JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK
US, 2016, 118 minutes, Colour.
Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yaroch, Patrick Huizinger, Aldis Hodge, Holt Mc Callany.
Directed by Edward Zwick.
This reviewer is quite partisan about the novels by Lee Child and his tough character, Reacher, having read all the novels. As with so many of the fans, it was a surprise to find Tom Cruise cast as Reacher, almost a decade older than the character in the books, and, even more surprising, at least 12 inches shorter! But, allowing for that change in age and height perspective, and Lee Child taking cameo roles in each film offering his approval, Tom Cruise did quite a good job.
And he does quite a good job here – age 53 when he shot the film. But one thing does emerge for readers of the novels, which may not seem at all important for those not familiar with the books, Tom Cruise has a kind of earnest righteousness in his Reacher whereas in the books, Reacher is more sardonically righteous. (And there is the difficulty that Lee Child’s Reacher has a rugged appearance whereas Tom Cruise will still remind audiences of his Maverick in Top Gun – 30 years earlier).
Reacher used to be a major in the military police but left, roams around the United States (waylaid by all kinds of crimes and adventures), a loner who is satisfied with his own company.
Here there is an entertaining prologue with Reacher in cuffs, threatening a sheriff that there will be a phone call in 90 seconds and then the sheriff himself will be in cuffs – all of which happens. That is the kind of assurance that Reacher has. But, he is indebted to a military officer in Washington DC, Susan Carter and phones her to thank her and to make a dinner date. Instead, he finds that she has been arrested – enough for him to go into action, confront other officers in Virginia, check with her lawyer, decide to get her out of prison, which he shrewdly does, leading to car chases and crashes and a mystery with thugs pursuing them and a mysterious killer, called The Hunter.
There is a further complication when one of the officers is murdered and Reacher’s fingerprints are on his phone. Not only is he being framed but there is a report that a woman has made a claim that he is the father of her daughter – whom he tracks down and saves from The Hunter by taking her to the boarding school where Susan Carter was educated. But no rest, the thugs appear again and this little nuclear family has to go on the run, to hide, to follow leads in New Orleans, to risk more dangers, and the uncovering of a sinister plot in arms dealing in Afghanistan.
Cobie Smulders is a strong Susan Carter, not a romantic interest for Reacher, more interested in her career as well as an assertion that men and women are equal in their line of work. Danika Yaroch shows her metal as the young girl who makes a contribution to the investigation of the case.
Apart from Tom Cruise getting older, there seems to be no reason for there not to be another Reacher film.
1. The popularity of the Jack Reacher novels? Adaptation for the screen?
2. The title, the tone, the story of Reacher, his military career, leaving, not going back? The military settings, Washington DC, Virginia? New Orleans? The musical score?
3. Reacher, ex-major, the possibility of being called back to service, his being accused of murder, framed?
4. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, his age, experience, tough, the ability to fight? The tone set with the opening, the sheriff, handcuffs, the 90 seconds for the phone call, the police coming? The corrupt sheriff?
5. Contact with Carter, thanking her for the tip, planning dinner? Her arrest? Secrecy? Reacher going to the officer, the discussion? The sergeant on duty, getting the information from her? Going to meet the lawyer, the discussion, his being weary? His being murdered? The superior officer, Reacher confronting him, the company and his murder? The phone with Reacher’s fingerprints?
6. The issue of Reacher having a daughter? The photo, following Sam, seeing her shoplifting, her confronting him, the story, the mother’s claim?
7. Reacher going to the prison for Carter? The interviews? Getting the lawyer to get some food, getting her keys, the fight with the guard, wearing his beret, freeing Carter, their escape, the car pursuit, the chases and crash?
8. The background, the Company, contracts, arms deals, the contact in New Orleans, the investigation in Afghanistan, the murder of the two investigators? Sending messages to Carter, her not receiving them? The head of the company, the range of thugs, the chief killer, called the Hunter?
9. The Hunter, his skills, killings, relentless, conversations with Reacher, the pursuits, the pursuit of Sam? Following the group to New Orleans? The pursuits in the city, the pursuit of Sam, the fight in the streets, over the buildings, the final confrontation with Reacher, his death?
10. The three on the run, the decision to conceal Sam in the school, Carter and her story of the school? Pursued, leaving? In hiding? To New Orleans, on the plane and the two thugs and Reacher dealing with them? The hotel, Sam going out, amongst the homeless, getting information, Carter and Reacher and the interviews with the homeless, the photo? Carter and her comment about the equality of men and women, Reacher going out, tracking down the contact after talking to his wife? Reacher’s attempt to apologise? The officer from Carter’s office, his investigation, in New Orleans? With the group, the conversation with the arms contact, his confession, the shootout, his being killed, the officer wounded?
11. The rendezvous on the wharf, the confrontation? The General, his documents, his self-importance? The search of the ammunition, Carter feeling defeated, Reacher and the weights and the inventory, the discovery of the drugs? The arrest?
12. Sam, in the hotel, using her phone, watching the Halloween procession? Pursued through the streets, the buildings, over the roofs?
13. Carter, resuming her career? Reacher and his going to the school, Sam as a student, her hugging him?
14. Reacher as a type, icon, American action hero?
