Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie, Paramount Pictures, M, 130 Minutes.
‘Mission Impossible’ superstar Tom Cruise takes on the movie’s lead role of Jack Reacher, a former military policeman and a tough vigilante type with a perennial reputation of meting out his own justice.
This thrilling and enjoyable action drama is from ‘MI’ director Christopher McQuarrie, adapted from crime writer Lee Child’s novel “One Shot” to the big screen.
McQuarrie has previously won an Oscar for his screenwriting efforts on ‘The Usual Suspects’.
A trained military sniper decides to randomly shoot five innocent victims, as seen in the opening scenes, and results in the arrest of ex-militia man James Barr (Joseph Sikora – ‘Safe’), the person Barr asks for upon his arrest is Jack Reacher.
Reacher arrives on the scene just as District Attorney Alex Rodin (Richard Jenkins – ‘LBJ’) calls out his name and soon finds himself acting for Rodin’s daughter Helen, (Rosamund Pike –‘ A United Kingdom’) Barr’s defence attorney, as an investigator.
Following a number of twists and turns, orchestrated mainly by criminal heavyweight “The Zec” (Werner Herzog – ‘Invincible’), Reacher gets the chance to dish out his brand of justice to those he considers most deserving of such a hideous crime.
Reacher’s actions as a vigilante are similar to the Charles Bronson’s character in the ‘Death Wish’ franchise but once he has righted the wrong, he decides to move on as he does in McQuarrie’s movie.
Cruise’s cool character is particularly entertaining, especially in his action sequences, and there is an obvious chemistry with co-star Pike as they gather the evidence that eventually uncovers an extensive conspiracy.
Besides the enjoyable portrayals of Cruise and Pike there is the wonderful yet brief performance by the ‘Godfather’ star Robert Duvall, who plays a veteran owner of a shooting-range and provides Reacher with much needed help when all guns are blazing.
Cruise is a popular performer but his latest characterisation doesn’t quite match up to his action-oriented performances in the ‘Mission Impossible’ movies-especially in ‘Ghost Protocol’, nonetheless his lethal portrayal of Jack Reacher still makes it an “en-reaching” and entertaining experience.
Jack Reacher is to be televised on Channel 9 on Saturday 24 April at 8.30pm.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
