> REVIEW
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Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
No Plan. No Backup. No Choice….
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By Conor Hunter | December 2011
DIRECTOR: Brad Bird
WRITER(s) Josh Appelbaum/André Nemec/Bruce Geller (source)
There are a number of reasons why the latest instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise is of particular interest. For one, it’s the first film of the series to be shot partially on an IMAX camera. It also marks the first live-action film directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), and finally it’s another chance to see Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and the rest of the IMF force back in action.
The use of IMAX cameras and a director known for animated features implies that Ghost Protocol will be a film based around spectacle and in this respect Bird’s actioner doesn’t disappoint. A film strung together by edge-of-your-seat action sequences with beautiful direction and composition. The final, exhilarating action sequence in particular is deftly and intelligently choreographed.
However, while Bird’s background in animation has certainly helped deliver a visually pleasing film, the fact that he has only ever directed “children’s films” before does tend to show. The action and comedy clichés come thick and fast, the witty one-liners soon begin to grate and there are many scenes which wouldn’t go out-of-place in a parody such as Austin Powers or The Naked Gun. Of particular annoyance is Simon Pegg’s character Benji, who strains so hard in his role as the comic relief and appears so inept in the field, one quickly begins to hope that the next explosion will take him out with it.
Jeremy Renner is onboard as William Brandt; a character thrown into a situation and completely out-of-his-depth is so similar to the character of Benji that it destroys the equilibrium in character dynamics and makes it appear that Ethan is the only man on the team who is actually competent. An all too brief cameo from Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell only serves to highlight the lack of balance in characterisation.
The film’s antagonists are bland and one-dimensional, defined by their nationality more than anything else. While not uncommon for the genre, there is a feeling of something missing compared with the performances of Jon Voight, Dougray Scott and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman in previous outings. The performances from Cruise (stunts aside) and female lead Paula Patton are equally uninspiring and typical of the action film genre.
The plot is essentially the same as the first film with an added nuclear threat that intends to build tension but in reality only shatters the suspension of disbelief. Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec’s script is too often confused and full of exposition, with a particularly jarring flashback at the beginning.
Still, Ghost Protocol boasts enough action, plot twists and gadgets complete with technological product placement to keep fans happy. However, as aesthetically pleasing as it is, there really isn’t much else to support the film.
Script…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Its sole function is to move the plot to the next action sequence. A joke towards
the end about the corny one-liners is not enough to excuse their abundance. 2
Direction………………………………………………………………………………………..
Bird delivers beautiful and well-choreographed action sequences but the
characterisation feels forced and cliché. 3
Verdict…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Despite its obvious faults, Ghost Protocol remains an impressive spectacle,
especially on the IMAX screen. 3
