If you’re like me, you have Friday, October 21, 2016 circled on your calendar. Why? It’s the new Jack Reacher movie!
Never Go Back is the sequel to the 2012 film, Jack Reacher, set four years later. This time, Jack Reacher is accused of an old murder. A government conspiracy may be behind the accusation.
Did you read the book? The movie is based on the book by the same name, written by my friend Lee Child.
As you know, besides being a Lee Child fan, we are friends and colleagues. My Hunt for Jack Reacher Series has Lee’s full blessing and support, of course.
I can’t wait to see the movie, but in the meantime I’ve been curious to hear what Lee Child thinks of it. Let’s see what clues we can squeeze out of him, shall we?
Lee told Entertainment Weekly that it was a great cast and crew, in a very productive atmosphere. When asked what part he was most excited to see onscreen, Lee said,
“Part of the story is a 16-year-old girl, who might (or might not) be Reacher’s daughter. At the read-through of their final scene together, Tom Cruise and Danika Yarosh gave me major goosebumps. Can’t wait to see that in the final version.”
As for being on set during the filming, CBS News asked him if he has any sort of directorial powers over, say, Tom Cruise, who plays Jack Reacher.
“Yeah, he would certainly listen if I said something. But I don’t want to say something. I mean, I believe that I wrote the book; they made the movies. Every time, I say to them, I’m not gonna look over your shoulder, I’m not gonna be making comments. And I think then they relax, and you actually get a better product.”
What does Lee Child think about the choice to cast Tom Cruise as Reacher? Lee says Cruise got the character down: “He’s got that kind of menace and that kind of quiet about him.”
Have you seen the movie yet? Do you plan to? What did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!
No, I will not watch the movie. Tom Cruise as Reacher, really. Even if I would ever watch Tom Cruise in a movie, I certainly wouldn’t watch this one.
Finished the book last week and saw the movie today. No comparison. The book was wonderful – pure Jack Reacher. Major Turner in the book is a “kick-___” soldier relatively equal to Reacher and a competent partner. In the movie, she was a women’s rights whiner and, while a talented fighter, was too concerned with her place in a man’s world. This was not an issue in the book which was refreshing. As for the “daughter,” in the book, she was little more than a ghost who popped in and out of Reacher’s adventure and had very little to do with anything. In the movie, she was a major player who complicated the situation by being a petulant teenager. As for the mystery, the movie of course had to chop out most of the story so it would fit into the 2 hours. Movie had too little story and too much “other.” I highly recommend the book rather than the movie.
Tom Cruise is the exact antithesis of Jack Reacher. Reacher is a BIG man Cruise is a Tiny little boy toy.
Casting Cruise was a huge mistake and ruins the movies for me. I have read all of the Reacher books several times and enjoy them every time.
I have watched One Shot twice which was twice to much.