Cast: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Joseph Sikora Richard Jenkins, Robert Duvall; Direction: Christopher McQuarrie; Story: based from Lee Child`s ONE SHOT; Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie; Cinematography: Celeb Deschanel; Editing: Kevin Stitt; Music: Joe Kreamer; Producers: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner Genre: Action -Thrillerr: Running Time:130 minutes Location: USA; Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Technical Assessment : 3
Moral Assessment : 2.5
CINEMA Rating : V14
MTRCB Rating :
PG 13
One ordinary
morning in Pittsburg, a sniper drives up a parking building, pays for his
parking, sets up his rifle, fires 6 shots and kills 5 people. The police wastes
no time in piecing the evidence and concludes that Barr, a former soldier, is
the killer and immediately arrests him. Although overwhelming evidence points
to Barr, he requests for Jack Reacher (Cruise) instead of confessing to the
crime. Meanwhile, Reacher learns of the incident and immediately travels to the
scene of the crime, originally to make sure Barr is sentenced. However, after methodically studying
the evidence, Reacher concludes that Barr is innocent and the random killings
are conspiracy to cover up just one murder. Reacher teams up with Helen, the
district attorney's daughter set to ensure Barr does not get the death penalty.
And soon, the two are thrown into an action-packed quest for the truth.
The plot
is easy to follow and surprisingly gives a tinge of excitement despite its
predictability. Reacher`s character is honestly amusing and loveable as he
represents a crude and sassy vigilante who cares for what is true and right.
(Shades of typical macho heroes of our local films.) Cruise tackles the role convincingly with his boyish looks
adding to Reacher smooth charisma.
The script starts well with the eerie silence of the murders, turns
funny with Reacher's deadpan cynicisms and even tries create existentialist
conversations. The directorial vision is commendable with tight action, clever
cutaways and riveting scene stealing
feistiness. The film will not be on the Academy Awards' list but is well made
and delivers enough to merit sequels to Lee Child's franchise.
The movie is
strong in its message about justice and truth. Reacher is the cool, arrogant
knight in shining armor who will not start a fight, prefers to walk away from
one but if needed will take every bad guy down. Reacher will make sure justice
is served be it on a silver plate or a pile of rubbish. He may seem callous and
arrogant but he shows concern for the needy (buying goods in a store only to drop
them in the donation box), does not take advantage of a young girl coming on to
him, responds to help a woman being abused by her boyfriend. But do we condone
street justice? Unfortunately, the ends never can justify the means. So as much
as viewers would like to root for Reacher, he is not a very good role model.
The film is a
typical action flick with forgiveable violence but because the directorial
interpretation of the killings at the start is powerful, a lot of conservative
viewers will be upset and disturbed with the opening scene and the premise of
the film. Further, Reacher, although the good guy, uses force and aggresion yet
in a very charming way. Young viewers whose moral stand have not yet been
formed may find it cool to follow Reacher. High intensity action and violence
as well as the theme of the story may not be suitable for high scholers.
