This is the third time (off the top of my head) Tom Cruise has played a character named Jack... in Reacher (obviously), "Oblivion", and "Legend". Let me be up front, right now... I dislike Tom Cruise. I haven't liked his smug, arrogant face since "Risky Business", and I certainly don't like him any better since he joined a sketchy cult and is now donating millions to their coffers. That being said, he does know how to make a pretty good movie. I just wish I didn't feel a twinge of conscience every time I contribute to his career. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way...
"Jack Reacher" (Tom Cruise) is the story of a former Army MP who had a sniper killing spree case get buried under a bureaucratic landslide. The suspect in this latest spree is
James Barr, the one who got away. After coming to check on Barr's status, Reacher is hired by the defense attorney, Helen Rodin (Rosumund Pike) to investigate. Her father is the district attorney, so the two are going head-to-head and taking the family baggage along with it. Trouble is, it's looking more and more like Barr is a patsy set up by someone else, and Jack simply can't let it go. Someone sends a gang of thugs after him, supposedly to defend the honor of a pretty, sexy girl with a Piper Perabo vibe, and Jack suddenly knows he's not only on the right trail, but he's making someone nervous. It's pretty clear from the beginning that this is a conspiracy.
This movie has no twists or turns. It's as straight-forward as Jack himself. Investigate, follow the leads, get the job done. There's a corrupt official, but considering the nature of the case there would have to be. I would give this movie four out of five... there's just a bit too much effort put into giving it a smoky, film noir vibe that comes off not-quite-right. The exchanges between Helen and Reacher are supposed to be sexy and smart, but feel more like they were rehearsed so they could quip back and forth as rapidly as possible. I felt like there was no attraction between them at all.
Knitter's review... there are plenty of dialogue scenes where you can craft away for long stretches, but you will drop the needles for the fight scenes at least three times. I had two laugh out loud moments, one right after the other, when Jack evades a police chase. You'll see it. Overall it's worth the two-hours plus you'll spend watching it, but I'd save it for a day where you are in the mood for gritty noir, because it's definitely not uplifting.
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