To extend the film (which it didn’t need), director Christopher McQuarrie has added flashbacks to the earlier films and given a few key players a curtain call. It’s a nice touch, but when the film runs nearly three hours, it isn’t exactly searching for filler. What it serves to do is show us the kind of stunts Cruise did in his early days.

The award-winning actress spoke with ABC News’ Linsey Davis about playing the president in the latest installment of the spy action series.