Movie Review: Mission Imposssible (1996) Tom Cruise, Fish Tanks, and Vault Heists

When Mission: Impossible debuted in 1996, it wasn’t just the beginning of a blockbuster franchise—it was a bold reimagining of a beloved 1960s television series, helmed by director Brian De Palma and headlined by a then-peak Tom Cruise. With sleek style, a memorable score, and espionage antics galore, it helped redefine the modern spy film. But how well does it hold up nearly three decades later? Let’s dig in.

Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, a sharp IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent whose team is ambushed and killed during a mission in Prague. Branded a traitor and left to fend for himself, Hunt must go rogue to uncover a mole in the agency, clear his name, and recover a stolen list that could compromise every undercover agent in the field. What follows is a globe-trotting game of cat and mouse filled with double-crosses, deceptive alliances, and that now-iconic Langley heist scene.

Brian De Palma’s fingerprints are all over this film. Known for his love of voyeurism, split dioptres, and slow-burn suspense, he brings a Hitchcockian flair to the genre. The use of Dutch angles, canted shots, and tight close-ups during scenes of rising tension heightens the feeling of paranoia. De Palma’s decision to focus more on deception and psychological chess than non-stop action gives the film a distinct tone compared to its more bombastic sequels.

Cinematographer Stephen H. Burum crafts a moody, atmospheric palette, especially in the fog-drenched streets of Prague and the high-tech sterility of CIA headquarters. And of course, Danny Elfman’s pulse-quickening adaptation of Lalo Schifrin’s iconic Mission: Impossible theme deserves a salute of its own—instantly recognisable, forever etched in action movie history.

While it may initially seem like a standard spy thriller, Mission: Impossible weaves in deeper themes about trust, betrayal, and identity. Ethan Hunt’s journey from team player to lone wolf mirrors his internal struggle with trust—every ally could be a traitor, every truth a façade.

Symbolism plays subtly throughout the film. Masks, both literal and metaphorical, feature heavily—not just in the spy gadgets but in the characters' behaviour. Who someone pretends to be, versus who they really are, becomes a core motif. Even the Langley heist, where Hunt dangles silently in a sterile white vault, is symbolic of his isolation: suspended, vulnerable, and alone in a system that has rejected him.

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt: Cruise delivers a solid performance, balancing steely resolve with just enough emotional vulnerability to make Hunt relatable. He’s not the unstoppable action hero here (yet); he’s resourceful, scared, and a touch reckless—a far cry from the superhuman agent he becomes in later instalments. (The famous vault scene was nearly scrapped due to Cruise’s difficulty balancing in the harness. The solution? Fill his shoes with coins to weigh him down!)

Jon Voight as Jim Phelps: A controversial move was bringing back the original TV show’s protagonist and casting him as the villain. It ruffled feathers among fans, but Voight delivers a convincing performance as a disillusioned spy who feels betrayed by the system.

Emmanuelle Béart as Claire Phelps is hauntingly mysterious but, arguably, underused. Meanwhile, Ving Rhames makes a memorable debut as Luther Stickell, the laid-back hacker who’d become a mainstay in the franchise.

While Mission: Impossible wasn’t a major awards magnet, it was a box office powerhouse. It grossed over $450 million worldwide and helped re-establish Cruise as both a critical and commercial force. The film received several nominations for its sound editing and stunt work, although it didn’t clinch any major trophies.

It did, however, spawn a franchise that would later earn accolades for its increasingly audacious stunts and reinvention with each sequel.

The production wasn’t without its bumps. Tensions reportedly flared between Brian De Palma and the studio, especially over the final cut and the complex plot, which some executives felt was too confusing for mainstream audiences. (They weren’t entirely wrong—some scenes still require a second watch to follow who’s betraying whom.)

Additionally, the decision to turn Jim Phelps into a villain led to serious backlash from fans of the original TV series, including some of the show’s creators. It was a bold move that didn’t sit well with purists, though it helped cement the film’s reputation as daring and unpredictable.

General viewers were captivated by the film’s slick style and edge-of-your-seat suspense. That Langley vault break-in? Instant classic. The exploding fish tank in the Prague café? Pure cinematic flair. But not all were thrilled.

Some viewers (and critics) noted that certain sections of the film, especially in the middle act, dragged on. The pacing occasionally falters, and the over-reliance on exposition to explain plot twists can feel clunky.

Side Note: Yes, some parts were a bit slow and predictable—especially once you start to figure out the formula: setup, mask reveal, double-cross, repeat. But for a film laying the groundwork for an entire franchise, it holds up remarkably well.

Mission: Impossible (1996) is a smart, stylish, and suspense-laden entry in the action-spy genre. While it lacks the over-the-top set pieces of its sequels, its focus on tension, deception, and psychological thrills gives it a flavour all its own, even if you need a diagram to map the betrayals.