Good Atmosphere, Attitude, Action

Rating: 8/10 (9 March 2013)

First, let me say that I am completely unacquainted with the Jack Reacher books, so I am strictly judging this film on its own merits. I found it to be a completely solid action film with great characters and a reasonably smart plot. Action films live or die by their own set of standards, and as long as they make you smile more often than they make you roll your eyes, it's a win. I'd call Jack Reacher an easy success on that scale. Aspects took me back to the days of Bullitt and the Dirty Harry movies, which seem to form this film's pedigree. Cruise's trademark intensity does give you occasional flashbacks to his YouTube testimonials for Scientology these days, but he's strong enough in the role to win you over.