MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING - PART ONE (2023) **** Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Lementieff, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Frederick Schmidt, Mariela Garriga, Cary Elwes. The latest entry in the supercharged espionage franchise is at full tilt with Ethan Hunt (Cruise control at his finest) facing the odds of global collapse no thanks to a suddenly sentient AI energy hellbent on wiping out humanity with perilous hurdles to jump and strong support from a new unlikely ally (hello slippery yet engaging thief Atwell!) and his stalwart team (avuncular Rhames and cagy Pegg on all cylinders) and lethal love interest Ferguson (all by the way at the top of their respective games). Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie has cobbled a well-crafted and high octane script with Erik Jendresen and giving a shot of adrenaline in the highly entertaining adaptation of the Bruce Geller's classic series with current events rising and jaw-dropping set pieces (the leap of faith motorcycle sky fall HAS to be witnessed in IMAX!) filled with hair-breadth escapes from high speed chases, close quartered fighting and knife wielding battles. Kudos to the film's not-so-secret weapons in its skillful blend of girl power including Lementieff's inner Harley Quinn forthcoming as a martial arts villain and a welcome return of Kirby's smoky-trilled arms dealer. One of the year's best films.