”. However, it’s his work in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise that truly stands out. Based on a TV series of the same name, these films follow the adventures of the highly resourceful and determined Impossible Mission Force (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt.
The franchise made its debut in 1996 and immediately garnered strong reviews and impressive box office figures. Although the second installment saw a dip in critical acclaim, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 56%, the franchise has since significantly improved in terms of filmmaking quality and has remained successful over the decades. In fact, the last four films have received critical praise, and the franchise has amassed a staggering $4 billion in worldwide box office earnings. The eighth installment, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, is set to be released next summer.
One particular film in the franchise, “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”, has received a low rating from a CIA expert for its perceived lack of realism. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this fifth installment features Ethan and his team going up against The Syndicate, an international group of rogue government agents aiming to obtain nerve gas. Despite its commercial and critical success, earning a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and grossing $682 million globally, it didn’t fare as well in the eyes of former CIA counterterrorism officer John Kirakou.
In a YouTube video for Insider, Kirakou analyzed several scenes from “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”. He first looked at a scene where Ethan is searching for nerve gas and acknowledged that major intelligence services do indeed hunt for chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. He then examined the scene where Ethan Hunt arranges a meeting to exchange crucial information to save Benji’s (Simon Pegg) life. While Kirakou noted that the situation was somewhat close to real-life scenarios, he pointed out that the tactics and technology depicted were not realistic. Ultimately, he gave the film a rating of four out of ten. Here’s his detailed assessment:
“So at the beginning of this clip, Ethan Hunt was told that he’s looking for nerve gas. That’s true. I mean every major intelligence service hunt for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
There are elements of reality in that sometimes part of the job, especially in counterterrorism, is that you have to put yourself in dangerous positions like that. There was one situation where I was handling a double agent. He didn’t know that I knew he was a double agent and he didn’t know that I knew that he had been instructed to shoot me in our final meeting. So we had prepared a team just like you saw here in the clip to protect me. It’s not as sexy as this is, with a beautiful woman sitting there next to you with a gun in your ribs to do you the favor of killing you, and the technology isn’t on your contact lens. But the idea is correct on realism.
I’d give it like a four because the danger of that final meeting, sure, is accurate. It’s a little cooler than it is in real life and the rest of it’s just Hollywood.”
Kirakou’s rating and the realism of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise are still great. As long as a film’s lack of logic doesn’t shatter our suspension of disbelief, we don’t necessarily deduct points for realism unless the absurdity is blatantly obvious. So far, the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has managed to strike a balance and has delivered movies that don’t depend on authenticity for their success. Instead, they rely on heart-pounding action, elaborate set pieces, talented casts, and Cruise’s real-life stunts that are as daring as the feats of his onscreen character. These elements have been key to the franchise’s success, and Cruise and McQuarrie have continued to raise the stakes with each new installment.
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