If only Tom Cruise was five inches taller

Rating: 7/10 (1 September 2019)

Jack Reacher novels are a throwback to the old pulp western novels of 20th century, about the quintessential loner accidentally thrown into a situation in the American Wild West. To be honest, I didn't know about the novels before there was a big brouhaha over the casting of Tom Cruise as the titular character, because true fans of the series didn't like the fact that Reacher was 6'5" and Tom Cruise 5'6" (allegedly). Apparently cross-height casting is problematic only if the guy is shorter than the character (remember Hugh Jackman being cast as the ferocious Wolverine, who is, according to the comics, 12 inches shorter than Jackman). Just to make sure I wasn't going to be unfair to the character, I went to the local library and read Killing Floor, the first novel in the series. And I was floored. I would finish 6 more, more or less in sequence, including One Shot, on which the movie is based, before actually going to watch the movie. I totally understood why the fans were clamouring against the casting. Jack Reacher is a massive guy, and a big part of his personality and interpersonal communication, including tactics, negotiation and body language is tied to this physicality. Yet I could not point out an actor in mainstream Hollywood who is capable enough to convey this character. Clint Eastwood in his prime, absolutely. Chris Hemsworth? He doesn't have the intensity or enough acting talent although physiologically he would be accurate. Timothy Olyphant definitely has the acting range and physical dimensions but he wasn't known much outside Hollywood and the studio maybe didn't want to risk a franchise on a talented but relatively unknown actor. So we are stuck with Cruise, for now. I don't mind, I like him, and he is a genuine action star.
One Shot is a great pulp thriller. Jack Reacher, the movie, though, isn't a great pulp movie. It is definitely enjoyable though. The problem with action movies these days is convoluted storytelling, clichéd storylines, predictable twists and turns and most importantly, stupidly directed action sequences. So if you went in expecting the usual fare, you would be thoroughly disappointed. The plot has been condensed and several of the side characters have been cut for the movie. It makes sense from a storytelling perspective as those arcs, though adding richness on paper, can distract on screen. So this movie is a condensed version, focusing on few characters as they go about trying to decide what to do with James Barr, a shooter who is accused of killing five people, who asked for Jack Reacher as his only request. Reacher comes to town entirely on his own volition, as this is a character no one can ordinarily reach on their own, and surprises us with the statement that he is there to punish Barr, whom he knew from military service. Barr had gotten away with a crime that Reacher had investigated, and he had warned him that the next time he did something, Reacher would personally be there to ensure he was punished. The DA, the Detective and the defense attorney try to figure out what to do, Reacher decides to leave, but an unprovoked attack on him has Reacher thinking, and ultimately deciding to stay and investigate further.
This is more of a cerebral thriller, and the usual Michael Bay-esque explosions and shaky-cam fistfights have been replaced with realistic action sequences, including an exhilarating car chase and a funny bathtub fight sequence. They are placed well enough in between Reacher untangling the mystery one-by-one, with some wonderful old school investigation on the field.
The direction is wonderful, and this is obviously where Cruise and McQuarrie's enormously successful collaboration started. There are bits and pieces of wonderful comedy and sharp writing, some of them borrowed from Lee Child's book, sprinkled throughout the movie. Tom Cruise beings his famed intensity to the role, trying to convey the Reacher of the books to the screen. He nearly succeeds too. Physical dimensions like height and muscularity are some things that cannot be helped beyond a certain point. Richard Jenkins, a seasoned veteran, and Rosamund Pike, play the father-daughter attorneys who are caught up in the case. David Oyelowo, who plays Detective Emerson, delivers an excellent performance and is one to watch out for. Robert Duvall and Werner Herzog, titans of the industry, have interesting cameos and Jai Courtney makes a good antagonist.
VERDICT: Very good mystery-action thriller with smart writing, snappy dialogue and well-done action. Worth a watch. Twice, if you're into cerebral pulp.
STRAY OBSERVATIONS:
If only Tom Cruise was 5 inches taller.
Rosamund Pike is lovely. Just like Tom Cruise, it seems like I've been watching her in movies all my life, and she still looks the same as she was when I first saw her in Die Another Day.