Film Review: Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher (2012)
starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Robert Duvall

Watch the trailer below...

(source: Paramount)

Synopsis

When a gunman takes five lives with six shots, all evidence points to the suspect in custody. On interrogation, the suspect offers up a single note: “Get Jack Reacher!” So begins an extraordinary chase for the truth, pitting Jack Reacher against an unexpected enemy, with a skill for violence and a secret to keep.

Just saw Jack Reacher on its opening weekend (Saturday) and I thought it was a great crime-thriller film! I loved and enjoyed watching it. I've never read Lee Child's Reacher novels, but I have heard the controversy of fans of his novels big uproar of not liking Tom Cruise as the title character Jack Reacher (aka One Shot, the novel's title this film former title was based on). I know Reacher's height (even from not reading the novel) was 6'5" and yes, TC was not that height, he's around 5'7" (or something...), but book readers have to understand that books and films are two different mediums. Films don't always follow the books' exact description of a certain character and can always change the character's look and physical description (for cinematic purposes) while still staying true to the book's storyline. Some things from the book can't be translated to the film version, and while the Reacher filmmakers could've picked an actor to lead this film that fit the look and height descriptions described in the novel, but they picked TC and Lee Child, the author of the Reacher novels didn't seem to mind (he made a cameo in this film too) and approved of Tom Cruise, so I didn't mind either. Besides TC's a very good actor and is capable of making the character his own despite his lack of the height and look described from the Reacher novels. Besides, he does his own stunts on fight and chase scenes and produces this film too...I didn't have any doubts he'll do great...and he did!

From The New York Times bestselling author Lee Child comes one of the most compelling heroes to step from novel to screen - ex-military investigator Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise).

Tom Cruise as the title character, not only looks handsome (and young looking) in a short hair, he was brilliant and amazing in this film.  He was funny too especially with his one-liners and his fight scenes were just amazing and realistic to watch. I love the balance between the action and the humorous dialogue presented here. You won't even noticed the time. The pacing was great in this film. He did a fantastic job in this film.

Rosamund Pike as defense attorney Helen Rodin was great here too. Loved that she had more screen time and is the only lead female co-star in this film. She held her own opposite Tom Cruise. They were a great team together and loved their banter (with a lil' flirting and sexual tension going on between them, even though there was no romance between them, unfortunately...) too. Loved the scenes where he was in jail and she was there to see him and he could already guess she was there and mentioned her name and her reply was, "was I wearing too much perfume?" LOL! Also, another scene in Reacher's hotel where he and Helen were discussing her client and she noticed him shirtless and she told him to "can you please put your shirt on?" (or something close to it, lol)...And when she thought he was gonna kiss her, but he didn't and told her to go home, and she was like confused or something when she was escorted to the door to exit his vicinity, hahaha! Rosamund was pretty good here and added a female lead character and humor to this film. I loved and enjoyed watching her more in this film than in Wrath of the Titans or The Big Year (even though she was good in those films, but she was underused in both)...

The rest of the ensemble cast were pretty good too especially Richard Jenkins as Rodin (Helen's district attorney father), David Oyelowo as detective Emerson, Werner Hersog as the baddie The Zec, and Robert Duvall (he was hilarious here in a small part) as Cash.

Overall, Jack Reacher was great, smart, witty, and entertaining, crime-thriller film with plenty of action, funny one-liners, and thrilling chase scenes. One of the best action/thriller films I've seen this year (and in a long time)! It was superb! It had great stylized, old-school fight scenes and fun chase scenes, which Tom Cruise does his own impressive stunts (as he had mostly done so for most of his recent films). Great visual effects, music, and cinematography. Christopher McQuarrie did a great job doing double duty in this film as both a writer (screen play) and director. The story was very well-written with clever and witty dialogue (which audiences enjoyed and actually laughed out loud at the theater I saw this film in). This film was definitely worth watching. I loved and thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I highly recommend you see this, especially if you love this kind of action/thriller film...you'll love it. It was worth watching! Go see it!

My Jack Reacher Film Rating: (10/10; A+)