Jack Reacher

Despite being a fan of Tom Cruise, I wasn't keen on watching this film. Until I heard Werner Herzog was playing the villain. Who is Werner Herzog? He is one of the greatest filmmakers ever, studying his films is a cinephile's wet dream. Watching him act on screen, I was reacting with excitement like I would react as if a friend of mine is making his film debut. Herzog's voice over narrations in his documentaries have become iconic (only rivaled by Morgan Freeman's voice). He is a great choice for a villain, his German accent and cold voice fit this character like a glove and he nails it. “Did I have a knife in Siberia?” he asks diabolically before ordering his henchman to perform a certain act.

Keeping my rant aside. Jack Reacher is based on Lee Child's bestselling series of novels and is a Tom Cruise vehicle. The film is in fact like a paperback novel you would read on a long flight. Jack Reacher engages you in spurts but sadly, it is largely forgettable.

The film begins with a shooting where a sniper guns down an innocent crowd of people. The rest of the film is intriguing as it starts to scratch the surface and understand who did it and why. There is montage involving the background reveal of each of the “innocents” which is intricately put forth. I have been a fan of Tom Cruise for many years. But this clearly isn't as good as Mission Impossible 1 or 4. Nowhere near Minortity Report (we are only talking about his action films right?). Or even close to the kind of films these were. The action is minimal. This is mainly an investigation picture. Apart from the first scene and the climax, the film oscillates between a bit of action but mainly people talking about why the events unfolded as they did.

I especially liked the way a chase sequence was handled. I cared about what was going on. Instead of using flash-cuts with hip music, this 10 minute sequence fleshes out the space and time to give us enough room to feel a part of it. A friend of mine frustratedly pointed out that there was a distinct lack of music in most of the scenes. I thought it was a nice touch. But did it make enough of a difference to elevate the film from its mediocrity? I couldn't say.

Another scene stealer, alongside Werner Herzog, is Robert Duvall. His banter with Reacher is worth hearing but his role is miniscule. Christopher McQuarrie who wrote the smashing script of The Usual Suspects (1995) isn't exactly a brilliant director but is a competent one. The plot had a lot of meat to be resonant with today's times but wastes that opportunity as it goes down the pulpy road. Jack Reacher is really not a bad film but is it worth recommending? Not really. Probably watch it on DVD, if you have to. I'd rather recommend a Werner Herzog film. Okay then, start with Grizzly Man (2005) and make your way through to Fitzcarraldo (1982) and Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972).

“There's this guy. He's kinda cop.at least he used to be. Doesn't care about proof. Doesn't care about the law. He only cares about what's right”. These are some of the lines used to describe Jack Reacher. Reminded me of apna home grown Shahenshah and Kamal Haasan from Hindustani.

Starting off with superb opening sequences in which 5 people are shot by sniper that sets the perfect mood for an investigative thriller about finding out whether he is guilty or not. The film is smooth running and visually good looking (shot by Caleb Deschanel) till the point it decides to become a Bourne meets Drive kind of an action film. The blend of action with the investigative narrative mars an otherwise delicious film.

Director Christopher McQuarrie (writer of one of the best suspense thriller of all times 'The Usual Suspects') returns to direction after a gap of 12 years since his debut film 'The Way of the Gun'. He attempts to bring in a balance in telling an interesting story and showcasing Tom Cruise star power ending up with a film that is neither this nor that.

This has been a good year for Tom Cruise in India with Rock of Ages and now Jack Reacher. Both these films somehow erase the bad after taste left by Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol last year.

One thing to look out for is Werner Herzog doing a non hammy version of Jackie Shroff's Hilal Kohistani from Mission Kashmir. Sadly there is not enough meat in the character and minor characters get more importance than him.

Word of mouth - Jack Reacher is an engaging investigative thriller which loses its plot towards the end when it decides to become a star vehicle.

Rating - *** (Above Average)

Ticket Meter - worth 150 bucks

Jack Reacher is a detective thriller, which takes itself pretty seriously. So, though the action is fast and furious at times overall it plods away with a grim determined air about it. Also, it requires a lot of attention since there are quite a lot of explanations as different pieces of the puzzle start to fit. So, its best to be wide awake when you watch it.

Six random people are shot dead in a park and an ex-army sniper called Barr is caught. He refuses to speak and instead asks for Jack Reacher. Jack Reacher shows up on his own initiative and decides to assist the Public Prosecuter who believes that though there is a water tight case against Barr he still deserves a fair trial before being sent to the electric chair. John Reacher is some sort of messiah for justice whose only aim in life is to see that truth prevails and the guilty suffer. So the two team up and set about discovering whether the convicted guy is really the murderer or not.

In the process of doing so, you get some people getting badly bashed up, car chases, some superb shooting scenes and one totally gratuitous hand to hand fight between Tom Cruise and the main baddie, in the rain, in the mud. (After all, Hollywood heroes also need Bollywood type scenes to show their superhuman status).

Tom Cruise looks steely and earnest as the justice seeker. He could have looked a bit less serious though. It would not have taken away anything from his role, just added to the charm. Rosamund Pike as the Public Prosecuter is wide eyed with fine blonde hair that distracts big time.

The major discovery for me was when Tom Cruise tells a baddie that when he is finished with him he won't know where to fart from and where to yawn from. Hmm..I wonder where I heard that recently? :)

All in all, worth a watch, for a good story, decent action and Tom Cruise before he gets seriously old.

Jack Reacher the literary character may tower above everyone else at 6 foot 5 inches but in the movies he's played by the comparatively diminutive Tom Cruise who barely tower over anyone at 5 feet 7 inches. However the way the movie is shot, you'd actually think Cruise was taller than his real height.

A random sniper shooting results in the death of five innocents. Based on the evidence James Barr (Joseph Sikora), an ex-army sniper is arrested and it seems like an open and shut case. Before Barr is beaten to near death in police custody he requests for Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise). Reacher is an ex-military detective who had in the past caught Barr for just the thing he's accused of now. Everyone from the District Attorney Rodin (Richard Jenkins), the investigating police officer Emerson (David Oyelwo) to Barr attorney Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike) are convinced of his guilt. Even Reacher based on his previous experience with Barr is sure of him being guilty that is until certain evidence doesn't quite ring true and Reacher becomes the target of certain unruly elements. There seems to be a larger conspiracy at work and Reacher will go all out to expose the truth.

The movie has a leisurely pace which sporadically jumps into high gear but there is a lack of genuine blood-pumping excitement throughout. While the action sequences are few and far in between, they lack a something that would make them truly satisfying.

The mystery unfolds nicely but if you pay enough attention you'd know the motives way before the reveal. Reacher's character has that undeniable aura of cool and near invulnerability and Cruise pulls it off convincingly. The other one to truly own the movie is Werner Herzog as the Zec, a psychopathic crime lord who'll do anything to survive. Watching the acclaimed director in the role truly sends shivers down your spine and my only complaint is that you get to see so little of him. Robert Duvall turns up pretty late in the movie and gets a few good lines but is underutilised.

'Jack Reacher' is an utterly pulpy cinematic experience with strong leads and a memorable villian but it's a tad bit too long and the action sequences though competent are not memorable. Overall quite enjoyable.