‘Jack Reacher’ is a Smart, Clever Mystery with Tom Cruise

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How often does a movie come along that surprises you like none other? Not in the sense of explosions or cool effects rather by the elements it doesn’t have. If you are confused, stick with me. All shall be revealed. jack reacher

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A bright, beautiful sunny day is the last for five strangers. A sniper’s trained eye steals from them their lives. Long after the screams and gunfire fades, police respond to a crime scene dripping with evidence including a coin from a meter with a perfect fingerprint. Catching all the right breaks, the print matches James Barr, an elite trained Iraq war veteran. Once an arrest is made, all he gives up to police is one name; Jack Reacher.

Some people don’t wish to be found. Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is one such person. He was has an impeccable military record and a stint with the military police, he is now drifting. Living life in the shadows of everyone else – this was before he saw the news and James name splashed across the stories. Now, he returns to America, presents what he knows about the man and is ready to leave again… until he meets Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike). The daughter of the DA (Richard Jenkins), Helen takes on the task of defending James and she wants to know everything about her client – including whatever it is Jack knows.

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This film is probably the best surprise of 2013. It’s an example of smart timing and pacing along with a cast that rivals most of its peers that I didn’t anticipate. My basic  understanding of the movie fells into the car-chase-a-minute, gunfire and a champion who went on the run. Here’s what it actually is. A savvy and intelligent script that forces a hero on the run following bad guys framing him. In short, for the viewer looking for intelligence over brawn, ‘Reacher’ delivers.

Approximately halfway through this movie, I knew I’d underestimated this film’s capable storytelling. Its angle of investigation rather than overwhelming with strategic stunts and “filling” a two hour time slot with gun battles or car chases is clever; and the result is very possibly one of the best suspense movies I’ve seen since I don’t know when. Better still, it doesn’t build off fear of protagonists to be interesting and invest the viewer’s more in the scripting, the pull is to find out what Jack’s next move is and whether or not it will met positive answers. 

‘Jack Reacher’ is a Smart, Clever Mystery with Tom Cruise. A review of the 2013 film adaptation with #TomCruise. #Movies #JackReacher Share on X

Novelist Lee Child is the person behind the genius of Jack Reacher and as a good-guy-with-a-possible-dark-side, I sure do like him. He’s interesting and retains his mysterious status even after he stays behind to help solve the case; we learn things in relation to him, and yet, we don’t learn anything that tells us about him, like what drives him to live the way he does.

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Tom Cruise doesn’t rank among my favorite actors, but I will say that over the years I have developed a liking for his characters (Knight & Day, Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol); and the practiced ease he has to play this stereotype. The real fun is seeing Rosamund Pike (Wives & Daughters) in something again and in a role so vastly differing from that of the proper Lady Harriet. She and Cruise have some memorable moments which (fortunately!) is a relationship that doesn’t fall into the same-old, same-old trap. If a viewer wants to pick apart the film, sure there are flaws and clichés. That said the movie is largely all about being “old school.” Its opening is brilliant because it teases us and breaks our heart; there aren’t a lot of empty sections of music nor is there much of a score, yet the film never lags. 

When least we expect it, profound moments of truth pop up, along with a man who believes in patriotism, and to bring justice when someone wrongs a human being. Jack’s mentality of justice is, in some cases true, which makes this film a really good study in right vs wrong.

CONTENT | there is a gun battle in the final moments that results in multiple casualties – including two “close range kills.” [Nothing is terribly graphic.] Prior to that, Jack assaults three bad guys in close quarters after they’ve pummeled him over the head with a baseball bat. The opening pans multiple bodies lying prone in blood; an assassin snaps the neck of a woman by a hard slap [and suffocates her]. Sexual assault is discussed. There’s one use of the F-word and the rare minor profanity like sh*t, a**, etc. The film is PG13.