Review of Jack Reacher (2012) by James W — 21 Mar 2014

It's not the adrenaline fuelled action thriller you'd expect from a Tom Cruise vehicle, but Jack Reacher proves you don't need 3D, huge set pieces and special effects to make an effective thriller.

This film packs suspense, realistic violence and complete style, and a mega star in the title role! Tom Cruise is seriously cool, relaxed and calm as Reacher, an ex-military investigator who turns up out of the blue surrounding a case involving a sniper who shot five people in broad daylight, but something isn't right, the sniper in question is a professional and he missed one of his shots, causing Reacher and defense lawyer Helen to question the whole case.

This story twists and turns all the way, characters who you think are good are filled with hidden secrets and shocking motives, and Jai Courtney is a spectacular bad guy, he is brilliant and I can now forget his bad performance in A Good Day To Die Hard.

Rosamund Pike's performance is strong, she is motivated and always digging around so she herself keeps the films pace running. Action wise this movie is bold, hard hitting stuff, with knockout street fights and one of the coolest and compelling car chases since Drive.

The finale is gripping, the absence of music leaves room for a realistic atmosphere to set in surrounding the showdown. I wish I saw this in the cinema, I bet it would've been a blast, totally worth the watch with Tom Cruise delivering an effortlessly cool performance.