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Jack Reacher -- Review #JPMN

2,411 views · Published 13 January 2013 · 3:59 · Indexed 5 October 2026

Channel: Movie Night · 2013 · Film & Animation

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• Jack Reacher (2012) -- Strikingly engaging, if occasionally inconsistent, 7/10.

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~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~
Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode. Incorporating viewer comments and tweets, your host and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, upcoming trailers, and classics from years past. Along with your votes, these films are scored on the "Rate-O-Matic" for a 1-10 ranking. A "Five Word Summary" quickly encapsulates each review while "Factor Facts" highlight the the best and worst features of a movie in each of ten key categories. New, full episodes of Movie Night air on the JPizzle1122 channel every Friday, (Nov. through May).

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~~ Review Script ~~
Originally scheduled for December 15th, the release of this Christopher McQuarrie picture was delayed a week following the Sandy Hook school shooting -- and rightly so, the smart and intriguing plot opens with a sniper executing random strangers from a parking garage in Pittsburg. Fun and memorable, it's no surprise this PG-13 action crime thriller has already doubled its $60-million dollar budget. Tom Cruise stars as the title character is a 130-minute story adapted by Lee Child's novel, "One Shot"... and as with every movie he's in, even at 50-years-old, he is charming, entertaining, and convincing. I've seen nearly every picture Cruise has done, and honestly: I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the: say what you want about his bizarre personal life, but this guy is a textbook A-list movie star. The unflinching and extremely bright Reacher, an Army Cop is called in to investigate this mass-shooting, and he comes dead-set on uncovering a massive conspiracy behind the whole thing, warning the antagonist, "I am not a hero, I have nothing to lose" .Starring opposite, in her first major starring role is Rosamind Pike as an uncompromising attorney for the accused gunmen, showing off almost as much acting talent as she does ample cleavage. Richard Jenkins, an aging Robert Duvall, and Werner Herzog all contribute much smaller performances - with Herzog's menacing villian the stand-out character among them. In one scene, he forces an underling to bite off his own fingers at gun-point, to prove his loyalty... making for an uncomfortably gripping moment that quickly establishes his commitment to the cause. An early montage where the five shooting victim's lives are briefly explored is a welcome, and well-executed addition. Making use of some interesting locations, and an undeniably fascinating concept, which unfolds with a heft amount of turns and mystery, this picture plays out like episode of Law & Order infused with Jack Bauer. The pacing stalls a bit towards the middle, and only roars back when the movie abandons the mystery thriller genre in favor of a shoot-out action adventure. But when this picture works, it works extremely well: Cruise's witty delivery had me laughing, his evidence-discovery was thought-provoking, and his fist-fighting takedown skills were impressive. A late chase sequence is perhaps the highlight of the movie, arrestingly shot with mounted cameras, and mixed only with the furiously loud and intense sound of the car engines, as Reacher drifts around corners in a stolen 1970 Chevelle. The edge-of-your seat sequence is very reminiscent of Steve McQueen's iconic chase in 1968's Bullit. There's not much here in the way of music, costumes or make-up... but McQuarrie does his best to make present day Pittsburg look interesting with some well-lit cinematography, and great use of long shots. While exciting and decidedly entertaining, much of the action and legal-intrigue comes at the expense of context or backstory, as neither the characters, or their motives are fully developed. Resorting to a predictable "damsel-in-distress" plot late, I still found Jack Reacher to be, "Strikingly engaging, if occasionally inconsistent."
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