cougar14
US Veteran
Just watched the trailer for the upcoming movie "Jack Reacher". I cannot see Lee Child approving of Tom Cruise, who is maybe 5 foot seven. In the books, Reacher is 6 feet 5 and 250#.
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher???
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5Wire
Member
I'm a long term Reacher creature and I'm appalled at Cruise in the role of Jack. I'm not even considering seeing the movie for that reason. I hope Lee Child was paid a lot for the rights and I hope he keeps writing Reacher novels. But Cruise? Nah.
yelloow7t
Member
Yep. Jack None Reacher would have Cruise for lunch...
I think they should have used someone like The Rock, IMO Cruise is about the worst possible choice. According to Lee Child Reacher's size is a metaphor for the unstoppable will and attitude of the character or some such BS. I don't know much about literature or metaphors but I've read all of the Reacher books and I can tell you that Tom Cruise is no Jack Reacher.
Ask yourself - how often does Hollywood gets the details right? Sure, they do sometimes, but that percentage is miniscule. It's a movie. They don't care.
When Hugh Jackman was tabbed to play Wolverine everyone was up in arms because in the comic books Wolverine is 5'3". Jackman is a foot taller. Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man/Tony Stark? Stark is over six feet tall. Downey? 5'8". It's all about the box-office. Cruise is still, for some reason unknown to me, considered a bankable star.
I haven't read any of the Jack Reacher books; in fact never heard of them until I read this thread. But it sounds like the actor you needed for him was John Wayne or James Arness. R.I.P.
When Hugh Jackman was tabbed to play Wolverine everyone was up in arms because in the comic books Wolverine is 5'3". Jackman is a foot taller. Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man/Tony Stark? Stark is over six feet tall. Downey? 5'8". It's all about the box-office. Cruise is still, for some reason unknown to me, considered a bankable star.
I haven't read any of the Jack Reacher books; in fact never heard of them until I read this thread. But it sounds like the actor you needed for him was John Wayne or James Arness. R.I.P.
Marshwheeling
Member
I keep trying to think of a modern actor who could do Jack reacher. Maybe Clive Owen with some peroxide? When I dig deep, I keep coming up with Chuck Connors. Clu Gulager? Troy Donahue??? Naaah. Sorry I mentioned it.
But Tom Cruise? How is he going to play it when somebody asks "Who's the big guy?". The only possible response is a snicker. Anyway, I don't watch Tom Cruise since he became a pawn of Scientology. (I hope no one thinks this is a knock on his religion, because Scientology is not a religion, I don't care what anybody says. It began as a tax dodge for L. Ron Hubbard, then evolved into a cult scam, which it remains to this day. I'll probably get rattlesnakes in my mailbox for saying it, but there you are.)
But Tom Cruise? How is he going to play it when somebody asks "Who's the big guy?". The only possible response is a snicker. Anyway, I don't watch Tom Cruise since he became a pawn of Scientology. (I hope no one thinks this is a knock on his religion, because Scientology is not a religion, I don't care what anybody says. It began as a tax dodge for L. Ron Hubbard, then evolved into a cult scam, which it remains to this day. I'll probably get rattlesnakes in my mailbox for saying it, but there you are.)
Doing Reacher justice...
Well, anyone reading this thread and wants to try Reacher, you must read them in order, otherwise you'll miss all the character development and a lot of things won't make any sense. The current book is #17.
Travis McGee had this trouble also, a couple of weak attempts to put a GREAT series onto the big screen, really poor selection of actors. I always thought Ron Ely would have made a great Trav.
Well, anyone reading this thread and wants to try Reacher, you must read them in order, otherwise you'll miss all the character development and a lot of things won't make any sense. The current book is #17.
Travis McGee had this trouble also, a couple of weak attempts to put a GREAT series onto the big screen, really poor selection of actors. I always thought Ron Ely would have made a great Trav.
BananaDoc
Member
you know... i felt the same way when he was cast in Interview with a Vampire way back in the day... He might surprise you.
RightArm
Member
Dolph Lungren, He speaks American in The Expendables.
I went and saw John Sandford speak at a book signing event. Prey/ Davenport novel fans may remember Mark Harmon playing Lucas Davenport, who is also a big, rugged guy. We asked Sandford about Harmon, as well as Cruise. He seems to think choices are very limited because all of the good actors are short.
I can live with Harmon playing Davenport, but Cruise as Reacher is a slap in the face to all of us Reacher fans. Reacher would probably cripple Cruise just because he is such a cocky douche.
I went and saw John Sandford speak at a book signing event. Prey/ Davenport novel fans may remember Mark Harmon playing Lucas Davenport, who is also a big, rugged guy. We asked Sandford about Harmon, as well as Cruise. He seems to think choices are very limited because all of the good actors are short.
I can live with Harmon playing Davenport, but Cruise as Reacher is a slap in the face to all of us Reacher fans. Reacher would probably cripple Cruise just because he is such a cocky douche.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Casting of characters is terrible. Some authors won't sell movie rights unless they have control over casting, which is hard to get.
My pet peeve in this regard is, "Live and Let Die", loosely based on Fleming's terrific book of that name. Ian Fleming descibed CIA agent Felix Leiter as " a straw-haired Texan." That film turned him into a black man!
This PC stuff is just totally out of hand. Fortunately, Leiter is better cast in the other Bond movies, but never as he should look or behave. And some of the actors playing Bond were not up to the role, either.You know, Tom Cruise's ex, Katie, would be a good Bond girl. Sharp and pretty too, and a very good actress.
If she ever gets that role, remember that you first read it here, and that it was my idea.I've never read a Jack Reacher book. All I know of him is what I read here. But he seems a sort of macho chest-thumper designed to appeal to rednecks insecure about their virility.
As for his size, read Jack Higgins's books featuring the former IRA assassin Sean Dillon. And Gen. Chas. Ferguson. Ferguson runs other agents who also kill ruthlessly and effectively, although most seem to be of average to a little taller size, and pretty polished. I think Dillon is about 5' 6". But he is a very tough guy, whose exploits are quite plausible. Keep in mind that Col. John S. Mosby, CSA, was not a large man, either. But he had even Lincoln worried that he might come calling, Colt .44 in hand.
(For the record, I am not a small man, but not especially big, either.)
As for lethality, the Modesty Blaise books by Peter O'Donnell make it clear that size doesn't have to be a requirement for being very dangerous. To be sure, Modesty's male pal Willie Garvin was a big Cockney guy, but the author didn't get off on his physique. I must say, Sean Connery was well cast as Bond, though.
David Lindsey's Houston homicide detective Stuart Haydon was about six feet, but his image wasn't redneck macho. Far from it: he was very cultured and his wife was a talented architect. He wore designer suits and carried a Beretta. He had family money, as a normal cop couldn't afford his home, car (a Jaguar) and other trappings. But Lindsey made him seem very real.
George Peppard could have probably played this Reacher guy, but he's long dead. Most modern actors are pretty bland. My daughter thinks some on the fantasy shows with demons and vampires are pretty hot, though. I think she likes Russell Crowe, too. And Mel Gibson. Harrison Ford is too old now for a lead male character. But Liam Neeson is hanging in. He has a new sequel to, "Taken" due out soon, if it isn't already in theaters.
Oh: Travis McGee was mentioned. I never read those books, as the author was anti-gun. But didn't Rod Taylor play McGee in at least one film? I'd have thought he would be pretty good back then.
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Tom Cruise is not my favorite actor by any stretch but he was good in "Collateral" as a hit man. Dynamite comes in small packages. Audie Murphy was a little guy who looked like a shoe salesman and some of his movies weren't very good, but, no one ever seriously wanted to mess with him. About the only passable actor I can think of to fill the size requirements for Reacher would be Tom Selleck, although, probably too old for the part.
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I've never read a Jack Reacher book. All I know of him is what I read here. But he seems a sort of macho chest-thumper designed to appeal to rednecks insecure about their virility.
Actually, Texas Star, There's none of that at all in these books. In the first few books, Reacher was a West Point graduate, Major, highly decorated Army veteran of many combat operations. It really is a good read.
I did not know John D. MacDonald was anti-gun. You wouldn't know it from any of his books.
Actually, Texas Star, There's none of that at all in these books. In the first few books, Reacher was a West Point graduate, Major, highly decorated Army veteran of many combat operations. It really is a good read.
I did not know John D. MacDonald was anti-gun. You wouldn't know it from any of his books.
olcop
Member
Jack Reacher
I had always pegged Alec Baldwin as Reacher-----till I found out about his politics, now I don't watch him in nothing.
olcop
I had always pegged Alec Baldwin as Reacher-----till I found out about his politics, now I don't watch him in nothing.
olcop
pilgrim6a
Member
My first thought on an actor for 'Jack Reacher' was Leiv Schreibler. Some of you will remember him playing 'Mr. Clark' in 'Sum of All Fears'.
When a friend told me that Cruise was to play 'Reacher', I thought he was just trying to ruin my day. When I learned he was serious, it did.
When a friend told me that Cruise was to play 'Reacher', I thought he was just trying to ruin my day. When I learned he was serious, it did.
Cruise ain't the most popular guy. But I don't think he cares and neither do I.
Don't know anything about Scientology and don't care about that either. But I won't condemn someone that is truly committed to what they believe even though some of us think it's wrong. Because quite frankly there are many supposed religious folks out there that talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.
As far as Hollywood, when was the last time a movie portrayed the book exactly? Rarely happens.
When it comes to Hollywood and movies the only concern is does it entertain me? I could care less about what they do off the screen.
Cruise is a good actor and most of his movies are entertaining. But that doesn't mean we'll be having lunch.
Don't know anything about Scientology and don't care about that either. But I won't condemn someone that is truly committed to what they believe even though some of us think it's wrong. Because quite frankly there are many supposed religious folks out there that talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.
As far as Hollywood, when was the last time a movie portrayed the book exactly? Rarely happens.
When it comes to Hollywood and movies the only concern is does it entertain me? I could care less about what they do off the screen.
Cruise is a good actor and most of his movies are entertaining. But that doesn't mean we'll be having lunch.
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The problem isn't his acting, it's his stature. The only way he'll surprise me is if if he grows 12" and gains 100lbs. Then he might be able to pull it off.
