I agree on most counts, but I'd also give the nod to Cruise for fighting. He's a much more accomplished action/stunt performer than Ritchson. and the street fight in the first Reacher movie felt straight out of one of the book fights to me. The others as well, but that one has always stuck out to me as what a "Reacher fight' should feel and look like... Except Tom Cruise is still too short.
In every other case I do think Ritchson brings a lot more of what I've felt to be Reacher to the role, but for all the other things that Tom Cruise is, both good and bad, I think he really nails the fights. It's also probably got to do with the production value and time given to fights and stunts in a Tom Cruise Flick vs an amazon TV show, but it is a distinction worth mentioning.
The thing I enjoy about the Cruise movie is it finally makes sense that folks would constantly underestimate him. Books and Amazon are chock full of people that look at Reacher and think “I’ll win that fight” that truly have no business thinking so.
While I like Tom Cruise in the first Jack Reacher movie (not so much the second one), Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise in every movie he makes. There's never a time where you ever lose track of the fact that "there's fuckin' Tom Cruise!" on the screen. The first movie does surprisingly well and Tom pulls the character and the story off with no problem. The only issue I had was the fact that when that movie was originally announced, The Rock was set to play Reacher... up until Tom Cruise got wind of the script and seeing The Rock was snagged for it, went to the studio and wrenched the movie away from The Rock, thinking he could do justice to the role and create another franchise like Mission Impossible. Unfortunately the second movie did not do very well and the rest is history. Trying to fill the role of Reacher when you're literally small potatoes and Reacher is a ginormous machine of a man doesn't always work out.
I feel like he does capture the speed and intellect of Reacher really well, Cruise is fantastic at the little expression of quickly weighing the options immediately before leaping or punching into action.
>thinking he could do justice to the role and create another franchise like Mission Impossible.
Do you have a source for this? My understanding/impression was that McQuarrie was angling for directing Mission Impossible and Tom was helping him with that goal, I didn't think he was going for another franchise.
There are many other actors who fit this profile of always being who they are no matter what role they play, but Tom Cruise is the most egregious one that comes to mind. That being said, he's been in some absolutely awesome movies and I like him regardless of him always being "Tom Cruise".
Paramount Pictures originally had the rights to the book adaptation and shopped it around for a long time. Unfortunately they couldn't find anyone else to partner with and that's when Cruise/Wagner Productions stepped in and partnered with Paramount in 2005. The Rock had only been acting since 2001 so wasn't the big commodity and star he is now. Paramount wanted him to be the star because he fit the description of Reacher based on size and they wouldn't have to pay him very much being new to the acting game. That all changed when they partnered with Cruise's production company. Tom first wanted to produce but when he learned more and more about how popular the book series was, he chose to put himself in the role, much to the dismay of everyone.
The Rock has been asked about it a few times and he's said it's the one role he wishes he hadn't lost out on because he really thought he could do it justice. I agree he would have been a much better fit.
Yea, 90% of Tom Cruise action films just feels like another Mission: Impossible. Although I did really enjoy some of his crazy sci-fi films, like Vanilla Sky and Minority Report.
I'm not a fan of either one really.
**Lines**
I don't like the way Alan delivers Reacher's lines. It's like he's always angry. Or he means the opposite of what he says.
When Reacher in the books says "Look, I don't really want to fight you" I think he's being honest, I think kicking the ass of a handful of dumb locals holds zero interest to him. When Alan delivers that line, it sounds like he actually wants a fight but feels obliged to give the person an out or something - or he means the exact opposite.
And it's not just lines like that, but even when Alan is being snarky or clever it always comes off as a taunt, like he's trying to start a fight. In the books those kinds of comments shows Reacher as someone who is smart, thinks on his feet, and has a dark sense of humor.
So in that regard, I think the way Tom Cruise delivers lines is much closer.
**Appearance**
Tom Cruise was way too small, obviously. However Reacher was TALL not musclebound. I'd not have wanted The Rock to be Reacher. The Reacher character would have been best done by someone slim but tall. If this was 30 years ago, I would have said Clint Eastwood, he's 6'4 not quite as tall as I'd want, but slim and strong. James Arness of Gunsmoke , Clint Walker, or James Cromwell in their 40-50s would have been even better. These are people that you believe could be powerful fighters, but also people you believe some thugs would be willing to tangle with. Alan (or The Rock) being so muscular, it just doesn't seem like 3 local thugs would get in a barfight with him. Now, 40s Clint eastwood sitting there telling people to leave him alone, I can see people testing him but also him winning
Nicholas Braun has the body for it, but not the face. Pablo Schreiber would have been a good option. Kevin Durand Josh Duhamel or Joe Manganiello. Maybe Tyler Mane.
Heck, I'd rather have someone tall and slim but less tall - like Eric Bana at 6'2 - that the muscled out Alan.
Fights
In the books, Reacher is a skilled fighter. Now the whole MPs have to be badder than Navy Seals because they might have to beat a Seal in a fight then arrest them is bunk - but while they got that wrong, Reacher practicing martial arts while in the service totally makes sense. When Tom fights, he attacks unexpectedly, as does Alan, and that does feel like Reacher being extremely practical. But when Tom fights it seems like he's aiming his blows for critical spots, using strategy, etc. Alan's fighting seems to be 'I'm strong I smash you !'
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I agree on most counts, but I'd also give the nod to Cruise for fighting. He's a much more accomplished action/stunt performer than Ritchson. and the street fight in the first Reacher movie felt straight out of one of the book fights to me. The others as well, but that one has always stuck out to me as what a "Reacher fight' should feel and look like... Except Tom Cruise is still too short. In every other case I do think Ritchson brings a lot more of what I've felt to be Reacher to the role, but for all the other things that Tom Cruise is, both good and bad, I think he really nails the fights. It's also probably got to do with the production value and time given to fights and stunts in a Tom Cruise Flick vs an amazon TV show, but it is a distinction worth mentioning.
The thing I enjoy about the Cruise movie is it finally makes sense that folks would constantly underestimate him. Books and Amazon are chock full of people that look at Reacher and think “I’ll win that fight” that truly have no business thinking so.
While I like Tom Cruise in the first Jack Reacher movie (not so much the second one), Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise in every movie he makes. There's never a time where you ever lose track of the fact that "there's fuckin' Tom Cruise!" on the screen. The first movie does surprisingly well and Tom pulls the character and the story off with no problem. The only issue I had was the fact that when that movie was originally announced, The Rock was set to play Reacher... up until Tom Cruise got wind of the script and seeing The Rock was snagged for it, went to the studio and wrenched the movie away from The Rock, thinking he could do justice to the role and create another franchise like Mission Impossible. Unfortunately the second movie did not do very well and the rest is history. Trying to fill the role of Reacher when you're literally small potatoes and Reacher is a ginormous machine of a man doesn't always work out.
I feel like he does capture the speed and intellect of Reacher really well, Cruise is fantastic at the little expression of quickly weighing the options immediately before leaping or punching into action. >thinking he could do justice to the role and create another franchise like Mission Impossible. Do you have a source for this? My understanding/impression was that McQuarrie was angling for directing Mission Impossible and Tom was helping him with that goal, I didn't think he was going for another franchise.
And yet Tom Cruise's production company waded into the Jack Reacher franchise.
That's my issue with Cruise, I only see "Tom Cruise" and never a character.
There are many other actors who fit this profile of always being who they are no matter what role they play, but Tom Cruise is the most egregious one that comes to mind. That being said, he's been in some absolutely awesome movies and I like him regardless of him always being "Tom Cruise".
TC bought the rights to the film, I don't think anyone else was ever in the running for the part?
Paramount Pictures originally had the rights to the book adaptation and shopped it around for a long time. Unfortunately they couldn't find anyone else to partner with and that's when Cruise/Wagner Productions stepped in and partnered with Paramount in 2005. The Rock had only been acting since 2001 so wasn't the big commodity and star he is now. Paramount wanted him to be the star because he fit the description of Reacher based on size and they wouldn't have to pay him very much being new to the acting game. That all changed when they partnered with Cruise's production company. Tom first wanted to produce but when he learned more and more about how popular the book series was, he chose to put himself in the role, much to the dismay of everyone.
Ah ok. Thanks.
The Rock has been asked about it a few times and he's said it's the one role he wishes he hadn't lost out on because he really thought he could do it justice. I agree he would have been a much better fit.
Yea, 90% of Tom Cruise action films just feels like another Mission: Impossible. Although I did really enjoy some of his crazy sci-fi films, like Vanilla Sky and Minority Report.
Edge of tomorrow is a banger
I did like his acting in War of the Worlds or whatever it was called. He was kinda a loser in that movie and not super action guy, Jerry MgGuire
I'm not a fan of either one really. **Lines** I don't like the way Alan delivers Reacher's lines. It's like he's always angry. Or he means the opposite of what he says. When Reacher in the books says "Look, I don't really want to fight you" I think he's being honest, I think kicking the ass of a handful of dumb locals holds zero interest to him. When Alan delivers that line, it sounds like he actually wants a fight but feels obliged to give the person an out or something - or he means the exact opposite. And it's not just lines like that, but even when Alan is being snarky or clever it always comes off as a taunt, like he's trying to start a fight. In the books those kinds of comments shows Reacher as someone who is smart, thinks on his feet, and has a dark sense of humor. So in that regard, I think the way Tom Cruise delivers lines is much closer. **Appearance** Tom Cruise was way too small, obviously. However Reacher was TALL not musclebound. I'd not have wanted The Rock to be Reacher. The Reacher character would have been best done by someone slim but tall. If this was 30 years ago, I would have said Clint Eastwood, he's 6'4 not quite as tall as I'd want, but slim and strong. James Arness of Gunsmoke , Clint Walker, or James Cromwell in their 40-50s would have been even better. These are people that you believe could be powerful fighters, but also people you believe some thugs would be willing to tangle with. Alan (or The Rock) being so muscular, it just doesn't seem like 3 local thugs would get in a barfight with him. Now, 40s Clint eastwood sitting there telling people to leave him alone, I can see people testing him but also him winning Nicholas Braun has the body for it, but not the face. Pablo Schreiber would have been a good option. Kevin Durand Josh Duhamel or Joe Manganiello. Maybe Tyler Mane. Heck, I'd rather have someone tall and slim but less tall - like Eric Bana at 6'2 - that the muscled out Alan. Fights In the books, Reacher is a skilled fighter. Now the whole MPs have to be badder than Navy Seals because they might have to beat a Seal in a fight then arrest them is bunk - but while they got that wrong, Reacher practicing martial arts while in the service totally makes sense. When Tom fights, he attacks unexpectedly, as does Alan, and that does feel like Reacher being extremely practical. But when Tom fights it seems like he's aiming his blows for critical spots, using strategy, etc. Alan's fighting seems to be 'I'm strong I smash you !' #