Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - directed by Edward Zwick
I read an interesting quote from a review today about "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back".
'It almost seems as if Cruise is slumming in this one'
Not, in fairness I haven't read the full review- literally just that piece of it- so maybe it goes on to qualify the statement somehow.
Regardless it does tap into a theme I have detected in early reviews for Tom Cruise's latest film.
Critics seem to be critical of it not being the sort of big budget action spectacular that his Mission: Impossible movies are.
Others are dismissive because they feel that it is.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't it seems.
Well to hell with the naysayers - I liked this movie.
We find Jack Reacher in a diner having just beaten up a bunch of hapless heavies.
Two sheriff's arrive to arrest him but instead find themselves in cuffs in the back of a military police car.
Reacher has set the whole thing up to bust some corrupt cops who made the mistake of operating a people smuggling ring on military territory.
Basically the opening scene is the trailer that has been playing for a couple of months and it sets up the pace and tone of the film perfectly.
It efficiently introduces Cobie Smulders as Major Turner with whom Reacher collaborated on the arrest before just as smartly setting up her arrest and attempted murder.
Yep- there are some dodgy private contractors up to no good.
Busting Turner out of prison it isn't long before Reacher finds himself with not one but two women in tow courtesy of a girl who may or may not be his daughter.
Played by Danika Yarosh the young woman is street smart and no dummy but she is certainly no match for Reacher - something that Turner in fact is.
The young woman has been targeted as leverage against Reacher when the three go on the run amidst a rapidly growing body count.
In fact the violence is surprising for an M rated movie (PG-13 in the US)
There are plenty of deaths via shooting, neck snapping, explosion, falling and in one almost balletic scene strangulation via hose.
The action is plentiful without being the entire point.
There are bursts of action - all very well crafted- as the leads turn from hunted to hunters.
But there is a mystery to be solved here.
I really appreciated how slick this film is at advancing the plot with no need felt to show every little detail.
Instead director Zwick relies on the audience to put two and two together when it comes to the finer points.
For instance in the scene in which Reacher and Turner escape the military base a deception is played out by the pair on not only the pursuing soldiers but on the audience.
Unlike a similar scene in "The Da Vinci" in which Ron Howard chooses to spell out what is perfectly simple to work out just in case the audience is made up of idiots Zwick trusts that we've seen enough movies to get it as is.
Not that this film is immune from dumbness.
There are a couple of moments where Reacher takes unnecessary risks purely to put himself in a position to deliver a zinger and make himself look invincible.
Of course this is more Cruise than Reacher - the man is always sure to give himself the requisite number of cool leading man moments.
However it does serve as further evidence of how self aware Cruise is of not only his own movie star persona but of what the Jack Reacher movies are all about.
They are undemanding action-suspense flicks centred on a character who is always the smartest, toughest man on the stage.
I haven't read the novels but I am told this holds true of them also.
I worked at a book publisher for ten years and am only too aware of how potent bookshops located at airport are at selling quick read paperbacks.
The trick is not to view this as a criticism.
Quick, fun, easy reads on longhaul flights are a lifesaver and without a hint of condescension I feel the same way about the Jack Reacher films.
They are well crafted and loads of fun but hugely accessible.
Cruise is pretty much the best at this sort of film and for my money is without equal at quickly turning out quality flicks.
He produces as well as starring and the role allows him to continually make terrific selections in casting.
Smulders may be best known as Maria Hill in the Marvel films but personally I think her work playing Turner in this film puts the other role to shame.
She is physical, tough and far from merely decorative.
Her character is every bit as important as Cruise's.
I had a bunch of fun with this one.
It zips by at a breakneck (often literally) pace.
The story is compelling without being overly complicated and I really liked the chemistry between Cruise and Smulders.
Robert Knepper is totally wasted but the default main bad guy is suitably intimidating.
The final fist fight is a gritty, violent affair that almost single handedly pushes the censors rating to the very limit.
Like the films itself the tone of the scene is spot on.
I genuinely hope that this film resonates with audiences more than it is apparently doing so with critics.
There are plentiful signs that Cruise wants the character and the franchise alike to grow and I look forward to going along for the ride.
RATING: 76 / 100
CONCLUSION: Plenty of action and suspense and all with a mind to revealing just a bit more about the enigmatic Jack Reacher this is a fun, well made flick. If you liked the first one you will like this too for sure.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge, Holt McCallany, Robert Knepper, Danika Yarosh, Madalyn Horcher, Patrick Heusinger, Billy Slaughter, Teri Wyble, Jason Douglas
Screenplay: Richard Wenk, Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskowitz
Music Score by: Henry Jackman
Cinematography: Oliver Wood
Cinematography: Oliver Wood
Edited by: Billy Weber
Running Time: 118 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence & very minor, infrequent profanity
Running Time: 118 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence & very minor, infrequent profanity
'It almost seems as if Cruise is slumming in this one'
Not, in fairness I haven't read the full review- literally just that piece of it- so maybe it goes on to qualify the statement somehow.
Regardless it does tap into a theme I have detected in early reviews for Tom Cruise's latest film.
Critics seem to be critical of it not being the sort of big budget action spectacular that his Mission: Impossible movies are.
Others are dismissive because they feel that it is.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't it seems.
Well to hell with the naysayers - I liked this movie.
We find Jack Reacher in a diner having just beaten up a bunch of hapless heavies.
Two sheriff's arrive to arrest him but instead find themselves in cuffs in the back of a military police car.
Reacher has set the whole thing up to bust some corrupt cops who made the mistake of operating a people smuggling ring on military territory.
Basically the opening scene is the trailer that has been playing for a couple of months and it sets up the pace and tone of the film perfectly.
It efficiently introduces Cobie Smulders as Major Turner with whom Reacher collaborated on the arrest before just as smartly setting up her arrest and attempted murder.
Yep- there are some dodgy private contractors up to no good.
Busting Turner out of prison it isn't long before Reacher finds himself with not one but two women in tow courtesy of a girl who may or may not be his daughter.
Played by Danika Yarosh the young woman is street smart and no dummy but she is certainly no match for Reacher - something that Turner in fact is.
The young woman has been targeted as leverage against Reacher when the three go on the run amidst a rapidly growing body count.
In fact the violence is surprising for an M rated movie (PG-13 in the US)
There are plenty of deaths via shooting, neck snapping, explosion, falling and in one almost balletic scene strangulation via hose.
 |
| Fans of punching, running, shooting and explostions are well catered for |
There are bursts of action - all very well crafted- as the leads turn from hunted to hunters.
But there is a mystery to be solved here.
I really appreciated how slick this film is at advancing the plot with no need felt to show every little detail.
Instead director Zwick relies on the audience to put two and two together when it comes to the finer points.
For instance in the scene in which Reacher and Turner escape the military base a deception is played out by the pair on not only the pursuing soldiers but on the audience.
Unlike a similar scene in "The Da Vinci" in which Ron Howard chooses to spell out what is perfectly simple to work out just in case the audience is made up of idiots Zwick trusts that we've seen enough movies to get it as is.
Not that this film is immune from dumbness.
There are a couple of moments where Reacher takes unnecessary risks purely to put himself in a position to deliver a zinger and make himself look invincible.
Of course this is more Cruise than Reacher - the man is always sure to give himself the requisite number of cool leading man moments.
However it does serve as further evidence of how self aware Cruise is of not only his own movie star persona but of what the Jack Reacher movies are all about.
They are undemanding action-suspense flicks centred on a character who is always the smartest, toughest man on the stage.
I haven't read the novels but I am told this holds true of them also.
I worked at a book publisher for ten years and am only too aware of how potent bookshops located at airport are at selling quick read paperbacks.
The trick is not to view this as a criticism.
Quick, fun, easy reads on longhaul flights are a lifesaver and without a hint of condescension I feel the same way about the Jack Reacher films.
They are well crafted and loads of fun but hugely accessible.
Cruise is pretty much the best at this sort of film and for my money is without equal at quickly turning out quality flicks.
He produces as well as starring and the role allows him to continually make terrific selections in casting.
Smulders may be best known as Maria Hill in the Marvel films but personally I think her work playing Turner in this film puts the other role to shame.
She is physical, tough and far from merely decorative.
Her character is every bit as important as Cruise's.
 |
| Cobie Smulders as Turner - in on the action |
It zips by at a breakneck (often literally) pace.
The story is compelling without being overly complicated and I really liked the chemistry between Cruise and Smulders.
Robert Knepper is totally wasted but the default main bad guy is suitably intimidating.
The final fist fight is a gritty, violent affair that almost single handedly pushes the censors rating to the very limit.
Like the films itself the tone of the scene is spot on.
I genuinely hope that this film resonates with audiences more than it is apparently doing so with critics.
There are plentiful signs that Cruise wants the character and the franchise alike to grow and I look forward to going along for the ride.
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