Mission: Impossible (1996)

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Director: Brian De Palma

Writers: David Koepp and Robert Towne, from a story by David Koepp and Steven Zaillian, from the television series created by Bruce Geller

Stars: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave



Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) of the Impossible Missions Force becomes involved in a series of double-crosses and fake-outs regarding the possession of a list that exposes the identities of CIA undercover agents, culminating in an electrifying chase scene and launching arguably the most high-quality action franchise in the movies. 



It was reportedly a troubled shoot with conflict between the powerful star/producer and the director in addition to a last-minute script that had to connect the dots between previously planned action scenes.

 


The resulting plot was a bit of a mess, but the overall film works so well that plot holes seem beside the point. 



Watching this film in the theater in 1996 provided one of the most memorable film-going experiences of my life.

 


The crowded theater was so quiet you could hear a pin drop during the soundless scene in which Cruise descends on a line from the ceiling of a secure CIA vault. 



That was the moment something went wrong in the projectionist booth, and the film stopped. 



The pent-up tension was released in a memorable gush of outrage that was a tribute to the film.























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