With Jack Reacher: Never Go Back opening today, I thought this would be the perfect time to reflect on the original 2012 film.
I am sure that most of you have heard the controversy revolving around it, with ardent fans of Lee Child’s ‘Jack Reacher’ novels being discouraged by the casting of Tom Cruise in the leading role. Much like an overzealous carny following the stringent rules and regulations of height restrictions on rides, book lovers were uninspired by the selection of the action superstar, as his five foot seven inch frame did not fit with the character’s description – at a gargantuan six foot five inches tall.
There are always liberties taken when transitioning a book into film; for example, adaptations (that have become modern-day classics) like The Lord of the Rings trilogy getting fans all riled up (over the exclusion of Tom Bombadil or cutting the dark closing pages set in the Shire), yet to return the conversation back to that of Jack Reacher, in my mind, there is no one better to take on the action oriented role than Tom Cruise. Capturing the spirit of silent film superstars who would do death defying stunts to awe and entertain their audiences, no modern actor has done more to make realistic, exciting action films than Cruise. Over the years, he has been blown into more cars, taken more punches, and executed more flips than most stunt doubles. He has even climbed the exterior of cloud reaching high rises and clung to a plane that is taking off, all in the name of making rivetting, authentic action flicks – giving him the perfect spirit to capture the tone of Jack Reacher, in spite of his height.
‘Jack Reacher’ composer Joe Kraemer with Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams
Beginning with a powerful score from Joe Kraemer that captures the heroic nature of the title character, as well as the mystery, intrigue and danger that is to come shortly, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie (this is the second of four collaborations between the director and Cruise, thus far) starts the film off in disturbing fashion, as we watch a sharpshooter prepare to take aim at unknown individuals on the waterfront in Pittsburgh – finally firing and killing many innocent victims.
First on the scene is Detective Emerson (David Oyelowo), who deduces from the evidence found that the shooter was former US military sniper James Barr (Joseph Sikora). When they storm his house, all the material used for the crime is easily found while the man is asleep in his bed. As Emerson and District Attorney Rodin (Richard Jenkins) point the finger at Barr, the only thing the man will do is write ‘GET JACK REACHER’.
The trouble-making ghost of a man, who is both former military and military police, cannot be found unless he wants to be found (according to Emerson and Rodin) – which humourously leads him to be brought right into their office. Looking to put an end to Barr’s misdeeds but finding him in a coma (as Reacher witnessed another atrocity the man committed while in the military), he is roped into investigating the strange occurrence by Barr’s attorney, Helen Rodin (Rosemund Pike) – daughter of District Attorney Rodin.
Reacher soon realizes that something is not quite right with the case. Also, what originally seems like a young woman’s (Sandy – played by Alexia Fast) simple, hussy-like behaviour in a bar, is discovered to be a set up to take out the meddling man. In a scene reminiscent of the no nonsense, tell it like it is Billy Jack (where the hero tells Posner that he is going to kick him in the face and that there is not a damn thing that he is going to be able to do about it), Reacher opens up a can of whoop ass on his assailants, just as he predicted.
It is clear that there is some kind of dark force behind what is going on. A vile man who lives in the shadows, with a thick accent, mismatched eyes and missing fingers (which he nibbled off while in Siberia) is orchestrating these things for some unknown reason. His name is Zec Chelovek – which translates to ‘Prisoner Human Being’ (famed director Werner Herzog) and he always has his gargantuan henchman Charlie (Jai Courtney) doing his dirty work.
Soon, Reacher has been set up for a crime that he did not commit. On the run (a place he feels comfortable with), he continues to research the case. Heading to a shooting range that he thinks Barr has been frequenting, he meets the gruff, curmudgeonly old owner of the establishment, Martin Cash (Robert Duvall), who he slowly turns to his side by showing off his sharpshooter’s eye and steady hand. With Reacher hot on the track of the dangerous conglomerate of villains, will the drifter be able to solve the case and bring down the shadowy criminals?
Mixing a dark, crime-filled drama with a mysterious conspiracy, as well as witty dialogue that brings with it sharp humour and superb action set pieces, McQuarrie navigates us through a seedy, nefarious underworld. On top of the action scene mentioned above, a mismatched battle in a snug bathroom (that shows off the stupidity of the thugs trying to best Reacher), and his cleverly planned car escape are both highly impressive, with the former being violently funny.
It is no surprise that Jack Reacher is entertaining, thrilling and sharply written (as McQuarrie is the man who wrote the script for The Usual Suspects). An astute, knowledgeable filmmaker with a traditional eye, Jack Reacher is filmed in beautiful fashion, with a perfect flow, steady camera work (that makes the action easy on the eyes), and a brilliant use of the camera to build suspense – notice the shadows while Reacher is investigating a meth-maker’s lair.
There has always been something appealing about a vigilante drifter who doesn’t care about law or the process, just about doing what is right. It is no different with this character, who follows in the path of Dirty Harry Callahan, Billy Jack, Buford Pusser (Walking Tall) and so many other iconic personas.
Containing perfect casting, brilliant direction from Christopher McQuarrie, superb acting from the entire cast (if you can get over the whole height thing), and a potently effective score from Joe Kraemer, Jack Reacher is a crisply executed action film, with moments of levity and real world darkness that befit the story. So, there’s no need to take a shot in the dark with any old movie, give Jack Reacher a chance and you’ll watch as the villains attempt to pursue and kill their quarry with no quarter . . . it makes sense, if you think about it!
I like Cruise in this role but I’m not familiar with the book, so my enjoyment isn’t affected by
what I think the character should look like.
I liked the first Jack Reacher film. Good mix of action and humour. I thought Jack Reacher: Never Go Back lacked humour and was a bit of a ‘reach’. But the cab driver cameo was fun (that was the guy at the bus stop in the first film, right?).
Finally got to see the sequel and it was a cool little scene. It was definitely a reference to it and the actor looked similar, but it was, in fact, not the same person.