Jack Reacher (2012)
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Critics Consensus: Jack Reacher is an above-average crime thriller with a smoothly charismatic performance from Tom Cruise.
Critics Consensus: Jack Reacher is an above-average crime thriller with a smoothly charismatic performance from Tom Cruise.
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Movie Info
Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me. And sure enough, ex-military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter-a trained military sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not right-and soon the slam-dunk case explodes. Now Reacher is teamed with a … More- Rating:
- PG-13 (for violence, language and some drug material)
- Genre:
- Mystery & Suspense , Drama
- Directed By:
- Christopher McQuarrie
- Written By:
- Christopher McQuarrie
- In Theaters:
- Dec 21, 2012 Wide
- On DVD:
- May 7, 2013
- US Box Office:
- $80.0M
Cast
-
Tom Cruise
as Jack Reacher -
Rosamund Pike
as Helen -
Richard Jenkins
as Rodin -
David Oyelowo
as Emerson -
Werner Herzog
as The Zec -
Jai Courtney
as Charlie
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Jack Reacher Videos
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Critic Reviews for Jack Reacher
All Critics (168) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (103) | Rotten (65)
There is a dogged leanness to Reacher's pursuit that lifts his adventures from the generic rut ...
If Cruise's fantasy superhero garners as many staunch fans ... we may be witnessing the birth of a new franchise.
Jack Reacher already feels as if it belongs to another era.
A clumsily condensed mystery/thriller novel made into a movie that offers little more than every other clumsily condensed mystery/thriller novel made into a movie.
A workmanlike action thriller, competent but never particularly thrilling.
Jack Reacher is an absurdly self-confident, sociopathically laser-focused detective-bot. That is to say, he's a hero that only Tom Cruise could love.
Usually McQuarrie keeps things light, letting us enjoy the fantasy of one man defending himself against five enemies with nothing but his fists.
Christopher McQuarrie's Jack Reacher is that rare blend of hard-hitting action and smooth-talking dialogue that makes for an entertaining film.
Cruise does his best to keep a straight face and make himself halfway believable as a brainy roughhouser - think of a less intense Jason Bourne - but ridiculous plotting undermines his efforts.
McQuarrie deftly intermixes observations on human nature - aware that in life, as in all great mysteries, people are not so easily described as "killer" and "victim." Part of why you root for Jack Reacher is his empathy for these foibles and follies.
Jack Reacher revolves around wild impossibilities and baffling motivations, and the conclusion is a whopper that outdoes everything I've discussed above.
Another macho loner fights for justice
A violent adaptation of the bestselling novels about an Iraq War veteran turned vigilante investigator.
...a better-than-average modern-day thriller that hopefully marks the start of a promising new series.
Cruise may be getting older, but he's still the best action star in Hollywood. "Jack Reacher" is typical of the kind of smart choices he's making these days. We could really use more films like this one.
'Jack Reacher' is a lot smarter than you've been led to believe by the ads.
It's easy to like the idea of a Jack Reacher movie; it takes a little more effort to like the one writer-director Christopher McQuarrie (who penned 'The Usual Suspect's) has made.
Another notch on Tom Cruise's action hero belt and demonstrates why he is still one the most bankable action men in Hollywood
This is solid, enjoyable, formula-driven stuff designed to self-replicate into a film series, nothing more - and there's nothing wrong with that.
Reacher is a fascinating character, to be sure, both a virtuous crusader for justice and a cold-blooded killer. Here's hoping that any future big-screen installments might develop those conflicted sides into something with a darker edge.
An often outlandish, overly talky crime-procedural drama that seems like a vanity project its marquee star must have wanted to do with his director buddy while waiting for their next "Mission Impossible" collaboration.
So long as you accept that the twain will never meet between the film and book versions of Jack Reacher, you should be able to enjoy each exclusively if not necessarily as a compliment to one another.
(Cruise)... is assisted by a fine supporting cast that includes, besides Pike, Jenkins and Herzog, David Owelolo, Jai Courtney and Cruise's old buddy, the great Robert Duvall who, at age 81, continues to amaze.
Unless you cast Yao Ming as Bilbo Baggins, what bearing does height have on a characterisation? Thank Christ that Cruise has an unwavering sense of self, as Jack Reacher is old school action dynamite.
Ultimately, the film rises and falls on Cruise's aggressively magnetic performance.
Audience Reviews for Jack Reacher
this film was not at all what i expected. it's sort of a cross between jason bourne and columbo, heavier on the detective work and fairly light on action until the end. the plot was a bit weak, and much of the motivation for the crime was left completely unexplained, but the film was fun and entertaining and the character of jack reacher is compelling enough. overall a solid film.
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Super Reviewer
By-the-numbers standard crime thriller, with Cruise as the tough-as-nails investigator (leaned out 21st century style with no traditional trench coat, no traditional whiskey in the bottom desk drawer of a crummy second floor office, no traditional smokes, only plenty of whoop ass), Rosamund Pike as the babe (shimmering) and, of course, the usual cast of suspects.
Served hot.
Cruise doesn't say the line, "I'm Batman", but if he did it would be the same movie.
Super Reviewer
The law has limits. He does not.
Very Good Movie! In truth Tom Cruise is very good in this role, the movie is fast paced and action packed, the writing is cleaver and spot on, so to those who would continue to pan this movie I say lighten up and relax. This was a very good movie, Tom Cruise was good in the lead role, the several one-liners were very cleaver and kept a sense of humor in a plot with plenty of violence and too close for comfort realism. This movie was good, it was entertaining, well acted, and should be viewed and enjoyed by all who watch it.
In an innocent heartland city, five are shot dead by an expert sniper. The police quickly identify and arrest the culprit, and build a slam-dunk case. But instead of confessing, the accused man writes the words, "Get Jack Reacher." Reacher himself sees the news report and turns up in the city. The defense is immensely relieved, but Reacher has come to bury the guy. Shocked at the accused's request, Reacher sets out to confirm for himself the absolute certainty of the man's guilt, but comes up with more than he bargained for.
Super Reviewer
Jack Reacher Quotes
- Jack Reacher:
- Take the girl.
- Jack Reacher:
- Pay your cheque first.
- Jeb:
- I'll pay later.
- Jack Reacher:
- You won't be able to.
- Jeb:
- You think?
- Jack Reacher:
- All the time. You should try it.
- Jack Reacher:
- Yout think I'm a hero? I am not a hero. I'm a drifter with nothing to lose.
- Emerson:
- Awkward meeting you.
- Jack Reacher:
- Likewise.
- Emerson:
- A stitch in time saves nine.
- Jack Reacher:
- How about the inside of an ambulance?
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