‘Mission Impossible’ — Cruise at his relentless best

The force of will — not nature, but human will — that we call Tom Cruise gets a serious workout in “Mission Impossible — Rogue Nation,” and it’s an impressive thing to witness. First of all, the man has stopped aging, and no one even thinks that’s weird. He is 53 but seems to have stopped the clock at 35, and if he keeps this up for another five years, it will be time to either call in scientists or start speculating about Lucifer.

His acting is also an act of will. Cruise brings a conviction to his scenes here that is only partly the character’s, but mostly it’s as if he keeps repeating, “I am Tom Cruise, and I am going to fill your mind with this very important thing I am about to say.