IMDb > Mission: Impossible (1996)
Mission: Impossible
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Mission: Impossible (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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Mission: Impossible -- An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.

Overview

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Director:
Brian De Palma
Writers (WGA):
Bruce Geller (television series)
David Koepp (story) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Mission: Impossible on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 May 1996 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Expect the Impossible
Plot:
An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
3 wins & 6 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(4332 articles)
Revolution Turns MBC2 Viewers Off Movies to Reality
 (From Variety - TV News. 21 May 2013, 8:00 AM, PDT)
New TV Spot for Now You See Me with Jesse Eisenberg & Mark Ruffalo – ‘The Debunker’
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Damon Lindelof Reveals the Origins of ‘Tomorrowland’ and the ’1952′ Box
 (From Screen Rant. 20 May 2013, 5:10 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
call it a guilty pleasure See more (322 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Tom Cruise ... Ethan Hunt

Jon Voight ... Jim Phelps

Emmanuelle Béart ... Claire Phelps (as Emmanuelle Beart)

Henry Czerny ... Eugene Kittridge

Jean Reno ... Franz Krieger

Ving Rhames ... Luther Stickell

Kristin Scott Thomas ... Sarah Davies (as Kristin Scott-Thomas)

Vanessa Redgrave ... Max

Dale Dye ... Frank Barnes

Marcel Iures ... Alexander Golitsyn
Ion Caramitru ... Zozimov

Ingeborga Dapkunaite ... Hannah Williams
Valentina Yakunina ... Drunken Female IMF Agent

Marek Vasut ... Drunken Male IMF Agent
Nathan Osgood ... Kittridge Technician
John McLaughlin ... TV Interviewer

Rolf Saxon ... CIA Analyst William Donloe
Karel Dobrý ... Matthias

Andreas Wisniewski ... Max's Companion
David Shaeffer ... Diplomat Rand Housman
Rudolf Pechan ... Mayor Brandl
Gaston Subert ... Jaroslav Reid

Ricco Ross ... Denied Area Security Guard

Mark Houghton ... Denied Area Security Guard
Bob Friend ... Sky News Man
Annabel Mullion ... Flight Attendant

Garrick Hagon ... CNN Reporter
Jirina Trebická ... Cleaning Woman
Andrzej Borkowski ... Kiev Room Agent (as Andrzei Borkowski)
Maya Dokic ... Kiev Room Agent

Sam Douglas ... Kiev Room Agent

Olegar Fedoro ... Kiev Room Agent (as Oleg Fedorov)
Carmela Marner ... Kiev Room Agent
Mimi Potworowska ... Kiev Room Agent

David Schneider ... Train Engineer

Helen Lindsay ... Female Executive in Train
Pat Starr ... CIA Agent
Richard D. Sharp ... CIA Lobby Guard
Randall Paul ... CIA Escort Guard
Sue Doucette ... CIA Agent (as Suzanne Doucette)
Graydon Gould ... Public Official
Tony Vogel ... M.I. 5
Michael Rogers ... Large man
Laura Brook ... Margaret Hunt
Morgan Deare ... Donald Hunt

David Phelan ... Steward on Train
Melissa Knatchbull ... Air Stewardess
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Keith Campbell ... Fireman (uncredited)
Michael Cella ... Student (uncredited)

Emilio Estevez ... Jack Harmon (uncredited)
Harry Fielder ... Car Driver (uncredited)
John Knoll ... Passenger on Train in Tunnel (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian De Palma 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Bruce Geller (television series)

David Koepp (story) and
Steven Zaillian (story)

David Koepp (screenplay) and
Robert Towne (screenplay)

Produced by
J.C. Calciano .... associate producer
Tom Cruise .... producer
Paul Hitchcock .... executive producer
Paula Wagner .... producer
 
Original Music by
Danny Elfman 
 
Cinematography by
Stephen H. Burum (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Paul Hirsch 
 
Production Design by
Norman Reynolds 
 
Art Direction by
Fred Hole (supervising art director) (as Frederick Hole)
Jonathan McKinstry (uncredited)
 
Set Decoration by
Peter Howitt 
 
Costume Design by
Penny Rose 
 
Makeup Department
Rob Bottin .... special makeup effects
Lois Burwell .... chief makeup designer
Dave Elsey .... special makeup effects artist
Jirí Farkas .... makeup artist
Jim Feldman .... conceptual artist
Eithne Fennel .... chief hair stylist
Richard Glass .... contact lens optician
Amanda Knight .... key makeup artist
Seth Lombardi .... assistant hair stylist
Margaret Prentice .... prosthetic makeup artist: Mr. Cruise (senator disquise )
Lynn Rodgers .... hair stylist
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore .... contact lens technician
Lisa Tomblin .... hair stylist
Colin Ware .... special makeup effects artist
Thomas Floutz .... special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Christine Bodelot .... production manager
Kevin De La Noy .... unit production manager: second unit
Steve Harding .... unit production manager (as Steven Harding)
Ruth Hasty .... post-production supervisor
Michal Prikryl .... unit manager: Prague
Guy Tannahill .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul F. Bernard .... second second assistant director
Ernest Day .... second unit director
Kevin De La Noy .... first assistant director: second unit
Kate Hazell .... third assistant director
Martin Krauka .... third assistant director: second unit
Oldrich Mach .... assistant director
Dana Maederova .... second assistant director: Prague
Jirí Ostry .... first assistant director: Prague
Eric Schwab .... second unit director
Chris Soldo .... first assistant director
Michael Stevenson .... second assistant director
Lucie Stocková .... second assistant director: Prague
Julian Wall .... second assistant director: Prague
 
Art Department
Tony Allard .... propmaker
Edward Ambrose .... senior draughtsperson
Tony Chance .... illustrator (as Anthony Chance)
Peter Childs .... chief draughtsperson
John Chisholm .... prop man
Belinda Edwards .... production buyer
Jim Feldman .... conceptual artist
Kate Garbett .... art department coordinator
Tracey Holmes .... junior draughtsperson
Robert Jackson .... carpenter
Dick Lasley .... conceptual artist
David Lee .... assistant art director
Thomas Martin .... supervising carpenter
Pavel Nový .... construction manager
Chris Sibley-Hale .... carpenter
Tom Southwell .... conceptual artist
Simon Staines .... computer graphics designer
Krissi Williamson .... assistant buyer
Mickey Woolfson .... chargehand stand-by
Jan Zeman .... assistant art director
Colin Thurston .... dressing prop (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Ron Bartlett .... additional sound mixer
Tom Barwick .... foley artist
Jessica Bellfort .... assistant sound editor
Tom Bellfort .... supervising sound editor
Christopher Boyes .... sound designer
John Casali .... utility sound
Tomas Cervenka .... cable person
Clive Copland .... boom operator
David Crozier .... sound mixer
Tony Eckert .... foley mixer
Sean England .... sound re-recordist
Tammy Fearing .... foley editor
Chris Jenkins .... additional sound mixer
Shawn Murphy .... re-recording mixer
Philip Rogers .... sound recordist
Gary Rydstrom .... sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Scarabosio .... sound effects editor (as Chris Scarabosio)
Kevin Sellers .... assistant sound editor
Robert Shoup .... sound effects editor
Michael Silvers .... dialogue editor
Gary Summers .... sound re-recording mixer
Dennie Thorpe .... foley artist
Maia Veres .... assistant sound editor
Marian Wilde .... foley editor (as Marianne Wilde)
Matthew Wood .... foley editor
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle .... dialogue editor (as Gwendolyn Yates-Whittle)
Steve Slanec .... assistant dialogue editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Eric Allard .... special effects supervisor: All Effects Company
David Beavis .... special effects supervisor
Robbie Clot .... mechanical effects technician
Gary Cohen .... special effects technician
Terence J. Cox .... special effects senior technician
Raul Essig .... matchmove artist
Fernando Favila .... special effects producer: Rob Bottin Studio
Jim Feldman .... conceptual artist
Gustavo R. Ferreyra .... specialty props: London
Jules Findley .... special effects compositor
Terry Glass .... special effects technician
Moto Hata .... sculptor: Rob Bottin Studio (as Motoyoshi Hata)
Kevin Herd .... senior technician
Douglas D. Kelley .... special effects coordinator: All Effects Company (as Douglas Kelley)
Roger Nichols .... senior technician
Lyn Nicholson .... special effects coordinator
Nigel Nixon .... computer video playback buyer
Art Pimentel .... model/moldmaker: Rob Bottin Studio
Dave Roddham .... special effects trainee
Christopher S. Ross .... special effects prop designer: All Effects Company (as Chris Ross)
Andrew Ryan .... effects trainee
Robert Schofield .... wire effects supervisor
Dawn M. Severdia .... special effects makeup coordinator: Rob Bottin Studio (as Dawn Severdia)
Roman Tudjarov .... special effects technician
Jirí Vater .... special effects technician
David Watson Jr. .... special effects assistant
Andy Weder .... lead machinist: action props
Harold Weed .... model maker
John Weller .... special effects rigger
Gareth Wingrove .... special effects trainee
Ian Wingrove .... special effects supervisor
Trevor Wood .... special effects senior technician workshop
Edward J. Franklin .... prop shop (uncredited)
Josselin Mahot .... creature effects crew (uncredited)
Cliff Wallace .... special effects makeup (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Matthew Alexander .... computer and video technician (as Matthew Kok)
Alexandra Altrocchi .... visual effects coordinator: ILM
Karen Ansel .... technical director: ILM
Al Bailey .... digital plate restoration
Jeffrey Benedict .... digital effects artist
Stephane Bidault .... digital compositor: cinesite europe
Stella Bogh .... digital compositor
Stella Bogh .... visual effects designer: Computer Film Company
Scott Bonnenfant .... digital plate restoration
Marc Chu .... digital effects artist
Michael Conte .... digital effects artist: ILM (as Mike Conte)
Michael Corcoran .... CG resource assistant
James Doherty .... digital modeler: ILM
Loring Doyle .... digital rotoscope and paint: ILM
David Dozoretz .... digital animatic artist: ILM
David Dozoretz .... pre-visualization artist
David S. Dranitzke .... miniature unit coordinator (as David Dranitzke)
Sheena Duggal .... flame artist: ILM
Sheena Duggal .... lead Inferno artist: ILM
Paddy Eason .... lead digital compositor: CFC
Paddy Eason .... visual effects designer: Computer Film Company
Selwyn Eddy .... digital match mover: ILM
Andrew Eio .... computer/visual effects supervisor
Jon Foreman .... model mechanical designer
Scott Frankel .... digital compositor
Steve Gawley .... supervising model maker
Dan Glass .... visual effects designer: Computer Film Company
Michael Gleason .... visual effects editor
Dan B. Goldman .... digital effects artist
John Goodson .... model maker
Pete Hanson .... studio manager: CFC
John Hardwick .... digital compositor: Cinesite Europe
Ed Hawkins .... digital compositor: Cinesite Europe
Aaron Haye .... modelmaker: ILM
Robert Hill .... visual effects camera assistant
Samir Hoon .... technical director
George Hull .... visual effects art director
Paul Huston .... digital matte artist: ILM
Tom L. Hutchinson .... computer graphics supervisor: ILM (as Thomas L. Hutchinson)
Mathew C. Judd .... 3D modeler
Matt Kasmir .... digital effects artist
Susan Kelly-Andrews .... digital rotoscope and paint: ILM
Greg Killmaster .... technical director
Drew Klausner .... digital rotoscope and paint: ILM
John Knoll .... visual effects supervisor
Marshall Richard Krasser .... digital compositor: ILM
Stefan Lange .... Visual effects cameraman
Sharon Lark .... digital effects producer: Cinesite Europe
Angela Leaper .... digital effects editor
Joe Letteri .... associate visual effects supervisor
Kim Libreri .... digital effects supervisor
Jodie Maier .... digital match mover: ILM
Kim Marks .... visual effects director of photography: London bluescreen photography unit
Tom Martinek .... digital effects artist/animator: ILM
Stuart T. Maschwitz .... digital effects artist (as Stu Maschwitz)
Roni McKinley .... visual effects producer: ILM
Scott McNamara .... model mechanical designer (as Scott McNamera)
Dennis Michelson .... visual effects producer: CFC
Richard Miller .... sculptor/modeler
Terry Molatore .... digital rotoscope and paint: ILM
Mark Moore .... concept artist
Jim Morris .... senior staff: ILM
George Murphy .... computer graphics supervisor: ILM
Patrick T. Myers .... senior digital effects artist: ILM
Mark Nettleton .... senior compositor: Cinesite Europe
Ken Nielsen .... digital effects artist (as Kenneth Nielsen)
Alison O'Brien .... visual effects producer: CFC
Michael Olague .... visual effects gaffer
Chris Panton .... visual effects designer: Computer Film Company
Eddie Pasquarello .... digital compositor
Kevin Phelan .... scanning and recording producer: CFC
Cary Phillips .... CG staff
Joshua Pines .... scanning & film recording supervisor: ILM
Jonathan Privett .... digital compositor: Cinesite Europe
Eve Ramboz .... visual effects
Cordy Rierson .... digital effects
Fedele Rinaldi .... compositor
Barnaby Robson .... digital compositor
Martin Rosenberg .... visual effects director of photography: helicopter crash sequence photography unit
Susan Ross .... viewpainter
Thomas Rosseter .... digital compositor
Kim Smith .... model maker
Simon Staines .... computer graphics designer
Andy Stevens .... visual effects camera assistant: Magic Camera Co
Eben Stromquist .... model mechanical designer
Ole Dieter Sturm .... senior computer graphic artist
Frank W. Tarantino .... special effects technician: ILM
Ginger Theisen .... visual effects coordinator: ILM
Paul Theren .... digital modeler
Christopher Townsend .... digital effects artist
Bruce Vecchitto .... digital timing supervisor: ILM
Danny Wagner .... model maker: ILM
Erika Wangberg Burton .... plate coordinator: bluescreen photography unit, London (as Erika Wangberg)
Jeff Wells .... digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital
Tim Wellspring .... visual effects assistant: CFC
Andy White .... senior digital effects artist: ILM
Russ Woolnough .... visual effects editor
Richard Yuricich .... visual effects supervisor
Ken Dailey .... visual effects coordinator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Guy Hudson .... matchmover (uncredited)
Alex Jaeger .... model maker: ILM (uncredited)
Matt Johnson .... digital compositor (uncredited)
Russell Koonce .... digital effects artist (uncredited)
Karl Nettmann .... pyrotechnician: titles (uncredited)
Joe Pavlo .... digital artist (uncredited)
Stephen Sobisky .... project manager: Viewpoint Datalabs (uncredited)
Charles Tait .... data operator (uncredited)
Chad Taylor .... Sabre artist: ILM (uncredited)
Doug Tubach .... digital compositor (uncredited)
Kevin Willmering .... digital rotoscope and paint supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Keith Campbell .... stunts
Graeme Crowther .... stunts
Ray De-Haan .... stunts
Tracey Eddon .... stunts
Jamie Edgell .... stunts
Dean Forster .... stunts (as Dean Foster)
Sarah Franzl .... stunts
Paul Jennings .... stunts
Vincent Keane .... stunts
Tom Lucy .... stunts
Lee Millham .... utility stunts
Chrissy Monk .... stunts
Gerard Naprous .... stunts
Dinny Powell .... stunts
Gary Powell .... stunts
Greg Powell .... stunt coordinator
Lee Sheward .... stunts
Keith Campbell .... stunt double: Tom Cruise (uncredited)
Sarah Franzl .... stunt double: Kristin Scott Thomas (uncredited)
Greg Powell .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Batten .... clapper loader
Richard Blanshard .... still photographer
Murray Close .... still photographer
Andy Cole .... electrician
Tony Cridlin .... grip
Adam Dale .... camera operator: Wescam camera
Ernest Day .... director of photography: second unit (as Ernie Day)
Sandra Dillon .... assistant camera
Shaun Evans .... clapper loader
Darren Flindall .... rigger
Kevin Fraser .... key grip: second unit
Bill Geddes .... camera grip
Gordon Hayman .... camera operator
Rawdon Hayne .... first assistant camera
Andy Hopkins .... camera crane operator
Larry Huston .... Steadicam focus puller: London
Igor Jelen .... electrician
Michael Kelem .... aerial camera: Washington D.C.
Larry McConkey .... Steadicam operator
Pat Miller .... electrician
Nick Pearson .... crane grip
Nigel Seal .... assistant camera
Laurie Shane .... gaffer
Ron Shane .... best boy
Jaromir Simek .... electrician
Petr Svoboda .... electrician
Peter Versey .... camera operator: second unit
Paul Borg .... electrician (uncredited)
Richard Brooks Burton .... aerial first assistant camera (uncredited)
Steven Desbrow .... remote head technician (uncredited)
Rick Fee .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Dominic Walton .... computer video playback (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Mali Finn .... casting: USA
Patsy Pollock .... casting: UK
Emily Schweber .... casting associate
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Avery .... costumer: women
Ken Crouch .... wardrobe supervisor (as Kenny Crouch)
Bela Friedlová .... wardrobe
Kirsten Hecktermann .... assistant costume designer
Verity Jackson .... wardrobe assistant
Hana Kucerova .... costume supervisor
Marcus Love-McGuirk .... wardrobe daily
Adrian Simmons .... costumer: men
Nancy Thompson .... costumer: Mr Cruise
Sarka Zvolenska .... set costumer
 
Editorial Department
Gordon Antell .... assistant film editor
Simon Cozens .... assistant editor
Paul Elman .... assistant editor
Mike Jackson .... assistant editor
Dennis McNeill .... color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Nick Moore .... first assistant editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed .... negative cutter
 
Music Department
Steve Bartek .... orchestrator
Bob Bornstein .... music preparation
George Doering .... musician
Artie Kane .... conductor
Kenneth Karman .... additional music editor
Mark McKenzie .... orchestrator
Shawn Murphy .... score recordist
Maria Newman .... musician
Bryan Pezzone .... musician: piano
Lalo Schifrin .... composer: theme music
Ellen Segal .... music editor
Edgardo Simone .... orchestrator (as Edgardo Fimone)
Steven Scott Smalley .... orchestrator
Sharon Smith .... second music editor: temp music
Jacqueline Tager .... assistant music editor
Patti Zimmitti .... music contractor
 
Transportation Department
Mark Davies .... unit driver
Zdenek Flídr .... transportation coordinator
Václav Kocman .... driver
Gerry Turner .... driver
 
Other crew
Sandrine Ageorges .... location manager
Jon Baker .... armorer
Graham Bartram .... software engineer
Tania Clarke .... assistant to director
Kyle Cooper .... title designer: main and end titles
Patsy de Lord .... production coordinator
Diana Dill .... script supervisor
Sue Doucette .... technical advisor
Michael Doven .... production associate
John Eccleston .... assistant accountant
Andrew Eio .... computer systems coordinator
Olegar Fedoro .... additional dialect coach: Russian
Kay Fenton .... script supervisor
Zdenek Fiala .... location manager
Nicolas Foulatier .... assistant location manager: France
Sean Garman .... set runner: Prague
Timothy J. Gorman .... on set runner
Hugh Gourlay .... location assistant
Constantine Gregory .... dialogue coach
Lil Heyman .... production coordinator: second unit
Robin Higgs .... location manager: second unit
Marianne Jenkins .... assistant production coordinator
Barbora Kolarova .... interpreter
Jana Kraliková .... unit interpreter
Simon Marsden .... location manager: Prague
Mickey McDermott .... executive assistant to Emilio Estevez
Simon McNair Scott .... location manager
Tim Monich .... dialect coach
Dennis Muren .... creative advisor
Kathy Orloff .... unit publicist
Justin Owen .... technician
David Paris .... helicopter coordinator
David Paris .... helicopter pilot
Daniela Pavlova .... unit interpreter
Pavlina Prikrylova .... production secretary
Stefano Priori .... accountant: second unit
Martin Sebik .... key production assistant: Czech Republic
Olivier Servanin .... location scout: France
Ivan Vakarac .... location manager
Dita Valentinova .... interpreter
Jean-Pierre Verard .... production staff
Chris Warren .... video coordinator
Cameron Watson .... dialogue coach
Marc Wolff .... helicopter pilot
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc .... helicopter pilot: Washington D.C. (as Bobby Z)
David Kerney .... production accountant (uncredited)
Katerina Lahodova .... interpreter (uncredited)
Richard Sharkey .... assistant location manager (uncredited)
Phil Stoole .... production assistant (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some intense action violence
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French | Czech
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #33988) | Ireland:PG | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:M | Italy:T | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)
Filming Locations:
Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UKSee more »
Company:
Paramount PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Alan Silvestri was originally hired to score the film, and had written roughly twenty-three minutes of music before he was taken off. He recycled the material he had written and used it for the score to Eraser (1996). Bootleg copies of his "Mission: Impossible" score are in circulation.See more »
Goofs:
Factual errors: The Eurostar train is an electric train (like most trains in western Europe), which usually runs on 25'000 volt overhead lines. This makes the scene on top of the train, and a helicopter landing on the roof of the train, impossible. Until a proper overhead line was installed on the English side, though, the Eurostar train had a capability to run on a third rail system using 750v, which is common in England.See more »
Quotes:
Ethan Hunt:I thought I was going to see Max.
Matthias:You misunderstood. No one sees Max.
Ethan Hunt:Then what am I doing here?
Matthias:Allowing Max to see you and hear what you've got to say.
Ethan Hunt:I don't communicate very well through a shroud.
Matthias:If Max doesn't like what you have to say, you will be wearing that shroud indefinitely.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Fairly OddParents: Mission: Responsible/Hairicane (#6.2)" (2008)See more »
Soundtrack:
Divertimento in E-Flat Major for String Trio (K.563)See more »

FAQ

Why does Jim shoot himself?
What did Ethan Hunt deduce from the bible?
What is the song played at the end of the movie as it cuts to the credits?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
11 out of 15 people found the following review useful.
call it a guilty pleasure, 13 December 2008
Author: TheUnknown837-1 from United States

Every now and again, you will come upon a film that you know really isn't the best movie in the world, or even a particularly good movie on its own. And yet, despite its glaring flaws and imperfectness and lack of completion, you do find yourself strangely attached to it because it has a charm to itself that keeps you interested. Call it a guilty pleasure.

Mission: Impossible is my guilty pleasure. It's based on a 1960s television series created by Bruce Geller and the movie with Tom Cruise is kind of like a mash-up between The Bourne Identity and the James Bond pictures. Basically, the standard spy movie. Tom Cruise plays a spy who is falsely accused of betrayal to his organization and finds himself working with some unlikely partners to track down the real mole in the system and expose him and clear his name. Now, this is a plot as old as the hills and Mission: Impossible works with it just as well as the others. Not enormously well, but on an acceptable level.

Tom Cruise is great as the film's action hero lead, unfortunately his supporting cast is quite uninteresting. Another defect worth noting is the film's convoluted plot, which sometimes is hard to follow. This is caused by a screenplay in need of revisions. That's one of the film's major weaknesses and really the reason why it's just a standard spy movie with lots of cool gadgets instead of something special.

But that's really my only significant complaint about Mission: Impossible. Those rather small, unimportant defects left aside, and leaving the movie to its own devices, it works out well especially in its action sequences. Again, it's all been done before, sometimes better sometimes worse, but that doesn't meant it's boring or overdrawn. In fact, sometimes it's very primal. There is one scene in particular that I found intense and suspenseful on a hair-raising level. The scene goes on for an unremittingly long time, keeping us on the edges of our seats, and the best thing of all is that it's silent. The filmmakers could have chosen to go along with some dark, heavy music or some ominous heartbeat sound effects to put us in the same shoes with the characters, but the fact that it's quiet—too quiet for our liking—makes it so much more compelling. I only wish the rest of the movie was like this scene. Then it really would have been special.

Nevertheless, De Palma's Mission: Impossible works out well for what it is and unless you're not a fan of the standard spy movies or action pictures in particular, of if you have your standards and hopes up too high, I imagine you will enjoy it. Again, it is kind of a guilty pleasure, but hey, it was a lot of fun.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (322 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Mission: Impossible (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Snore Fest kiasoul9
Ethan Hunt or James Bond? mr_wilson-20-926929
I just didn't understand the deal with the Bible SPOILERS sn939
Mouse in Vent, Supper?? Does anyone know how the mouse died? pluto-11
Tell My Why This Movie Is Bad tylrmcgill
'Your mission, *should you choose to accept it' sky1290
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