Behind the Scenes of High-Risk Cinema
In the sprawling world of cinematic stunts and action sequences, few can rival the audacity and dedication of Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise. He is known for his relentless commitment to delivering authentically jaw-dropping spectacles, Cruise often steps in where most actors might shy away. His recent stint on the set of the newest Mission: Impossible film, Dead Reckoning Part One, is no exception.
Co-stars Pom Klementieff and Vanessa Kirby offered an insider’s perspective on witnessing Cruise’s high-risk feats firsthand. They were both present on set when Cruise, reprising his role as the indomitable Ethan Hunt, drove a motorbike off the precipice of a cliff six times in a row.
During an interview with NME, both actors confessed to the sense of disbelief and awe they experienced. The daring spectacle left the crew, notably the two actresses, holding their breath in anticipation of Cruise’s safe return.
“It was mind-blowing,” shared Klementieff, who plays the role of the ruthless French assassin, Paris.
The Ironic Calm in the Eye of the Storm
While the entire crew was on edge during the daring sequence, Cruise was the eye of the storm, the bastion of calm amidst the tension. Vanessa Kirby, who returned to the franchise as Alana Mitsopolis, found this role reversal ironic.
“Everyone else was so nervous and fearful, and he wasn’t. I just thought it should have been the other way round,” she remarked.
The Heart-Stopping Stunt
Recalling the breathtaking stunt, Klementieff painted a vivid picture of the suspense in the air during the daring sequence. The sheer audacity of the stunt, combined with the anticipation of its execution, created a high-strung atmosphere on the set.
“We stopped breathing when he was jumping,” she explained. “And then someone would yell, ‘Canopy!’ you know, when the parachute opens, and we would all cheer and applaud. And then he would do it again,” she chuckled, highlighting Cruise’s almost superhuman endurance.
Few would dare to perform such risky stunts, but Tom Cruise is not known for shying away from a challenge. A featurette released before the film’s premiere revealed his extraordinary dedication to authenticity and excellence. The actor completed over 500 skydives and made over 13,000 motocross jumps to prepare for the stunt that would stun his co-stars and no doubt leave audiences speechless.
The Unexpected Twist: AI Themes in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
While the film excels in epic action sequences, it explores unfamiliar territory by exploring artificial intelligence (AI). Produced in 2021, directors Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise incorporated themes that would prove startlingly prescient in the face of the growing influence of AI, like ChatGPT.
“The problems come when Dead Reckoning tries to be too clever… Now, as ChatGPT dominates the internet and we all wait anxiously for robots to make us redundant, the film’s setup seems like a masterstroke. But it’s sadly also its downfall,” read part of the NME review.
According to the review, mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One begins with a promising first third. However, it descends into a series of drawn-out exposition sessions. These sections see thinly drawn side characters expound at length on the apocalyptic yet somewhat vague threat of AI, arguably leading to a convoluted and over-ambitious narrative.
Even the primary antagonist, the enigmatic Gabriel, portrayed by Esai Morales, fails to comprehend his fast-evolving gadget. This mysterious device, alleged to predict the future, contributes to an intricate plot that seems to echo popular AI-themed narratives like Westworld. The film attempts to mirror the cerebral depth of these narratives but, according to the NME review, ends up a “half-baked Christopher Nolan brain fart.”
Nevertheless, the film still promises a thrill ride for viewers. Tom Cruise’s dedication to performing his daring stunts continues to be a significant draw for audiences.
Despite the plot’s thematic missteps, the spectacle of Cruise’s breath-taking stunts and the behind-the-scenes stories shared by Klementieff and Kirby ensure that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will remain a hot topic in entertainment circles for quite some time.
