A Fresh Action Movie With an Interesting Lead - Cruise Breaks His Mold!

Rating: 8/10 (22 April 2013)

Jack Reacher, from the get go, is an engaging movie. As someone who had developed a distaste for what Tom Cruise had been doing over the last few years - the direction his career was going in - and his relationship to Scientology had soured me on his work. All of his characters bore the bulk of the film, and for a while it just wasn't working. They were vehicles for his persona. Movies like 'Valkierie' (although historically interesting)seemed to this reviewer that Tom had bitten off far more than he could manage.
For the latter reason I was delighted to see him play character parts such as the Senator in Robert Redford's last movie, and bit pats as a record executive who could really dance!!! I can't remember the film's name at the moment..
I've actually met Tom briefly, and Nicole Kidman when he was married to her, so yet again, I've looked at Cruise movies through the brief moments I had speaking with both of them - with my colored glasses. Kidman was petrified, and the conversation was about Scientology - which I have zero interest in. He's a charming man, but I had prior experience with Scientology which left me immune to his lure.
Jack Reacher is such a good film because Cruise plays against type. The film is NOT about him, nor would it suffer if he made a premature exit. I'm pleased to say that Cruise seems to have found a way back in from the cold shoulder Hollywood has been giving him. Specifically Sumner Redstone so many years ago.
This is a thrilling suspense piece with Cruise playing an ex-military cop, and his performance is most understated for a change. He's also looking much older - minor observation. This was compelling, and fascinating to watch. His past characters were taking all the weight of the film on his shoulders from the start. This one has you guessing what kind of man Reacher is, and when makes him tick. It develops the character nicely, whilst leaving an aura of mystique so you are left with questions about him which are not answered all the way through! Thankfully Reacher is anything but transparent: previous recent Cruise roles were painfully so.
A welcome return to films which are not mere vehicles for his movie stardom. Great script, written and directed by the same guy - produced by Cruise, which means he's willing to take creative chances, and delegate artistic responsibility. Jack Reacher was a bit of a Cruise renaissance picture for me. I enjoyed it immensely, and I hope to see Cruise continue to challenge himself in this similar vein.