Bill Bodkin – Mission: Impossible
The first film in the Mission:Impossible remake franchise is a ballsy film. Seriously, did I just say that. Yes, yes I did. Why did I say it? Because the film takes the original show’s hero, Jim Phelps (in series played by Peter Graves, on film played by Jon Voight), and makes him the villain. Think about it, how easy could it have been to have Tom Cruise play Jim Phelps and have him battle some foreign-accented super spy? I mean that’s a lay-up, right? And with Cruise’s bulletproof box office record at the time, it would’ve made millions regardless. However, the movie decided to do something radical — and making Jim Phelps the villain was a bold move that paid off in spades. The move created a great air of mystery and suspense, but it also shed the cliche of of films adhering to a strict adaptation of a show to film.
The movie itself, is amazing. It’s got tremendous rewatchability and the CIA high wire scene is still one of the most tense action sequences of the last 20 years. Throw in a fun performance from Ving Rhames, original music by U2, dynamic Brian DePalma camera work and a poop joke that actually made sense and you’ve got one hell of a film. The sequels have paled in comparison, so if you haven’t seen it (and it’s been nearly 20 years), check it out immediately.
http://youtu.be/ujoSR_BfevQ
Serenity.
Damn! How did that slip my mind? There may be an addition coming to this piece.
Any of the “Jackass” movies.