Review of Jack Reacher (2012) by Harry W — 09 Dec 2015

With Tom Cruise proving himself still a viable action hero in recent years, Jack Reacher sounded like a good chance to capitalize on that.

The first thing that you have to establish about Jack Reacher is that it is not an action film, it is a thriller with occasional action scenes. It sticks very close to the narrative structure of a novel which in essence means that there is a genuine feeling that the feature stays true to its source material, coming as a surprise. However, this also means that the structure of the film is very predictable. Jack Reacher is a slow moving film which attempts to convey to viewers the implications of every little thing that is going on as if they were able to hear the narration of a character's mind, the way they would read if as a novel coming from the first-person perspective. It's admirable that director Christopher McQuarrie would attempt that and in a sense he is able to sporadically accomplish that, yet at the same time it pushes Jack Reacher into slow territory. To add to the slow formula is a rather uninteresting investigation. At first the investigation seems very predictable, but eventually with the addition of some twists and turns it ends up following a different predictable path. In essence, the film is structured in a very simplistic manner. Yet even though I felt a lot of familiarity from Jack Reacher, I enjoyed it. It wasn't a groundbreaking film, but it served as a throwback to an entertaining genre with restrained direction. Christopher McQuarrie actively believes in the story and in his cast so he spends time ensuring that between the cliche story dynamics and occasional action scenes there are actual characters with something to do. And as a result, Jack Reacher creates entertainment more frequently than boredom.

Though Jack Reacher is slow, it takes the time to try and develop as a crime thriller instead of hiding behind action. The intro sequence is interesting. We are given the perspective of the sniper and we hear the sound of his bullets firing, but the screams of people in the distance are muffled as we see them hit the ground. This proves that the film is effective at building atmosphere as it uses both visual and auditory methods of ensuring that viewers are given the perspective of the character in question. And later on the film actually explains the background of each individual victim. In that sense, Jack Reacher makes an intelligent examination of death. Hollywood films frequently attempt to pile up the death count which desensitizes viewers to the idea that each death is actually the casualty of a human being with their own story and family behind them, yet Jack Reacher reminds us of this. The slow-burning nature of this crime thriller really does make an effort to have audiences thinking about what is going on, so its slow pace does prove beneficial.

And even though Jack Reacher walks a tricky line between balancing concept and content, the quality of its action scenes are effective. Rather than being over the top, the action sequences are very direct as Jack Reacher is the kind of character who is all about getting things done. He never shoots in excessive amounts because he shoots to kill, and when he does it occurs in the form of powerful action scenes that combine strong cinematography with well-timed editing. There is also the benefit of well-choreographed hand-to-hand combat scene and an extensive Ford Mustang car chase scene which is clearly a throwback to the iconic chase scene from Bullitt (1968) even though it uses contemporary visual techniques to capture this all. Ultimately, the few action scenes in Jack Reacher are captured with an eye for creativity and so the experience does serve as a treat on the eyes.

And Jack Reacher also boasts a talented cast, so there is nothing to complain about with the acting.

Taking on the titular role, Tom Cruise does an effective job of making sure that the film surrounds him. A character like Jack Reacher is one that has been seen countless times before in both superior and inferior films. He is an experience professional in military arts with a shady past, a man confident with everything he says and does who doesn't appear to feel any emotions. Yet despite being a confident character, Tom Cruise tones down his cocky demeanour as not to go excess which means that Jack Reacher is effectively a more likable figure. He also has the genuine feeling of being an everyman. In the scene where Tom Cruise is perched in a road house after having just finished his dinner while considering everything, there is a sense that he is easily the kind of character who could just blend into the crowd with nothing notorious about him aside from the name he carries. Tom Cruise does a great job as Jack Reacher because he delivers a strong presence while silent and doing nothing. And so when he has to step it up and put up a fight for the action scenes or deliver his lines with tenacious understanding of the material, the result is all the more powerful.

Rosamund Pike also delivers a fine effort. Although in a rather conventional role, Rosamund Pike stands out because she doesn't come off as pretentious. Countless times a character like Helen Rodin turns out to be an actress pretending to be smart or just another love interest, yet Rosamund Pike is neither. She is not the object of Jack Reacher's affections and she is genuinely an intelligent woman which leaks into the character very nicely, giving her a sophisticated edge and encouraging viewers to find appeal in her presence. Rosamund Pike shares a tense chemistry with Tom Cruise where the two really play off each other well, so their pairing is a powerful addition to the character development in Jack Reacher.

Robert Duvall proves to benefit Jack Reacher as well. Robert Duvall re-teams with Tom Cruise after the two paired up in Days of Thunder (1990), once again proving himself as a welcome presence and doing it in an actual good film this time. Portraying the ageing gunman of the film, Robert Duvall appears to have some fun with the role because there is a subtextual comic edge to him, and it is buried so deep in the character that it simply becomes part of his natural charm as he maintains a dramatic nature to match the mood of the rest of the narrative. Robert Duvall's genuine presence is welcome as always, and his friendly chemistry with Tom Cruise proves effective.

David Oyelowo's sophisticated edge proves an intense addition to the story, and Werner Herzog proves a capable antagonist through elements as small as the lifeless stare in his eyes.

So Jack Reacher follows a predictable formula with a slow pace, long running time and shortage of action sequences, but it remains an intelligently scripted front for Christopher McQuarrie's stylish direction and Tom Cruise's charisma.