The Next Reel Film Podcast

“Well, this is not ‘mission: difficult’, Mr. Hunt. This is ‘mission: impossible.’ ‘Difficult’ should be a walk in the park for you.”

Hunt’s Back for Love, Doves, and Viruses!
Returning for a sequel to their hit, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner decided to explore the franchise with a different director – something they’d continue doing for the first five films. For this, they went with Hong Kong action filmmaker John Woo. Known for his over-the-top action set pieces, his use of slow motion, and his use of doves, it may seem a bit of a surprise that what Woo really wanted to inject this sequel with was romance. But is that where the film goes wrong? Or did it have issues even without the love story? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our ‘Mission: Impossible’ series with a conversation about Woo’s 2000 film Mission: Impossible 2.

Here’s a hint at what we talk about.
While it may seem natural to hire John Woo to direct a Mission: Impossible movie, it’s quite a surprise that this is the worst of the franchise. Woo’s filmmaking style doesn’t seem to fit. It feels like it’s a different universe than where the rest of the franchise takes place. But is that strictly Woo’s fault? Was it partially the story put together by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga? Or the final script written by Robert Towne? It’s hard to say, but the romance Woo wanted to inject into the story certainly doesn’t help.

And that’s one of our primary complaints. Nya, as played by Thandiwe Newton, could be an interesting expert thief character but they drop that angle instantly and restrict her to love interest and pawn. Plus, by the time we get to the end of the film, they completely bail on Nya as a potential threat to humanity with the virus she’s carrying. No wonder Newton had such a miserable time making this movie.

But there’s also the angle of the virus and antidote. It seems very James Bond villain-esque, but even there it’s less about threatening the world and more about making a little money. Maybe it’s because we struggle with Dougray Scott as the villain, or the fact that his relationship with Newton’s Nya seems less likely than a possible gay relationship with his right hand man played by Richard Roxburgh. 

Cruise does start his crazy stunts here with the wire work as he’s doing the free solo climb. His later stunts and action set pieces aren’t too bad, but they never feel great. It has its moments, but this film just never feels like it’s doing what it needs to be doing. Still, it makes for a fantastic conversation. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.