Tom Cruise is playing JACK REACHER?

[D_Lynn]

Okay, I admit this is old news to everyone but me. So, I apologize if this is a repeat thread.

Are there any Lee Child readers out there who are as disappointed by this casting as I am?

I was thinking Gerard Butler.

NOT Tom Cruise.

 

[sr71plt]

Tom Cruise has been getting a second wind on playing harder-edge roles. So, I don't think it's a bad box office decision. (And I'm not a Tom Cruise fan. But then I'm not a Jack Reacher fan either.)

 

[PennLady]

Tom Cruise has been getting a second wind on playing harder-edge roles. So, I don't think it's a bad box office decision. (And I'm not a Tom Cruise fan. But then I'm not a Jack Reacher fan either.)

I think I have to agree here, and that almost pains me because I am so not a Tom Cruise fan, and never have been. As in, if he's in a movie, there better be another reason for me to see it, b/c he is not such a reason. However, I do have to say that he has had some good roles, and one of the harder-edged ones that I really liked was in Collateral. But I don't know anything about Jack Reacher, so I can't say how far wrong this casting might be.

 

[sr71plt]

I think I have to agree here, and that almost pains me because I am so not a Tom Cruise fan, and never have been. As in, if he's in a movie, there better be another reason for me to see it, b/c he is not such a reason. However, I do have to say that he has had some good roles, and one of the harder-edged ones that I really liked was in Collateral. But I don't know anything about Jack Reacher, so I can't say how far wrong this casting might be.

I do have a pretty good idea of Jack Reacher--which is a character I think overreaches reality (and, yes, I have talked directly with Lee Child about this)--and I think that D_Lynn's issue might be that Cruise is too much of a pretty boy actor for this character--that it requires more of a raw-edged/gotten run over in life thug. One who might be attractive to the role in overall appearance but with each element going into that being more battered and raw than what it combines to (more of a Daniel Craig, I think).

This would be a legitimate observation on the character and actor chosen, I think--if it could be taken away from the box office considerations and the type of roles Tom Cruise is playing now. But it can't, really. This is Hollywood reality. (And I'm pretty sure that Lee Child understands and appreciates that.)

 

[PennLady]

I do have a pretty good idea of Jack Reacher--which is a character I think overreaches reality (and, yes, I have talked directly with Lee Child about this)--and I think that D_Lynn's issue might be that Cruise is too much of a pretty boy actor for this character--that it requires more of a raw-edged/gotten run over in life thug. One who might be attractive to the role in overall appearance but with each element going into that being more battered and raw than what it combines to (more of a Daniel Craig, I think).

This would be a legitimate observation on the character and actor chosen, I think--if it could be taken away from the box office considerations and the type of roles Tom Cruise is playing now. But it can't, really. This is Hollywood reality. (And I'm pretty sure that Lee Child understands and appreciates that.)

I just read the Wiki entry on Jack Reacher, which included a physical description. And said description seems about as far away from Cruise as you can get. Just going by that, someone like Daniel Craig, or Russell Crowe, would seem a better choice.

The one thing that struck me is that Reacher is 6'5", and it's pretty well known that Cruise is only abut 5'4". OTOH, Mel Gibson was about that height and played William Wallace, who was about 6'6". I suppose that's part of why it's called acting.

I have to agree with the "pretty-boy" assessment. I've often thought that Cruise has that "young looking-ness" that can actually be a detriment. Much like Leonardo DiCaprio. I remember watching "The Last Samurai" and while there are good things about it, I couldn't buy Cruise as a world-weary, alcoholic war veteran. Just didn't work. He also, to me, seems to have an almost permanent smirk on his face. That takes away a lot of "darkness," and Reacher seems like a character that needs a bit of dark.

 

[sr71plt]

ICruise is only abut 5'4". OTOH, Mel Gibson was about that height and played William Wallace, who was about 6'6".

Yes, that was the #1 comment among tour guides when I visited Scotland (including the Wallace monument and Stirling Castle) last month. Of course they were all delighted to have a box office actor in that role.

And I quite agree about DiCaprio. My first response to anything he's in is that he's underage to be in movies, let alone that role.

 

[D_Lynn]

I just read the Wiki entry on Jack Reacher, which included a physical description. And said description seems about as far away from Cruise as you can get. Just going by that, someone like Daniel Craig, or Russell Crowe, would seem a better choice.

The one thing that struck me is that Reacher is 6'5", and it's pretty well known that Cruise is only abut 5'4". OTOH, Mel Gibson was about that height and played William Wallace, who was about 6'6". I suppose that's part of why it's called acting.

I have to agree with the "pretty-boy" assessment. I've often thought that Cruise has that "young looking-ness" that can actually be a detriment. Much like Leonardo DiCaprio. I remember watching "The Last Samurai" and while there are good things about it, I couldn't buy Cruise as a world-weary, alcoholic war veteran. Just didn't work. He also, to me, seems to have an almost permanent smirk on his face. That takes away a lot of "darkness," and Reacher seems like a character that needs a bit of dark.

Jack Reacher's stature is a fairly important part of his character. That would be the only reason why I'd steer away from Daniel Craig. Not just the height, but shoulder width, etc. For that reason, I'd accept Russell Crowe (being 5'11", same as Daniel Craig) because his overall physique appears larger. I randomly chose Gerard Butler because he has the larger stature (6'2" & built) and the right facial appearance - scruffy, not too pretty.

I know Hollywood special effects will deal with this 'short'coming of Cruise's, but then we have to get over all the other unsavory parts of him that you've mentioned.

I'm totally with you on this one - I don't like the guy. And I tend to avoid movies with him as the lead. He must've done very well in his screen test. And having a bigger name doesn't hurt box office sales. Unfortunately, I probably won't read any more Jack Reacher novels, either. Because visual references are very powerful.

I'm just so disappointed...

 

[bps]

it's a physical miscast, but that's Hollywood. and though he is still fit and youthful looking, Cruise really is too old for the part too.

bottom line -- though he may not resonate strongly with the younger demographic, Cruise may still sell the franchise fairly well, given that most consumers of the source material (the Lee Child series) will have grown up w/ TC.

I'm not really sure among younger actors (late 20s to late thirties) who'd strike me as a great fit. Jeremy Renner would certainly check-mark the "rugged, good looks" box but he might be a bit over-exposed just now with all his recent action work.

 

[jomar]

I do have a pretty good idea of Jack Reacher--which is a character I think overreaches reality (and, yes, I have talked directly with Lee Child about this)--and I think that D_Lynn's issue might be that Cruise is too much of a pretty boy actor for this character--that it requires more of a raw-edged/gotten run over in life thug. One who might be attractive to the role in overall appearance but with each element going into that being more battered and raw than what it combines to (more of a Daniel Craig, I think).

This would be a legitimate observation on the character and actor chosen, I think--if it could be taken away from the box office considerations and the type of roles Tom Cruise is playing now. But it can't, really. This is Hollywood reality. (And I'm pretty sure that Lee Child understands and appreciates that.)

It's not that Cruise is too pretty. The big deal for Reacher fans is the size difference. Each book makes a point of how big Reacher is and gives stats (6'5"). So getting a 5'6" actor to play JR is laughable. At one point Child said Tom Cruise would never play JR because of his size, then later backpedaled and said JR's size was really a metaphor for an unstoppable force...the fans hooted and howled.

Now, it may be a good movie, but it won't be true to the character for size and other reasons...they've got him driving a muscle car (which wasn't in the book) and JR doesn't drive very well. Bottom line is that most people who go probably won't even know about the size thing. In watching the trailer, from what little was shown Cruise seems to have gotten JR's stillness down. And Child has his brand up in big lights.

 

[jomar]

J...He must've done very well in his screen test. ...
I'm just so disappointed...

Seems like I read he bought the rights, which would probably preclude a screen test. Could be wrong.

 

[D_Lynn]

Seems like I read he bought the rights, which would probably preclude a screen test. Could be wrong.

And NOW this is making more sense to me. Of course he casted himself.

I sat next to a gal on a flight who worked as a PR Manager in the White House. Before she got that job, she covered some event with Tom Cruise. (I can't remember the details; we were drinking.) Anyway, Mr. Cruise had an annoying habit of referring to himself in the third person. "Mr. Cruise would like more tissues in his dressing room." "Tom needs to be alone now." I laughed so hard, I cried. (This is the same trip where I discovered that Secret Service doesn't have a sense of humor.)

I didn't know this tidbit of information. Thank you for sharing it.
Apparently, there are whole sites dedicated to this outrageous casting, I just realized. *sigh* I'm not alone.

 

[sr71plt]

I probably won't read any more Jack Reacher novels, either. (

I haven't done so for some time--because of the meaningless (to the plot), gratuitous violence. They would benefit from more tension-maintaining threat/intimidation and less bloody carrythrough.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I just read the Wiki entry on Jack Reacher, which included a physical description. And said description seems about as far away from Cruise as you can get. Just going by that, someone like Daniel Craig, or Russell Crowe, would seem a better choice.

I don't have any investment in these books, but - while I'm no fan of Tom Cruise as a person, he can act. I saw one movie where he appeared unbilled as a major supporting character, and it wasn't until his name flashed up in the end credits that I went "wait, that was TOM CRUISE?"

 

[jomar]

...
Apparently, there are whole sites dedicated to this outrageous casting, I just realized. *sigh* I'm not alone.

Oh yeah, Facebook has an active page called Tom Cruise is Not Jack Reacher and it has just under 7000 likes.

 

[jomar]

I don't have any investment in these books, but - while I'm no fan of Tom Cruise as a person, he can act. I saw one movie where he appeared unbilled as a major supporting character, and it wasn't until his name flashed up in the end credits that I went "wait, that was TOM CRUISE?"

I'd bet that was Tropic Thunder. His best acting since Magnolia.

That movie he did with Cameron Diaz was pretty good.

 

[lovecraft68]

Cruise is too pretty and too goofy. I've liked him in some things, but this isn't his part.

But placing a big name actor in a role that doesn't fit him has never stopped anyone.

From a geek point of view Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in Constantine really comes to mind.

In the Vertigo title John was blonde and British.

So of course the first to come to someone's mind would be Reeves.

 

[sr71plt]

This message is hidden because lovecraft68 is on your ignore list.

 

[lovecraft68]

The role Cruise surprised me in was Lestat.

When I heard they tagged him for the part I was like, aww jeez...

But I had to say he did a pretty good job.

Then again Lestat was a pretty boy and not, IMO a very good bad ass, so it worked well for him.

I see Pitt in the same light. You can make him scruffy-like in the movie se7en for instance, but he still doesn't carry off "bad ass" to me, more like a pretty boy who needs a shave and that's Cruise in a nutshell for a tough guy part.

 

[PennLady]

Yes, that was the #1 comment among tour guides when I visited Scotland (including the Wallace monument and Stirling Castle) last month. Of course they were all delighted to have a box office actor in that role.

When I went to London for my honeymoon, we took several walking tours. On the last one (which was actually a "Jack the Ripper" tour; we were so romantic), our tour guide brought up William Wallace. Being English, he wasn't fond of Wallace, and he pointed out the height difference between Gibson and Wallace, which I hadn't realized and found pretty funny. (The tour guide was far more offended about Mohammed al-Fayed, literally spitting on the ground after mentioning his name.)

And I quite agree about DiCaprio. My first response to anything he's in is that he's underage to be in movies, let alone that role.

He looked ridiculous with that scruffy little goatee in "Gangs of New York."

I'm totally with you on this one - I don't like the guy. And I tend to avoid movies with him as the lead. He must've done very well in his screen test. And having a bigger name doesn't hurt box office sales. Unfortunately, I probably won't read any more Jack Reacher novels, either. Because visual references are very powerful.

I'm just so disappointed...

Don't let Tom win!

I'm not really sure among younger actors (late 20s to late thirties) who'd strike me as a great fit. Jeremy Renner would certainly check-mark the "rugged, good looks" box but he might be a bit over-exposed just now with all his recent action work.

Renner would be good. I was trying to think of other actors who might fit, but the ones who come to mind may be too good looking and/or too young. Hmmmm.

I don't have any investment in these books, but - while I'm no fan of Tom Cruise as a person, he can act. I saw one movie where he appeared unbilled as a major supporting character, and it wasn't until his name flashed up in the end credits that I went "wait, that was TOM CRUISE?"

Was that "Magnolia?" I heard he was really good in that but haven't seen it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I hate Cruise's life choices and *cough* religion-- but even so, I can appreciate his performances here and there.
DiCaprio i don't know enough about him as a person to hate or love him-- but he is one hell of a fine actor. I loved his scruffy goatee in Gangs of New York, it was ridiculous and appropriate to the character.

 

[jomar]

The role Cruise surprised me in was Lestat.

When I heard they tagged him for the part I was like, aww jeez...

...

Anne Rice was totally pissed off. She wrote the book with Rutger Hauer in mind.

 

[alex_d]

Reacher is a giant who's built like a brick shithouse. Cruise is none of the above, and too old for the part. Any nonsense about "a metaphor" for the juggernaut is just Child trying to go Anne Rice and believe that a mad ugly midget could possibly do his character justice. I certainly won't be watching it.

 

[lovecraft68]

Anne Rice was totally pissed off. She wrote the book with Rutger Hauer in mind.

Yes, I remember that now, I think Fangoria did a big article on it. See, to me, Rutgur was too rough looking for Lestat all Rice's vamps were pretty "fop" types.

 

[lovecraft68]

Should have gone with a Vin Diesel type.

But odds are many who will go to the movie will have never read the books. Cruise will put the butts in the seats and that is what counts.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Anne Rice was totally pissed off. She wrote the book with Rutger Hauer in mind.

Uh huh, that's totally why she spent the entire film hanging out on the set and all of her interviews drooling over him-- totally ignoring the filming of her book "Exit from Eden" which was happening at the same time.

Naw, I can't see Hauer as that whiney little poop head Lestat.

See, to me, Rutgur was too rough looking for Lestat all Rice's vamps were pretty "fop" types.

Jinx, LC