Impossible" franchise? Well, he may have spoiled his plans before the release of his next film. Cruise, 62, has been playing the role of Ethan Hunt since Brian De Palma's "Mission: Impossible" film in 1996.

Underwater and high in the sky, Tom Cruise's stunts are fantastic, but Cannes we get past the running exposition? A rapturous French premiere says that mission is quite possible.

Impossible character Ethan Hunt gamely takes on the burden, ad nauseam, of saving the world, Cruise genuinely thinks he can save cinema. His optimism is touching, if unrealistic. But as hard as he, and we,