A few days ago (and we missed it with all the divorce talk), EW.com premiered the above photo as a “first look” at Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, the iconic character who is featured in at least 20 Lee Child novels. Now the teaser trailer for the Jack Reacher movie (previously known as One Shot) has been released and — between this promotional photo and the trailer itself — it’s obvious that the filmmakers have taken great care to shoot Tom from certain angles in the hopes that he will appear monstrous in size. The effect is … ridiculous, for Reacher is described in the novels as a “giant” who stands 6′ 5″ in height and possesses a hulking, 50-inch-chest. In other words, there aren’t enough camera tricks in the world to pull off the desired illusion.
Now before I go any further, I want to acknowledge that there have been occasional comments about how we (myself included, of course) poke a lot of fun at Tom’s height (5′ 7″) and his insistance upon wearing lifts. These jokes aren’t really about short guys — in fact, short dudes are really hot when they own their height. Like Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, right? Or Peter Dinklage, who is sexy as hell. In contrast, Tom obviously has a huge problem with his own shortness, and his attitude about it is what makes it funny. He even made Katie Holmes wear flats as he stood in his lifts on the Jack Reacher set so the paparazzi would get photos of him looking tall that day.
It further follows that Tom has invited more ridicule upon himself by signing on to play a character who is described as a brick sh-thouse in slightly more literary terms. Jack Reacher’s stature is vital to the story being told in this movie, and Child takes great care to mention the character’s intimidating physicality at every opportunity within his books. So it makes no sense that Tom has such a massive sensitivity towards his own height but has now placed himself in a situation where there are Facebook pages called “Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher” and IMDb boards that say even worse.
Regardless, Tom now appears in the new teaser trailer for Jack Reacher, which is about a former military investigator who is now quite the vigilante and sets out to solve a mystery about five killings. Tom basically beats up guys and then other dudes get scared and run away. It’s pretty funny to watch:
Did you see Tom pretending to check out that chick in a thong, and are you also wondering why his gross stomach is still prominently on display? More importantly, are you believing him as Jack Reacher? Paramount apparently isn’t worried about the negative fan buzz about Tom playing such a beloved character, and they’ve also stated that they’re not concerned about the effects of Katie’s divorce filing either:
As fate would have it, the first trailer for Tom Cruise’s next movie Jack Reacher is hitting theaters just as news of his pending divorce from Katie Holmes makes headlines around the world.
Marketing a film is never easy when one of its stars become embroiled in a personal crisis, but Paramount insiders say they don’t believe the breakup — which once again puts the spotlight on Cruise’s controversial religion Scientology — impacts his box-office prowess or Jack Reacher, which opens Dec. 21. His personal life may sell magazines, but his films will stand on their own merit, insiders add.
The studio says it has no intention of changing its promotional materials for Jack Reacher, which rely almost exclusively on Cruise’s character. Jack Reacher — previously titled One Shot — is based on Lee Childs’ best-selling book about a former military investigator (Cruise) who takes grief from no one. The studio was so keen on the film that it moved Jack Reacher to the lucrative year-end holiday season.
[From Hollywood Reporter]
Paramount sort of has a point here. I don’t think that, in general, Tom’s career will suffer from this latest fallout in his personal life. We’ve already seen that nobody wants to see him as a rock star, but audiences will continue to show up to watch him do crazy stunts like jumping off the world’s tallest building. Yet will fans of Jack Reacher really want to watch Tom mugging for the camera and pretending to be all tough when he’s really just actng like Tom Cruise? They really should have cast someone else in this role.
Photo courtesy of EW.com; screencaps courtesy of YouTube
Once again, I’m having playback issues on my phone -_-
But even cray-cray, it’s hard to deny he’s a good actor. I’m a fan of the books and I know Reacher’s physicality is a huge part of the stories and plots, but I’ve always been in the camp of acting talent vs. physical appearance.
I wish TommyGirl would just own his height like Richard Hammond. It’s just a bit tragic otherwise. I think in this case, a different casting choice would have been best.
I’m a big fan of the Jack Reacher series and I’m sure I’ve read just about all of them. When I found out that it was Tom Cruise playing Reacher I was more than a little disappointed. People will watch it, but I don’t think I could actually place him in that role. It would be like watching another action film, but I don’t think I could watch him being something he is clearly not. I think it was really irresponsible casting on their part – to make money – and not stay true to the book series.
Cruise bought the film rights and cast himself.
Child should have pulled rank (ownership)
Julie: I agree. Cruise is a horrible choice to play Reaacher, I can’t see it at all.
Lem: Cruise bought the rights? Lee Child ought to be ashamed of himself. It’s obvious from the book jacket photos he sort of fancies himself as Reacher.
You know who would have been good casting? Liam Neeson.
Cruise bought the rights from someone who bought the rights from someone who bought the rights…
This movie has been in pre production since before One Shot was even written. Anyone who loves Child knows how epically slow he writes. At least he writes his own stuff. (I’m side eyeing you Patterson )
He sold rights after book 3 I think. Don’t quote me on that. Years ago. They’ve bounced around tinsel town delay after delay. Been in many hands
This situation reminds of me of the Katherine Heigl getting cast as Stephanie Plum situation. I’ve read those books and the Jack Reacher books and while this movie looks like it could be good, I think its going to end up like One for Money. Bombing because it was miscast.
My thoughts exactly. Both are poorly casted. I read both series but can’t get excited about seeing either movie.
Although Lee Child actually gave the green light for Cruise. That’s why I’m not overly bothered. Generally when an author steps in, it’s a fair bet that the end result is going to be good. And Child doesn’t strike me as the type to sell out. Apparently Reacher’s physicality is a metaphor for being an unstoppable force … Odd choice of metaphor IMO :p
As I understand it Child gave in after more than a decade.
From Lee’s comments is sounds like he didn’t have much of a choice and released a “pro cruise” statement not of his own idea. He actually refused cruise for years. He had made comments very much to the affect he sold out
Same as Rice who was staunchly anti cruise until she released statements about how cruise ‘amazed’ her by pulling it off so well
Lem – let me have this!!! I’m struggling to find a reason to still love this character after watching the trailer!
Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts….
Bluhare, I like the Liam Neeson idea, he proved his action chops in Taken.
Ok Love . Child approved.
Big fan of the books… have read them all, and was really angry (yes, angry!) when Tom cast himself in this role. Lee Child sold the rights outright many years ago, and had no say in casting (a mistake I assume he won’t make again), but even more disappointing than TC thinking he can take on this role was hearing Lee Child trying to rationalize it. Maybe he just feels the need to support the movie, even with the bad casting choice… but he went overboard in my opinion. Suggesting that Reacher’s size in the books is only a ‘metaphor’ was ridiculous. Anyone who has read the books knows this is not the case. As CB has pointed out, his size is a continuous theme in the books, and often referred to in his many moments of kicking ass. Sadly, while I’m still a fan of Lee Child, my opinion of him has been lowered… not because he is supporting the casting decision, but because of things he has said in doing so. He has been disingenuous with his fans… and worse, he obviously thinks fans are stupid enough to believe him.
Love the books. Tom is not right for this role. He also wasn’t right for Lestat. (Poor Anne Rice.) I could totally see Hugh Jackman as Reacher. Or, Liam N if you were going a bit older. Sad. I doubt I’ll see the movie. Author Robert Crais says he’ll never sell his Elvis Cole books to Hollywood.
i actually laughed out loud during the trailer. he is more than a little too old and short to pull this off.
however, i agree about his career in action movies. it won’t suffer. for some reason, people buy him as an action hero. weird.
OMG Hilarious. I laughed out loud too. His high pitched voice is NOT intimidating!!
He looks SO silly.
I know nothing about the franchise, my only reference for hulking government agent turned vigilante is Brock Sampson (especially bc of that car!) in the venture bros. I imagined a hulking smoker that asks no questions and only executes justice (movie context).
That was pathetic. He looks short and thin.
I always thought of the character having the build of someone like Joe Manganiello.
Tom Cruise is a good actor, but I just see him as himself, not who he’s supposed to be playing.
I disagree he is 50, and clearly too old for this, he should take the indie movies road, like Pitt and Clooney.
My bad I was trying to respond to Jackie O.
I have that same problem — seeing him as himself in movies. I went to see MI4 over the holidays (got to the theater too late for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and the whole time I was like, “There’s Tom putting on his serious face! There’s Tom giving his special lady the eye!” Even when I went to The Descendents, I realized it was Clooney, but I didn’t sit through the whole thing thinking, “Clooney mad, Clooney smash!” So for me, it’s just not possible to separate Tom the person from whoever he’s pretending to be anymore.
Boy, I have the exact same issue
Eh Tom really has had only one true hit since the couch thing MI5 despite several attempts at a comeback no one wants to see him outside of that franchise unless he’s mocking himself like the Tropic Thunder cameo.
I don’t think this movie will do well. And yes I think long term his movie career is winding down or almost over.
Everyone in the trailer looks bigger than him!! You can’t be an intimidating “widdle guy.”
Joe M. Would have done well, or Chris Hemsworth. Why didn’t they pick someone tall & cast all short people as extras to magnify the effect?
Chris Hemsworth would have been perfect….
+2 on Hemsworth.
agree!
Too young. He was a retired, middle-aged Army police. One of his weakness is that he’s a bad runner coz of his age. Chris looks 30-ish at most.
Chris can’t act, and is way too pretty for Reacher. Though physically, he is perfect.
I said it above. Liam Neeson. He’s old enough, he’s tall, and his face looks like he could be a bad mofo. Plus I think he boxed at one time.
Russell Crowe or Eric Bana would’ve been better options.
I think those guys are too young, although maybe Crowe could pull it off. I read one book a few years ago, and I pictured him to be close to 50. I could be wrong. I have nothing against shorter men but I think Tom is wrong for this role. I picture someone like Sam Shephard.
In the first book Reacher was 35 or 36 I believe…He had put in a very long military career for how young he was.
Should have stuck Snake Pliskin in the role.
The Rock would have been a fabulous choice. The right age, the right physical stature, a strong action actor… Been reading the Reacher novels for years and I always pictured him in the role should the series ever make it to the silver screen. Tom Cruise is a laughable choice. I’m so disappointed that Lee Childs sold out like that. Shades of Anne Rice when she rolled over and let the Vampire LeStat role be turned into a pathetic caricature of a previously dynamic character. Oh wait, that was Tom again wasn’t it?
co-sign on the Rock…would have been awesome!
the rock would have been great in this role. tom cruise…not so much.
I only just found out today that Tom Cruise is going to play Reacher, and had to come online to check…hoping i was wrong..what a complete disappointment!!!
I know Tom is a few short (not just in height) but how can he seriously think he can pull off Jack Reacher??? What a joke, and i think quite offensive! The only people that will watch (and maybe enjoy) this movie will be people who have never read the books..(the trailer was enough to put me off) I Think one person who could pull off this role is The Rock, or a new unknown actor who can fit the bill…anyway, now i am off to try and erase the image of cruise/reacher, so i can enjoy any future books..i know there is so much wrong with TC playing reacher…but did anyone else notice the lovely smooth hands on the gear stick?? looks like “Reacher” spends more time getting a manicure than i do!!! oh & my hubby says TC shold be sued for defamation of character!!! LOL
Dwayne Johnson would’ve been OK. But I think Russell is old enough to have that life experience Reacher seems to have. I also think Eric Bana would be good because he’s talented enough to transform himself into anything:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YlJosCEew&feature=related
But Tom Cruise? He doesn’t look tough enough to be Reacher.
I am not a heightist, but when I saw him in the MI films, Top Gun etc i was a little oblivious to his height. Now that everyone on here dwells on it, it is one of the ONLY things i can focus on now, I don’t buy him as jack reacher. No ma’am.
Tom cruise sucks. He needs to give it up.
I agree. I also don’t understand why, a guy who is so successful and has so much money is such a workaholic that apparently never sees his family. As he says “my family and I have an understanding about that”. Yea, they understand he’s never around lol He obviously has alot of massive insecurities. Now that he’s 50, maybe he should go to a psychiatrist and figure out what the heck is wrong with him. Oh.. i forgot.. scientologists don’t believe in psychiatry.
Weirdly I can watch films made before I fell out of like with Tom/Mel/Nic Cage etc but there’s no way I’d watch any of them now. It’s way too hard to dissociate from the crazy/racist/whatevs stuff.
I am the same way.
(1) I agree that the its hard not to think about the actor’s private life when they are on the screen – especially if its someone like Tom C who is so pompous. I laughed all the way through Vanilla Sky – and it wasn’t a comedy. He was just so pompous in it. But I think he’s acting his ass off now and its fun to watch it when he actually brings talent to a movie instead of dialing in the “action hero”. But I agree that his movies have been s**t lately (Day and Night). But he’ll be like Madonna – he won’t go quietly as he ages.
(2) I may see “Jack Reacher” and even enjoy it but I’ll be thinking the whole time “Run, Katie. Run”!
I liked a lot of Mel’s movies too, until he became too interested in rose gardens. Now every time I hear his name I think woman hater.
LOL Rose Garden. I made a Mel Gibson magnet on my fridge with that quote and a pic of his face. Cracks me up every time …
More “Jack can’t reach her because she’s on the top shelf” than Jack Reacher
😀
@ Kaboom
“I love the smell of bitchy in the morning. It smells like victory”
My apologies to Apocalypse Now.
Run, Katie. Run!
@ Elizabeth-I will be using this line forever. 🙂
Excellent snark! Well done.
Nothing about this trailer makes me want to see this movie. I generally like Tom Cruise’s movies but this movie does not look good at all. Maybe it’s just this trailer. Seems like a rush job to try to divert from all the divorce news going on. This looks like a flop.
+1. Absolutely no interest in this piece of crap.
I love watching trailers with the sound off. Helps you tell if the players are really acting or the soundtrack is doing it for them. Fell pretty flat.
that shot of him behind the steering wheel should have been done from another angle. he’s barely peeking over the wheel ..
lol! Literally!
Tommy has one character.
Xenu?
Dude really is NEVER at home, is he.
seriously… Rock of Ages and now this flik? and isnt there another one too ??
I was more distracted by the way he lovingly caressed that shaft…I mean stick shift.
I’ve never even HEARD of Jack Reacher, but even I can see the difference between Tom (5’6″ if he’s lucky) and…oh, say, Hubs, who is 6’5″.
He is trying W-A-Y-T-O-O-H-A-R-D to prove…whatever it is he’s trying to prove.
EXACTLY! He’s ALWAYS trying to prove SOMEthing… but i n-e-v-e-r knew what it was. i never got this guy. i swear.
It’s gotta be a classic case of SMS (Short Man Syndrome). Otherwise, I can’t explain it. (He was cute in Risky Business. That’s. IT.)
But I must say that I am absolutely physically unable to stomach another “I’m so virile; I’m such a hero” publicity tour like the ROA and the last MI. And even I could only take that mess in limited doses.
1-What was with the trailer music? Is it me or did it sound like the MI theme played backwards?
2-Tom sounds like he’s doing his Clint Eastwood impression. Is this supposed to be funny or is it unintentional (lol)
3-Tom needs to own his height and I agree with you Bedhead. Though maybe it’s too late for him. Because when some say that Tom’s the real victim and why is Katie getting all of the sympathy, all I can say is that Katie never made Tom wear flats. (Also second the motion that Peter Dinklage is a sexy man who is secure in himself)
4-Tom’s abs look weird and he needs to put those away.
5-Girl in thong scene: Cringe factor to the max. The entire trailer is a joke. I will probably rent this for laughs.
I can’t believe that Tom thought that Tom could pull off this Jack Reacher thing, that somehow his great acting could transcend physics and reality.
Jovia, first, you’re not crazy. The music DOES sound like the MI theme. Second, with respect to him transcending the physical… challenges that go with him trying to play this role… Haven’t you heard? With Scientology he can transcend ANYTHING! 🙂
I’m not familiar with this book series but if the character is known to be that size then yeah this casting is not only ridiculous but downright insulting to the fans that love the series. No wonder they’re in an uproar.
I’m still not watching anything with TC in it again…ever.
he may have been a great actor once upon a time, but i can no longer disassociate between the character and the actor. as soon as i hear his voice i know i’m watching tom cruise and i stop caring.
The unintentional comedy event of the year! Seriously we all know you are uncomfortable with your height Tom, why draw attention to it?! Stick to Mission Imposs…actually no I’d rather see Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg take that over.
Statham is roughly the same height as Cruise but is another example of a guy who owns his height, and could probably pull off this role. Cruise is just mind-bogglingly bad casting!
I agree with the “own your height Tom!” crowd. If he did then it wouldn’t be such an issue now. Although I do remember pictures where Katie Holmes was soo much taller than him, she had to have been wearing heels. But the pictures of him in lifts are there still.
If he were a different guy, the people would just say that it could still work. Etc. Especially if they like the guy, but with this fellow, well, that is just not going to happen.
I love how all the film studios are lying through their teeth about how this divorce and everything else with it (scientology) is not going to affect their movie sales. It’s funny to hear big corporations engage in a bout of wishful thinking.
Like some woebegone thirteen year old.
Prepare to hear that a lot over the next few months as the consultants paid to save the films practice the Republican vice of if you repeat a lie enough, people will believe it, before they give up and delay the opening and then shrink the advertising budget.
Well… maybe. Maybe TC and the public will surprise me. But, I don’t think so.
Reacher’s physical appearance is always mentioned in Child’s novels. You can’t ignore that. 6’5″, 50-inch wide chest and can break someone’s neck with one hand. In other words, he is the Hulk or Brock Samson of Venture Bros. The only thing they have in common is that both Jack and Tom are middle aged. Now why would the author agree to cast Tom Cruise? Dolf Lungren would fit his physical description but it’s no longer the 80s, he’s no box-office draw. Why not Joe ManJello or Jason Statham?
“Paramount apparently isn’t worried…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh bullsh*t!
Paramount are worried to death.
The last thing they needed to have happen, was the whole “Cruise” is bat-sh*t insane to start up again.
So they are going on the defensive, to try to minimize the sh*t storm a brewing. And I suspect they are on Cruise, like a duck on a June-Bug!
To get this divorce settle. Quick and Quite! Give her what ever she wants. There are hundred of millions of dollars at stake.
And Cruise is going to need to stop the media, from blowing it up to epic proportions.
Katie just might come out from this divorce with her child and a big fat healthy check. To keep her mouth shut. And never ever talk to the media about Cruise and his crazy Cult.
Paramount has lots to worry about with Tommygirl as the headliner…because if you knew anything about the character TC should have never been cast so it’s their own fault, despite the divorce drama. This will be another TC movie to put in the loss column.
Listen up studios…TC is done as a marquee name so quit trying to shove him down our throats. Let him fade into closeted CO$ oblivion PLEASE.
I think he just needs to realise that if he continues with the co$ freaks, he’ll soon become a has been if not already is.
When people hear Tom Cruise…they see co$ and therefore are simply put off…
I wonder why he just doesn’t leave them, what do they know about him that could be so harmful to his image..that he’s gay? – well, everybody knows it and if he just admitted to it, he really would be more legit that he is at the moment.
Tommygirl – talk to the people who are now in charge of your soon-to-be-ex-wife PR campaign and you might be back op top again.
I honestly think her PR people are genius!
Do you remember her from a few weeks ago – with ugly hair, ugly clothes etc..now she goes to have ice-cream with her daughter and she looks good, like really good. BRAVO!
I lol at this trailer last night. The angles are ridiculous. Doesn’t matter where they shot from he still looks short. In fact, I’d say he looks shorter in this film than any other.
People blaming Tom for Rock of Ages just doing okay is such an easy remark. Musicals don’t do that great. But the criticisms have been leveled at the two young leads – Julianne Hough and the young guy. They are called bland, wooden, etc. Catherine Zeta Jones didn’t get good reviews. Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin have received a lot of good reviews for their performances. My friends have said they saved the movie.
Actually, for me, the combo of Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand did it. Their duet was hilarious.
Great article that says what others deny. It does matter because the character’s size is a main feature of all the books. They messed this one up.
Nice try Paramount. While I don’t think that the divorce stuff would necessarily keep people from seeing the movie on its own, that combined with the fact that his movies don’t seem to pull in the money or the audiences the way they used to (the last MI movie did well, I think but was the exception) could be a problem for them, especially if any more really creepy stuff comes out about his involvement with COS. Lastly, this opens the same day as The Hobbit-it’s already dead in the water.
Plus I think people are getting tired of Cruise trying to prove he’s still hot and tough and taking roles that really he should leave to others already. He’s 50 and while that’s not ancient (I’m over 50) it starts to feel lately like with Rock of Ages and this on top of the MI films that he’s going through a midlife crisis and is trying to prove something to himself and everyone else. Even when you can doesn’t mean you should. It’s like 50 year old women wearing bikinis…even when they have good bodies, it’s just not the same as when they were 21.
dang…. how did u know that? “Hobbit” you say?? hee-heeee….
🙂 I’m a giant nerd. As it turns out, IMDB is now saying it premieres in the US on the 14th instead of the 21st. No matter, it will still probably be snatching everyone’s wigs in its second week.
Tom was the biggest moneymaker in the past twelve months. No actor even came close. He is still very bankable if he chooses his roles wisely and settles his divorce quietly. Tom in Ghost Protocol was fantastic and more fit than most.
Liam Neeson became an action hero at 56 and is still going strong at 60 doing Taken 2. I hate ageist comments about what people should be doing. His height for this role is a legitimate complaint.
I stand corrected. It just seemed like his recent movies didn’t do well critically or financially. I mean, they weren’t “John Carter” type bombs, but they it seemed like they weren’t the immediate successes he’s enjoyed in the past.
no.
this actually makes me want to cry. the Reacher novels are my top 3 favourites ever, and that they have been reduced to this is heartbreaking. Yes, I feel that strongly about the books I read, reading is my passion and this is just too terrible for words.
It’s worse than them trying make Kay Scarpetta 🙁
It’s just so wrong, on all levels. They don’t need to be movies, the books are truly fabulous. He is completely wrong for the role, his build, his voice even is thin and reedy, and Jack’s is not (in my head anyway). Totally not believable.
Not every book needs to be a movie for god’s sake. That’s the joy of reading- using your imagination. Hollywood once again screws it all up.
I was going to say the same thing… the trailer makes me want to cry! I love the Jack Reacher novels and was disappointed they cast Cruise. (He’s too old, too thin, too short, too WRONG!) But after seeing the actual trailer, it’s just way worse than I thought it would be. AND that awful voiceover. Ugh. I don’t know if I’ll pay my $10 to go see it when it comes out. 🙁
HE SHOULD ALSO NEVER HAVE BEEN CAST AS “LESTAT” – yuck! He totally wrecked up that one for me… Fangs on Tom Cruise? seriously? boo-hiss. Kirsten D was awesome tho.
stinky – I’m soooo with you. Cruise as Lestat was tragic.
I don’t know if any of you were watching MTV in the late 80s, but I always thought Adam Curry was a perfect Lestat. He was an MTV “vj” and even had some sort of accent. Google him and tell me what you think.
Me too! I just want to cry at what they’ve done to Jack Reacher. This is one of my all-time favorite series, and I take my books seriously. The stories are amazing, the action is non-stop, and Reacher deserves better than this. MUCH better. I feel so strongly about it I did a post on this topic over on my own blog.
Tom Cruise cannot be an effective actor now for many people such as myself because his real-life escapades overshadow whoever he’s pretending to be. The crazy is just too strong with this one.
I can’t wait to NOT see this farce of a movie.
@ Kay
I’m not as up to date on my scarpetta news. Last, I heard twas Angelina (who’d do as Lucy). Benton is clearly cast when I read as the profiler from “Silence” Scott Glenn
Authors need to stand their ground with casting. It’s your creation. Hold out and get Hopkins as Lector or Freeman as Alex Cross or give in a get Cruise as Least or Cruise as Reacher. Waaa waa
I read them too, and with Cruise as Reacher I won’t be going to the movie.
Kay, You may have hit on something here because Cruise would be more believable as Kay Scarpetta than as Reacher! lmao
Well from the perspective of age and having seen umpteen versions of Jane Eyre (and only one that was good), don’t lose hope, at some point somebody else may try again and get it right. Especially since the risk-averse in Hollywood like to go with the same material – OVER and OVER.
I’m with you! I will continue to enjoy the books, with my image of Jack Reacher’s appearance and voice intact. They’d make great movies, sure, but casting Jack would be very important to do correctly and they screwed that up. He’s huge, he’s scary, and when he yells it’s a deep booming sound, and maybe in a few years Hollywood will try again. They keep doing Spiderman over and over.
This looks like a totally dumb movie…..
TC is a talented actor but he’s already in one action hero type franchise and he doesn’t fit the physical aspects of the character in this at all, so why not let another actor – one who does more match the physical traits – have the part? TC is not the only talented actor in the industry. It turns me off that he’s playing this role…it just feels like inflated ego.
Okay I snorted then stopped watching at the line of ‘ I am not a hero’ i couldnt go any further.
I am a fan of the Lee Child books with Reacher. To see this little shorty who can barely see over the steering wheel, is beyond ridiculous. I might have gone to see the movie but not with this stupid casting.
His crazy has surpassed his acting. I cannot see him without thinking of Oprah. TBH I never liked him as an actor. I always thought he over did it (a la Leo) but I think a lot of other people are over him now too.
“his gross stomach”
I saw ROA and his gross stomach is only rivaled by his gross mid/lower back. I cant ever unsee.
Can’t bring myself to even watch the trailer.
Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher
Reacher has to walk the street; his head is higher than the shop awnings. They attack Reacher as a pack. He saw them coming. What are obviously former college lineman come all at once; swinging tire irons & giant wrenches. Reacher’s skull so thick, his nose never having been broken, his body so strong & wide the impending blows from the muscle men glance off his body like Thetans at a spa house. Reacher has a massive s.p. held at bay in his big meaty left hand. In his right, which is bigger than the lineman’s head he swings a second s.p. halfway across the room hearing bones crunch as the man lands broken over the jukebox. Instantaneously Reacher sends his size 13 boot straight through the skull of Xenu. Xenu’ s head implodes from the tremendous kick. Before Xenu hits the ground Reacher is already jamming a big hard knee straight through chestplate of paramount. The large studio nearly splits in half from the mighty blow.
According the the clock in his head its been 33 seconds since he noticed the suppressives walk into the bar. He removes his flannel sprayed with blood and pitches it in the trash. Hoping the corner store has received a shipment since yesterday as the only other shirt in his size was a screenprinted shirt emblazoned with “FREE KATIE” whomever she is. He guesses that is what he’ll be wearing tomorrow.
Reacher sets off in search of a coffee. It will be his 3rd in 3 hours and he has a feeling it might be his last in this town.
nice!
LOL! I like your version… 😀
OMG Lem thanks for the laugh! I totally <3 you right now. I want to visit your blog!! Email me please!!!
Bravo!!!!! Love it
This is one of the most tragic casting mistakes EVER!
I love me some Jack Reacher. I picture a big, strong man. Jack Reacher kicks more than one ass at a time and is a force to be reckoned with.
Tom Cruise is a short, aging man who cannot pull this off. I don’t say that just because I loathe him with every bit of my being, he really will suck at this role.
I will not watch the trailer and I certainly will not see this movie.
I love Tom Cruise and his divorce is not going to effect me, so I’ll still see his movies. I hate the ‘Katie believes this’ and ‘Katie believes that’ stories. She hasn’t uttered a word about what she believes to any reporter and if she was so darned afraid and paranoid, she sure wouldn’t be talking to just anybody about what (if anything) she’s afraid of. She knew of the CO$ before she married him, so if she uses it as a weapon in the divorce, she’s a bitch. Dawson’s Creek was her claim to fame. Her time has passed and it’s not because of the CO$.
I remember reading that Nicole Kidman was heartbroken over her divorce from Tom and didn’t want the divorce. That’s why I don’t think he’s all bad.
I would continue to go to his movies. He’s a good actor.
Whatever camera tricks supposedly being employed certainly don’t seem effective. In that shot of Cruise in the middle of the circle of bad guys/guys he’s beating up, he’s clearly shorter than everyone, including the woman…
Well I can buy the crazy part but not the physical. Any man involved in an organization that cotrols and abuses other people is a straight up wimp. He plays Mr nice guy and let’s the cos goons do his dirty work. What a punk.
As my grandfather said about the KKK – anything you have to do with a pillowcase over your head, you probably shouldn’t be doing. That’s the cos for you and Tom too. The KKK told my GF to fire his catholic nanny in the early 1900s – apparently they didn’t just dilike black people – my GF told them to go to hell. I’d like to see TC do that. Until then he can’t ever play a role like this.
The books are great, the movie looks really sad, pathetic even. He needs to quit. Find a nice role that does not try so damn hard to make him someone/something he can never, ever be. Will NOT be seeing this movie.
My brother reads the Reacher novels and he was aghast at the casting. A break-out role for some of the taller actors to get and they cast a not-tall person.
Hey Hollywood, can I play Michael Jordan in something? I mean, I’m 5’9″ and white and I don’t know anything about basketball but, y’know…
I’d watch you Incredulous.
I’m pretty sure if you called Tom Cruises agent he’d go to the casting director and do the necessary Xenu dance and offer to touch his Thetans until the casting director got frightened and handed you the part so he’d stop.
Just as Elle, Kate, and finally Gisele set the stage for the Kardashian revolution ( i.e. big girls are hot ), Tom Cruise has almost single-handedly set the stage for the next wave of big leading men ( John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Liam Neeson types )and the end of the midgocracy that casts little model men as massive brutes ( Bane, Thor, and Bale as Batman all badly miscast in terms of stature. )
You were doing OK until the end. Bruce Wayne in the comics is said to be 6’2. Bale is 6’0, hardly a dramatic difference! (and yes he is actually 6’0, not imdb 6’0). Also Thor is the comics is 6’6, Hemsworth is 6’4, pretty good if you ask me! I mean if those two aren’t big leading men who is?! Liam Neeson sure…and?
I had no idea Hemsworth ( or even Bale ) was that tall. Perhaps things aren’t as bad for big guys as I thought.
Well I wouldn’t get too optimistic. Personally I get your point, it’s just with those two it doesnt stand. Bale is a funny one since he is literally such a cameleon he can come across as big or small. He is really is a class of his own though. Cruise lacks the tough guy feel too. For example Jeremy Renner is not tall, but I would believe him in this before Cruise because he has that tough guy vibe.
That was awful!
There are so many actors out there, why not give an unknown talented one a chance to shine?
Cruise sounded almost monotone in his “gruff manly” voice which still didn’t hide his high pitched squeakiness.
He’s not a badass or a man of steel.
this
That Jack Screecher trailer is hysterical!!! Tom is laughable at best ‘scaring’ the bad guys with karate moves or whatever? How come he never gets hurt in his movies? He did get hung in “Valkyrie” but thats cause the actors couldnt take his acting anymore. The car chases, fights and profanity is getting old…Give me James Garner in “The Great Escape” or James Cagney in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” !
By the way, let’s not try to have our cake and eat it too. Hating Tom Cruise as Reacher and loving Tom Hardy as Bane is logically inconsistent( even though hating Cruise and loving Hardy is completely logical in and of itself. )
Not necessarily. That implies that the only thing that’s a problem in that trailer is his height. It’s not. There is a LOT more wrong with that trailer than just his height. Also never once have I laughed at Bane in the Dark Knight trailers, he freaks me out.
In my mind, Liam Neeson would have been perfection if he was ten years younger. Since he’s not, Hugh Jackman would be brilliant in the role and the subsequent movies if it’s a hit.
For those saying the author should have stood his ground, I agree, but I don’t think he had any ground to stand on in this case.
Everything I’ve read about this situation suggests that Child sold the rights to this many years ago…apparently early in his writing career, when he hadn’t made a ton of money on the books, and obviously wasn’t smart enough to retain casting rights.
One Shot is the 9th Reacher book and Lee Child is on his 17th. I’m pretty sure he was rolling in money but the time #9 was published. However, the authors don’t often have a say in the casting after the rights are sold. For example, Stephen King HATED the version of The Shining with Jack Nicholson in it but he couldn’t do anything about it because he sold the rights.
I also recall that Michael Connelly wasn’t too fond of the casting in Bloodwork but he was quite happy with McConaughey as Mickey Haller in the Lincoln Lawyer.
And really do we think that Janet Evanovich was thrilled at the Katherine Heigel travesty that was “One for the Money”?
I think Lee Child needs to be given a break. I’m sure most authors would welcome the rights being sold to some of their work. Its a chance to see it come to life.
seems to me he’s reachin’ for the badass ‘Ethan Hawke/Clive Owens/Jason Statham’ audience and i’m not so convinced.
the last time he played an unexpectingly believable baddie was in ‘Collateral’.
i just saw ‘Legend’ (circa ’85) on cable 3am this morning and was reminded of a more innocent, gentler time, b4 his 1st marriage, Scientology & his egomania crap when he portrayed something more believable:
a delightful, feisty forest sprite that believed in unicorns, maidens, elves & fairies.
bring back unicorn lovin’ Tom, Tom! and perhaps maybe, just maybe we’ll forgive u a bit more during this mess.
‘Legends can be now & for-ever, teaching us to love 4 good-ness saaake’ lol
😉
This bitch just needs to stop.
Just like with Interview With the Vampire, Cruise (and the studios) don’t give a damn about the fan base of a character. Personally I never bought Tom as a tough guy, not even in Mission Impossible, so this looks like a disaster.
As to who would be better; Liam Neeson is too old now. But how about Paul Bettany…or, my favorite: 6’6″ Kevin Durand. He played the angel Gabriel in the movie Legion. He would have been PERFECT!
@rlh – Ooh, I’ll second you on Kevin Durand. He also played a bad guy (can’t remember the name, but he was a mercenary) on the later seasons of Lost.
Aw, look at widdle Tommy. He can hardly see over the steering wheel in his daddy’s car.
That trailer is awkward. Tom…isn’t really the go-to guy for somebody who is supposed to be bad or intimidating.
Unless he’s being interviewed about Scientology that is.
I’ve read all the books and this is the miscast of the century. Tom can do action films. In the MI movies he can sell himself as a spy type, using brain over brawn to succeed.
But Reacher is a very, very physical guy. He is the huge, silent type who wades in and kicks ass. Tom can’t even kick his own ass.
Oh, and I will not be seeing this film. I really love the Reacher books and I learned my lesson on the Vampire Lestat. Always loved Rice’s vampires and used to re-read her books yearly. Cruise was NOT the Vampire Lestat, but once I saw the movie, if I tried to re-read her books I could only see Tom’s face and hear his voice when reading. Ruined them forever. Won’t be doing that again.
Most of these comments seem to be mean just for the sake of being mean. Tom Crusie is a terrific actor who can play bad ass & ice cold ( see Collateral). Characters in books that are adapted for the screen are routinely changed and played by actors with little to no physical resemelance to those in the source material. For me personally, all of these personal, mean comments about Cruise are just over the top and getting very old. ps – I think his stomach looks great.
You obviously have not read Lee Child’s books. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is a travesty.
I totally agree that Cruise suffers from a Napoleon complex… so how come short stuff keeps marrying tall babes??
He may be nuts, but he’s still incredibly handsome. I don’t find his body gross at all. He’s batsh** insane, but I still enjoy his films, and I think he can carry off an action hero.
If we knew nothing about this dude, he’d still be a great leading man.
As it is, its way too distracting knowing the guy has an inferiority complex the size of Antarctica and subsequently has become embroiled in a crazy ass cult.
There is a line in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ that goes ‘he became the carriage of his own chafe’, meaning he was the architect of his own demise.
What can I say? Cruise brought all the crazy on himself. It never ceases to blow my mind that a human can have millions in the bank, be the biggest movie star in the world, have a beautiful wife, lovely kids yada yada and ITS STILL NOT ENOUGH!
*shaking my head in puzzlement*
Don’t worry people, he’ll probably hand the reigns over Jeremy Renner at some stage.
Best actor to play jack reacher? Liam Neeson of course e would have been purfect!! Tom is just laughable in that role. sorry tom.
What about replacing Tom Cruise with Joe Manganiello? It’s not too late
Joe Manjello would be perfect for it.
Problem is that, like nearly everything else he is in, Tommygirl bought the rights so he could get the part. If he didn’t produce films he’d get no work. I wonder why then people say he’s powerful in HW when he got sacked and no one wants to employ him?
He is CLEARLY shorter than everyone in that trailer so why even bother with camera angles? This movie looks stupid.
Boycott!
I will continue with any new books but will NOT watch Cruise a Reacher.
His next film should be Snow White.
He could then play all the seven dwarfs and feed his over inflated ego at the same time
C’mon, troops, this IS NOT aimed at Childs Reacher fans…
It is aimed at Tom Cruise fans; i enjoyed Collateral,
I never read the Rice books, so his Lestat worked okay to me. Days of thunder was okay.
but
BUT, REacher an ex MP major, who doesn’t have a license, thus was uncomfortable behind the wheel of a car, and understood the refinement of Cheneys and WALKED everywhere….
Is not enhanced with the politically incorrectness of a muscle car!.
I always wanted Ron Perlman for the role, before HE got old-ish. Chr&st! A bulked up Sean Bean could work better.
Nah, this won’t hurt TC, but it’ll be hard to run the Reacher franchise beyond one sequel!
…and killing floor SHOULD have been the 1st.
But I Know nuffink
Nick Nolte is Reacher. At least that is what pops into my mind if I had to pick an actor. Pity Nick is just a bit past it all. In his prime he would have owned it.
Nick Nolte for Reacher ! In his prime he would have owned that role, all too late for him now…..
A travesty.
I always saw Gerard Butler, he has the look in Corialanus (not 300). Can scrub up okay but does messy well, is massive, has the scare factor, not too good looking. A missed opportunity. No way can I watch this, and They could have started with “The Enemy”. Would have set up a lot of character to lead into “Killing Floor”.
How, in any stretch of the imagination, could a little pipsqeek like Tom Cruise be considered to portray Jack Reacher?
Cut to the “real” fictional Reacher lying on a hospital bed:
There’s this guy, Doc. He thinks he’s me. He doesn’t care about physics or the law of gravity, he doesn’t care about my height. He knows I never went to Pittsburgh. He knows what he did. Doc, can you save this franchise? Maybe call Michael Mann?
What a reach! Tom short-guy Cruise, even with lifts, is a joke as Jack Reacher, a lumberjack of a man who uses his intimidating size with psychological precision. Even the trailer is a joke, Cruise is too short, too small handed/framed to pull off the out-manned fight scene shown and totally unbelieveable. Clearly, Cruise did not read all the novels before taking this role as he must know real fans will find him pathetic as Reacher, who is no finese here like Tom’s MI franchise hero. Why did “Lee Child” allow this to happen….oh yea, $$$. Sad, yet fitting I guess, as once again, Reacher deserves better.
For the folks feel people being just “mean” to TC – nope, I thought he was talented. When I heard he had the book rights was glad, thought he would PRODUCE Reacher film with care. Instead we get Little Man Syndrome. And I REALLY resent it, as Hunger Games, Harry P., LOTR were books w. care done w. cast. ~50 million Reacher books in print and if only half the readers are as ANGRY as myself, then Paramount has peed away millions. Nice!
Denzel Washington as Reacher. Check out man on fire apart from the drinking and depression that was on Reacher style vigilante mission
Been saying this for weeks, so disappointed in the choice of tc for reacher, he’s not reached at all. I thought a Bruce Willis type would be better, but I can’t keep up with all the actors these days. Need less to say I’m not a fan of tc and refuse to watch anything of his now, definitely won’t be seeing this one. Sad cos I’m such a fan of the books.
I take pleasure in, lead to I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
NO,No,No. How can Hollywood screw this up anymore? Cruise as Reacher? Cripes, It’s not even close. Cruise as a man or as an actor has no character similarities with Jack Reacher and for Hollywood to shove this down our gullets is just another reason I make it a point to turn off the volume when Tinseltown talks. Shame on Child for allowing this