Three cheers for ‘Jack Reacher’ (three stars out of four).

[Perdogg]

My review of 'Jack Reacher'. No major spoilers.

[Perdogg]

I had never heard of the character of Jack Reacher until I saw ‘Skyfall’, let alone read any of the novels. I can understand why people complained about Tom Cruise playing a character 6’4” and for Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise. I am a big fan of Fleming-Bond, yet when I complain about Craig-Bond, I get comments like “it is a James Bond for crying out loud” and “Bond isn’t a real person”.

In 1987, Stephen King complained about Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Ben Richards in his novel ‘The Running Man’. However, such prejudices should not keep conservatives away from this movie. This is probably one of the most conservative movies to come out of Hollywood in a while.

The movie starts off with a horrific killing in Pittsburgh, where the movie takes place, and apparently it is committed by a retired Army sniper James Barr played by Joseph Sikora. Instead of confessing, he request that the police question Jack Reacher a retired Army policeman. Before Reacher can show up, Barr is beaten into coma. Reacher shows up at the hospital with the DA Rodin and Officer Emerson to question Barr and there he meets Rodin’s daughter, Helen Rodin, played the ever beautiful Rosmund Pike. There is not a scene in the film where the doe-eyed Rosmund Pike does not look stunning even though she struggles to keep her faux-American accent and to keep her ever jiggling cleavage in her tight dresses. Helen is defending Barr, apparently, because she has issues with her father the DA, who never takes a case he cannot lose.

Reacher is reluctant to get involved because he attempted to bring charges against Barr years before for a crime Barr committed in Iraq. Reacher only agrees to help Helen Rodin if she agrees to actually learn about Barr’s victim, which she does. After conducting a preliminary investigation and a seemingly coincidental incident, Reacher comes to the conclusion that Barr was frame for the murder. The movie with its twists and turns eventually leads to the final battle in a construction site and Cruise’s confrontation with the bad guy, played by Werner Herzog.

The thing I like about ‘Jack Reacher’ is the thing that was lacking in ‘Skyfall’. There is no psychobabble, no doubt among Cruise that what he is doing is right. This movie clearly delineates good and evil and is proud of it. Cruise is a man in this movie. He makes decisions without asking for permission and manages to take control of his situation. He can utter his lines too.

Despite the skepticism as Cruise as an action hero, he plays it convincingly enough to carry the film. This movie is not perfect, it suffers from the same clichés that any other crime film drama suffers from. This movie surprisingly lacks a major studio feel, despite having Cruise as its main star. I wish there was a little more background of the bad guy.

As a side note, the movie was edited in respect of the Sandy Hook victims, which one can easily figure out what scene was edited. However, unphased by events, Hollywood offers more violence in the coming months. The soundtrack by Joe Kraemer is appropriate and effective. There is no advantage to seeing this film in a theatre, if you want to wait until it hits netflicks in the spring and summer, it would not affect the quality of the movie.

[Perdogg]

ping

[Casie]

I hate that I know too much about his real life to enjoy seeing his movies. Now all his facial expressions look like variations of couch jumping for Oprah or his psycho attack on Brook Shields when she was suffering with postpartum depression, which he declared "not a real thing".

I can't even see his movie character. I can just see his freak face.

[Rummyfan]

Thanks for the heads up. Curious to see this flick.

[Eye of Unk]

I passed this movie up, possibly I will buy the Bluray disc later. I just cannot accept Tc and his scientology crowd, or his troll fan base who insist on hyping up this movie on other forums.

TC just isn’t Jack Reacher period.

[Dave W]

How silly.

[irishtenor]

jack Reacher is 6’5, not 5’6.
Sorry, Tommy, you are no Jack Reacher.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I am a Hollywood cynic of the first order. If Hollywood fell into the Pacific tomorrow I would hoist a cheer. However, having read every Reacher novel to date, I was amazed by this movie. It was obvious Tommy has read probably all the novels. You may not agree with his interpretations but the production and stunt work was simply stupendous. It’s my humble opinion that Tom worked his ass off to stay true to the spirit of Jack Reacher. He gave it everything he had. He drove that Chevelle SS for all it was worth. (Tom did the stunt driving as if you couldn’t tell.)

The sound work of that big block was magnificent I felt that big block thunder like no movie ever before. The scene in the back room of the auto parts store was so small and intimate. It’s so refreshing to see a film not over produced. It was what it was and I feel it may be a breakthrough movie in the same spirit of the original Die Hard.

just my 2 cents. Can’t wait for the Blue Ray so I can crank it up whenever the mood strikes me.

[Usagi_yo]

You said no spoilers then you included major spoiler.

[Rummyfan]

You said no spoilers then you included major spoiler.

What? Rosamund Pike's gifts?

[Isabel C.]

What? Rosamund Pike's gifts?

Yep, nice mounds of fat.

[LS]

Just saw “Premium Rush” on Direct TV: great movie.

[longfellow]

I am with you, can’t stand looking at shitheadcommie sean penn. EFF Hollywood. not another dime.

[Vinnie]

I thought Tom Cruise in ‘Collateral’ was very good to excellent.
Esp. the scene in the alley of the thugs stealing his briefcase. The gun handling was.. wow.
He must have practiced, practiced , practiced.

I’ve only read 1 Reacher novel but plan more.
Like Harry Bosch.

[Vinnie]

Re: the pic.
Thanks, I needed that. !

[mcmuffin]

Yum Yum.
Thanks, Rf!

[mcmuffin]

Good review, IJAO.

Not familiar with the Reacher novels, and not on the anti-Tom Cruise bandwagon. ((Hollyweird is aptly named and I couldn’t care less.)

Great movie without the superfluous special effects.

10 times better movie than the current Bond flick.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Harry Bosch is my favorite. I can’t think of one actor worthy of portraying him.

[Eye of Unk]

Bruce Willis could make it work.

[LSAggie]

+1