Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (5/5 Stars)

See Tom Run.

The plot of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is ludicrous. There is this rogue Russian ex-general who has gone insane. We see about a 30 second newsreel footage of him giving a speech in parliament about the necessary weeding out a thermonuclear war would play in furthering the course of human evolution. Given that logic he has been attempting to steal nuclear launch codes and to start a full out war between Russia and the United States. To this end he succeeds in framing special agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF for the bombing of the Kremlin in Moscow. The crazy man, played by Michael Nyqvist, spends most of his time running away from Tom Cruise who is running away from the Russian police. He is an undeveloped bad guy that functions less as a real person and more as a MacGuffin which enables the plot to go from high stakes scenario to high stakes scenario. Halfway through the movie I stopped caring. What became obvious to me halfway through the movie was that I was watching some of the best and well-made action sequences since “The Bourne Ultimatum.” I’m not even sure I wanted the guy to get caught because that would have ended the movie, which was ceaselessly thrilling. A critic may rationalize any viewpoint but cannot ignore involuntary bodily functions. For example, all laughter during a comedy no matter how low or stupid the jokes are must be admitted. In this movie, I can report that my stomach churned several times in the same way it would if I were on a roller coaster at Magic Mountain. This is a great action movie and worth watching just for the thrills. Do not wait to see it on video. See it in a theater and try to see it in IMAX.

It makes sense that the director of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” does not have any previous action movies under his belt. In fact he doesn’t have any live action movies under his belt. Instead the director Brad Bird is an alumnus from Pixar. He directed such animated movies like “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille.” This becomes obvious because unlike so many action movie directors, he has put in the effort to competently storyboard, shoot, and edit his action sequences. Everything is super clear, the laws of physics are obeyed, and the action proceeds logically but not predictably. I hope that this movie makes a lot of money and inspires other action movie directors to try a bit harder at their craft. Or at least let it be shaming. They've been one-upped grandly by a cartoonist. 

The coup de grace sequence in this movie involves Tom Cruise (as special agent Ethan Hunt) scaling the side of the Burj Dubai (the tallest building in the world) with these special gloves that may or may not functionally work. I don’t know how they did it safely but what is on the screen is seriously freaky stuff. That of course, is only part of a movie that includes several car chases (one in a dust-storm), fistfights, and suspenseful spy stings replete with some seriously cool gadgetry and large explosions. All of this is done exceptionally well. 

In fact, it is shot in such a way, that it is obvious that the stars are doing actual stunts. For instance, Tom Cruise is clearly racking up some serious mileage running as fast as he can in plenty of scenes. And there he is doing the actual fight choreography in several fistfights. You can tell because the camera shots are far away enough and have long enough duration to tell. As far as the stunts on the Burj Dubai are concerned, well the producers made sure there were several featurettes online showing Tom Cruise on the outside of the building to quell any suspicions that it was some stuntman doing it or that it was shot in a green room and the outside added later. He really is there. I consider this as counting toward some top-notch acting. What's more is that Cruise and the other characters actually look scared, surprised, or concerned for their lives when really crazy shit starts to happen. I have seen too many movies where nobody seems to notice large explosions or machine gun fire. I find it far more effective (and dramatically correct) when characters notice just how dangerous something is. Case in point: Tom Cruise's face when he drives his car off a platform with a hundred 100 meter drop. Give that guy an Oscar Nomination. That's exactly the facial expression he should have. Let’s see Meryl Streep do that.

The IMF team works very well both as an action ensemble and in another degree as a comedy team. Tom Cruise gets the plum action jobs but that doesn’t mean that Jeremy Renner (from “The Hurt Locker”) doesn’t have some good scenes as well (a particularly good one involves him infiltrating a super computer by jumping into an oven hoping that some magnets work (it makes sense in the movie)). Paula Patton for her part lands the starring role in the movie's best fistfight with a lady baddie played by Ley Seydoux. Rounding out the group is Simon Pegg providing computer tech savvy and his usual humorous self. Most of the situations are so tightly wound that the comedy pitches thrown to Pegg are routinely knocked out of the park like softballed lobs. One of the best moments in the movie has Pegg walking into a room and saying, “That was not easy, but I did it.” This gets a huge laugh. That sort of reaction can only be accomplished by having one of the most death-defying stunts in the movie happen right before that. Pegg's humor cashes in on the suspense consistently. I would go so far as to say that this is the best Mission: Impossible movie that has been made. I'm glad they made it. 

One thing that is noticeably absent in this particular installment of “Mission Impossible” is any hint of sex. In this, it follows the trend in American action movies in particular. There once was a time when James Bond had a pretty swinging lifestyle. You can’t say that about the Daniel Craig incarnation. And when did Jason Bourne have any time for that sort of thing. In this movie, Tom Cruise gets as close as a longing glance from several blocks away. Just saying. 

Slumdog Millionaire 11/22/08

This movie's plot is so simple, so likable, so perfect, and so poignant that one wonders why they haven't seen something like it before. A boy from the slums rises through society by his sheer wits to win the woman of his dreams. Awesome right? Who wouldn't want to see the ultimate underdog triumph and get the girl. This movie is like the love child of 'Forrest Gump' and 'Oliver Twist.' An incredibly good person, born in the worst places and faced with the worst people, has amazing experiences, is continually united and separated with the woman he loves until at the end, he triumphs by wits, luck, and destiny to become rich and win her heart. This movie is incredible. One of the best of the year. I loved this film. 
Funny thing is you won't recognize anybody in it. It all takes place in India and is an all Indian cast. In short, it is a Bollywood film. The only person you may be familiar with is the director Danny Boyle (Millions, 28 days later, Trainspotting). But don't worry, they speak English in India and the film contains as much cross over potential as 'Amelie' or 'City of God.' 
The movie has an ingenious structure. A boy goes on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' He has no formal education. Grown up in a slum and orphaned at a young age, nobody expects him to get past the third round. But somehow he keeps getting the questions right. How is he doing it? We are given four possible answers. A. He cheated B. He's lucky C. He's a genius or D. It is written. The police kidnap and interrogate him on suspicion of A. So he tells his story. In flashbacks we see how his many experiences have given him the answers to random questions he really shouldn't know. 
And in those flashbacks we learn of a girl he is in love with. With whom he considers he is destined. Truly she is one of the most beautiful women in the world. They met at a young age after they were both orphaned. They were separated by evil men that preyed on children. As teenagers, he and his brother saved her from these men. The two were together at last, until brother turned on brother and the girl was stolen once again. Through major effort he finds her again, only to be spurned once more. Will true love find a way? We sure hope so. The hero of this story is so likable its almost unfair. 
Between all of this drama is a riveting eye-opening look at India. We are shown poverty that is incredible, places that look unlivable, and a massive society that is going through a turbulent transformation into modernity. What were slums in the early part of the film turn into skyscrapers under construction in the latter part. We, the audience, are getting a glimpse of a part of the world that we have never seen. This movie is as comparable to India as the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics were to China. 
Through all of this we are guided by the truly masterful strokes of a great director: Danny Boyle. This is his masterpiece. His greatest achievement is to show us scary truth that isn't mired in despair. He will give us sites of landfills, truly evil people, shanties, and widespread pollution. But the tone of the movie is exuberant. The atmosphere is fun and jubilant. There is a true joy of performance in every role. The soundtrack mixes between Indian and Pop effortlessly. I loved it when they played an entire montage to 'Paper Planes' by M.I.A. 
I predict with great conviction that this movie will receive nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and possibly much more. It is hard to tell whether the unknown actors will be recognized, probably not I would say. This is Bollywood's breakthrough movie.