Slick performances, good amount of humor and smart plot make Jack Reacher a refreshing crime cinema.

Rating: 7/10 (16 March 2015)

Donning another persona of a vigilante CSI, Jack Reacher, Tom Cruise makes a performance that is bordering on overly fictional, but at the same time charismatically intriguing. Jack Reacher is an action thriller, mixing crime investigation, punch exchanges and some suave driving sequences. In heart, it's heavily focused on a particular case, especially at the first half, people expecting Mission Impossible might not appreciate the intricacy. Action is quite good, more of a realistic scuffle than immense CG scenes, its crude feel has a unique appeal.
The story begins with a retired lone sniper, James Barr, who is allegedly fired on five random persons on broad daylight. When he's captured he asks for Jack Reacher, a former Army Military Police Major who once caught him in his previous spree. Jack is originally unwilling to delve into the case, but ultimately sticks around for the truth, or the dame. Tom Cruise is a good fit for the character, he has a calm and confident air about him, despite probably not as big as Jack Reacher should be. In some scenes he appears as an imposing figure without relying on his size, a somewhat serendipitous result of the casting.
Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike) plays the damsel, barely sketching on the clichéd role but just not quiet. She's a self-proclaimed pacifist and a lawyer in defense of James Barr. Her role is adequately strong, although somewhat too over the top when she's surprised, and she practically is, most of the time. Warner Herzog (Zec) is grizzly daunting, he really sold the character from a dark place who has sacrifice more things that people are willing to save his life. Robert Duvall as Cash appears somewhat late in the movie, but he steals the attention with a brassy witty senior role, it's a shame he didn't get more screen time as the interactions between him and Tom are entertaining.
Dialogue is cleverly made and delivered, plenty of details but not veering off from mainstream audience. The action has some good moments, more importantly they are well structured to give increased tension as the story progresses. One particular scene from the driving is unpredictably original, although honestly could be too comedic. Camera angles that accompanied the action are accommodatingly focused, often providing clear perspectives so audience can appreciate the action even in faster pace.
Slick performances, good amount of humor and smart plot make Jack Reacher a refreshing crime cinema.