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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 28 July 2018
Q&A: McQuarrie talks action, Cruise, 'Mission: Impossible'

By LINDSEY BAHR test screenings. Never got
Associated Press a studio note. The fact that
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In pre- I cut two giant stunts out
vious "Mission: Impossible" that were in the first trailer,
movies, action often came and yet that scene stayed?
first, and story second. That's something I'm im-
It's almost ironic then that mensely proud of.
when writer-director Chris- AP: What was going
topher McQuarrie and Tom through your mind when
Cruise decided to focus on Tom Cruise got injured dur-
character for the sixth mov- ing filming?
ie, "Fallout," now playing McQUARRIE: Disaster is the
nationwide, they'd end up opportunity to excel. When
with the most exciting "Mis- you make enough movies,
sion" ever — wall-to-wall you realize that setbacks
with stunning set pieces in are a natural part of the
helicopters, trucks, motor- creative process and if you
cycles. Even a three-man don't panic, they almost al-
fight in a public restroom is ways turn to your benefit.
a standout sequence that So as soon as he broke his
rivals the very real danger ankle, my first concern was,
Cruise put himself in (106 "Is he OK" not, "Oh no this
times) to do a parachute is going to ruin the movie."
jump from 25,000 feet. In this July 22, 2018 file photo, actor Tom Cruise, left, and director, writer, producer Christopher I knew this was going to in
McQuarrie, 50, a Holly- McQuarrie attend the premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" in Washington. some way benefit the film.
wood journeyman who Associated Press And it did. We shut produc-
won an Oscar 22 years tion down. Tom went right
ago for writing "The Usual making the sixth, and best- to make a more emotional AP: And yet your action into physical therapy. And I
Suspects," has been one of reviewed, "Mission" movie. movie, a more character- sequences are notably co- went into the editing room
Cruise's go-to guys for a de- Remarks have been edited driven movie that's more herent — no shaky cam, no and started to assemble
cade, writing "Valkyrie" and for clarity and brevity. about Ethan. By keeping contrivances. Why do you the movie. I was able to
"Edge of Tomorrow" and di- ___ our heads down and fo- do it that way? make the discoveries I nor-
recting "Jack Reacher" and AP: How did you do this? cusing on that it didn't re- McQUARRIE: I'm obsessed mally wouldn't have made
2015's "Mission: Impossible McQUARRIE: We did not set ally occur to us just how big with clarity and geography. until well after the film was
— Rogue Nation." out to make you know the ("Fallout") was until we were Those are the first two rules finished.
He spoke to The Associated biggest, giant-est, craziest, well into it. As we started of any action sequence ... AP: What are your aspira-
Press recently from Seoul most outrageous "Mission" to take stock as the mov- For me it's important that tions from here?
about his crazy feat, and ever. I said to Tom I want ie started to take shape you sit back and the movie McQUARRIE: I started di-
we realized, "Oh my God comes at you and requires recting as a means of mak-
we've got this sequence, nothing from you in terms ing the one movie I really
that sequence, this other of comprehension. What dreamed of making and
sequence." In a previous that demands of the ac- never got there. Where my
"Mission: Impossible" any tors is that they bring the career changed was when
one of those stunts would energy. And when you look I stopped asking, "Would
have been The Stunt. at that bathroom fight, it's you make my movie" and
AP: That's surprising that it's very straightforward: Three started asking, "How can I
not all mapped out metic- guys fighting in a bath- help you make your film?"
ulously. room. But the actors were And the change was im-
McQUARRIE: Tom said with all so focused and so re- mediate. I went from not
"Rogue Nation," ''I want hearsed and so dedicated making a film for seven
the audience to experi- to what they were doing, years to working on 13 or
ence what it's like for us to the energy is on screen, not 14 movies in the last 10
make movies." There's very in the camera work. And I years. I just go through the
little difference between don't get inside the fight. I door that opens. I'm fol-
watching a "Mission: Impos- stay outside of it. Just over lowing whatever happens
sible" movie and making a one character's shoulder. and currently I've got Tom
"Mission: Impossible" movie. What I'm doing is essentially Cruise saying, "All right,
A lot of these things we're making you a bystander. what are we doing next?"
making up as we go along. I'm putting you right in the That's a very difficult thing
There's very seldom a fin- action. to walk away from.q
ished script when we go AP: Is there a set-piece
into production. We come you're most proud of?
up with big crazy ideas in McQUARRIE: The things I'm
the middle of the movie, most proud of are the emo-
so people are forced to tional moments. Ilsa (Re-
scramble to put them to- becca Ferguson) following
gether and it's always a Ethan is the definition of
race against the clock. The what we call shoe leather.
vibe of what you're feeling And it cannot survive the
when you're watching the "get to the next moment
movie is what we feel every right now" process of film-
day when we go to work. making. That survived four