Jack Reacher: Good Guy

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2016)

With outstanding scripting and direction from Christopher McQuarrie, "Jack Reacher" is a well-paced thriller with a fine assortment of roles led by Tom Cruise's title character.
A world-weary loner, Jack Reacher is a semi-retired veteran of the twenty-first century wars, but is a patriot always willing to serve his country in noble causes. After a horrific shooting of civilians in Pittsburgh, Reacher shows up at the conjunction of the Monongahela, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers to track down leads.
Reacher works closely with a female defense attorney played by Rosamund Pike, who is representing a former army sharpshooter accused of the crime. Reacher instantly smells something fishy, and begins to weave together a conspiracy theory about an innocent man. There is a romantic undercurrent in the relationship of the attorney and Reacher that never blossoms in the film.
A number of the supporting roles are memorable, including Alexia Fast's character Sandy, who should have listened to Reacher's advice to get out of town. There is also Robert Duvall in a star turn as the crusty, old "Gunny," who comes to the assistance of Reacher. The villains in the film are interesting in the sense that they are complete studies in evil, yet we never clearly learn the motivation for their heinous acts.
The strength of the film is in the carefully constructed plot with interesting details and a good assembly of characters. Well done, Christopher McQuarrie and company!