“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” didn’t fare as well commercially as Paramount expected, taking in $452 million in its theatrical run so far. And most of that comes from overseas, particularly China, where the film is a big hit. But lower numbers than “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” aside, the seventh film in the franchise is still a smash hit critically, and fans can’t wait for the sequel that arrives in theaters June 28, 2024.
But Paul Schrader doesn’t feel that way. World Of Reel reports that the ornery septuagenarian director took to Facebook to deride Christopher McQuarrie‘s big-budget actioner, leveling his attack at the film’s script. “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — DEAD RECKONING. Such tiresome claptrap,” wrote Schrader. “There’s no reason that AI, given the correct prompts, could not have written this script.” Ironic, then, that the big bad in “Dead Reckoning Part One,” besides Esai Morales‘ Gabriel, is an an omnipotent AI dubbed the Entity, poised to take over the world.
“Tiresome claptrap”? Well, the “Mission: Impossible” movies aren’t renowned for their scripts; twisty, turny, and convoluted though they are. But perhaps Schrader misses the point about these movies, at least the later ones McQaurrie has helmed. This series is most of all about the action set-pieces, and McQuarrie and Tom Cruise have both clarified that they brainstormed set-pieces for “Dead Reckoning Part One” and then worked the script’s story around them. So while, yes, that may not be conducive to a tight, tense, top-notch plot, it’s also not what McQuarrie and Cruise are going for here. And likewise, that’s not what Schrader should expect.
But then Schrader has never been one unafraid to voice his opinion. And he did so for another summer blockbuster last month, Christopher Nolan‘s “Oppenehimer.” Schrader’s Facebook take: “OPPENHEIMER.The best, most important film of this century. If you see one film in cinemas this year it should be Oppenheimer. I’m not a Nolan groupie but this one blows the doors off the hinges.”
In short, “Oppenheimer” is an explosive tour de force, and “Dead Reckoning Part One” is so tiresome even a computer could write it. Never change, Mr. Schrader. Let’s hope he has more hot takes on new films as he preps his next feature which sees him reunite with “American Gigolo” star Richard Gere. What are the odds Schrader likes the latest from his movie brat pal Martin Scorsese?
