Mission: Impossible films have always been hit or miss. The first film, directed by Brian de Palma, kicked off the franchise with entertaining energy, only to be eclipsed by the overblown action of John Woo’s sequel. Although J.J. Abrams brought a fresh modern twist to the action, Brad Bird’s next installment lacked a consistent style. Just as the franchise looked poised to be dragged into a genre of generic action, director Christopher McQuarrie  used a slick pace, genuine suspense, and desperately-needed humor to bring the M:I series closer to top form. Despite an explosive start, the film drags as the conclusion approaches but leaves the audience yearning for a sequel nevertheless.

Mission: Impossible – Rouge Nation stars Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson as they attempt to bring down a rogue group of international agents known as the Syndicate. Christopher McQuarrie helms the project with impressive confidence. Having only directed the low-budget film The Way of the Gun in 2000 and the mainstream film Jack Reacher in 2012, he demonstrates a clear understanding of how to orchestrate a proper spy thriller. All the stars are is at his usual best, especially Simon Pegg as the comic foil and Sean Harris as the most chilling villain in recent memory.

The films strengths lie in pacing and unpredictability. The film never slows down from its opening scene (one of the most impressive stunts of the series) and the plot takes hair-pin turns, foiling any guess as to what lies in the future for our heroes. Due in large part to an extended sequence at an opera, the tension shimmers throughout most the film. The stunts, although few and far between, were laced with adrenaline and filmed clearly, without constant cuts to distract from the action.

M:I 5 is also the funniest Mission: Impossible film yet, clearly diverting from the franchise’s serious-minded gritty attitude. While the first hour and a half is more than satisfactory, the film does drag in the final act, just as circumstances should be reaching their climatic crescendo. Despite the last half hour, despite the stunt work and storyline, the absolute more memorable aspect of this Mission: Impossible is Sean Harris as the cold and stoic Nathan Lane. Harris plays his part with such cold indifference for human life, he nearly reminds one of Anthony Hopkins’s Hannibal Lector.

Though the film could’ve been far more entertaining by cutting off the last twenty minutes, MI: 5 is still a slick thrill ride as only a Mission: Impossible film could give you. The heroes are charismatic, the stakes were raised, and the villain is memorably chilling in his stoic ruthlessness. 6/10.