Review by Joseph Anthony
It will come as no surprise that Tom
Cruise is a convincing hero as title character JACK REACHER. Cruise
plays an ex-Army, no-nonsense justice seeker drifting on the fringeS of society turned homicide investigator. He is a ghost by
most societal standards – no driver’s license, no phone, no
address, and just one outfit.
JACK REACHER, based on the novel One
Shot by Lee Child, tells the story of an investigation after five
civilians are shot by a sniper in broad daylight in downtown
Pittsburgh. When the main suspect, Barr (Joseph Sikora) – also
ex-Army – is detained and charged, Reacher shows up in the DA’s
office as if by tough-guy magic (he saw the report on the news).
Reacher sets out to prove the suspect is guilty, but is hired as the
lead investigator by the defense attorney Helen (Rosamund Pike).
Aside from a handful of tense moments
and longing looks, there’s no love story here. The movie is all
investigation, clues, and action. The film harkens back to action
movies of the 70’s with fewer stunts and effects and more
nitty-gritty car chases, suspense and chasing down bad guys. Plus a
few lines so bad, they're good! There’s a zany quality to the
opposition which feeds the larger-than-life persona of Jack Reacher
and provides a few good laughs in the theater.
There’s a little lacking in the story behind the bad guys – what were they so upset
about again - but as the film unveils their motive, it all feels a little
silly and unconvincing. It's clear Cruise isn't pushing his acting
anywhere he hasn't before, but the entertainment value is still
there. The film rests on Cruise's shoulders, who has playing cool
down to an art.
Writer and director Christopher
McQuarrie has worked with Cruise before, as a writer on VALKYRIE
(2008) and he’s been tapped to write MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 5 which
is scheduled to arrive in 2015. In what has to be the boldest casting
choice of 2012, McQuarrie called on Werner Herzog (famed German
filmmaker) to play the movie’s cold-blooded leader of miscreants,
“The Zek,” which translates to “the prisoner” in Russian. His
character is spooky and alarming, if underdeveloped. Robert
Duvall, always a sure bet, plays an old-fashioned, ex-Marine gun shop
owner, Cash. He is as likable of a sidekick as you could ever hope
for, humor and all. David Oyelowo – who we saw in LINCOLN recently
– plays Emerson, investigator for the DA. Much like Herzog,
Oyelowo's character is played convincingly, but the character seems
only half written.
JACK REACHER is a satisfying adventure
with no real dead air. And it’s a good reason to cheer for truth,
justice, and a little ass-kicking and muscle car racing.
3 out of 4 stars
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