Tom Cruise's performance is very good.
- "The Hollywood Reporter" This
film has completely become Tom Cruise's personal performance, and has given a perfect performance.
- "Rolling Stone"
behind the scenes
about Jack
Reacher Reacher is a character written by British writer Jim Grant, and when he published the novel, Jim Grant used the pseudonym Lee Reacher, which is similar to Reacher's pronunciation. Chad. The character of Jack Reacher has strong Cold War characteristics, and the 17 novels in which he is the protagonist or supporting role are more or less related to East Germany and the Soviet Union. According to the description of the novel, Jack Reacher was born in a military base in Berlin, Germany in 1960. He graduated from West Point Military Academy and has since served in the army, police agencies and special forces. It should be said that such a character is a product and epitome of the Cold War era. Jack Reacher has won a lot of awards for his own quality and military level. After leaving the army, Jack Reacher became almost a ronin because no one told him where to go, and he was used to a life of command in the army. In the later fiction stories, Jack Reacher experienced a large number of different real-life events, such as 9/11 and so on. It should be said that the character of Jack Reacher combines the collective memories of a generation born in the Cold War, and also has a strong realistic basis, and is a rare character image.
For his novel to be put on the screen, Lee Chad did not seem as excited as he expected, he said: "Because it is necessary to make a certain compromise to literally put a novel on the screen. So, while some disappointments, at the same time , I also feel some different feelings. However, no matter how the film is adapted, three things will not change. First, Jack Reacher is a smart man; second. He is a quiet but dynamic Third, he is a big man. However, for many reasons, we have to use Cruise, whose body condition is not so in line with the novel, to play this character. Because, among the actors now, there are not many There is such a figure to play Jack Reacher. And even with such a figure, the acting skills are not enough. Therefore, we have to make certain adaptations of this character so that the actor can fit this role. "
Brother Liangtang Starring in Detective
The director spent a lot of time searching for the person to play Jack Reacher, but the actor he finally settled on was Tom Cruise, who returned to the lineup of first-line action stars for "Mission Impossible 4". Regarding this candidate, director Christopher McQuarrie, who was promoted from screenwriter, said: "It should be said that, considering all aspects, Cruise is the most suitable person to play this character. Whether it is fame, popularity or performance. The level of action scenes, Cruise is the best choice. In the film, we have modified the character setting of Jack Reacher, who was originally a big man, to a certain extent, and changed him into a figure who is not so burly , but a man of great action and military literacy. He won by surprise not by strength but by wisdom and dexterity."
Although fans of the novel were very dissatisfied with Cruise's version of Richard, Cruise was affirmed by author Lee Chad. Lee Chad said: "After the adaptation, the character of Jack Reacher is more interesting and more in line with the needs of the current screen. In this era, strong men like Stallone and Schwarzenegger have become very popular. Rare, most of them are spies and agents who take the dexterous route. Besides, Cruise has a very strong appeal and a good reputation, so it is very suitable for him to play this character. I think, After the adaptation, this character belongs to Cruise, and he does not need to imitate what Jack Reacher did in the novel, he can reinterpret and shape this character under the framework of this new character. From this point of view, Cruise is Jack Reacher, and this version of Jack Reacher only belongs to Cruise."
The famous British "Thriller King" was brought to the big screen .
The story of the film was adapted from the famous British writer Lee Chad's "The Prodigal Son" Jack Reacher novel series. It is understood that the original author of the legendary film was unemployed in middle age, and wrote with a salary of six dollars. Since then, he has been out of control and wrote the "Prodigal Son" Jack Reacher series of novels, which were published as soon as they were published. That is, it has been on the best-selling list of the British "Times", and won the Anthony Award, the highest honor for mystery novels in the United States. At present, the "Jack Reacher" series has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and translations in more than 40 countries have been sold worldwide.
After "Mission Impossible", Tom became a producer again
because he valued the excellent story and high popularity of the original work, the film's production team began to contact Lee Chad as soon as they came into contact with the original novel. Discussing film adaptations. However, Lee Chad revealed that he began to have a lot of concerns: "According to the Hollywood way of filming, my book is difficult to interpret. First, many of the selling points of this book are inner drama, such as Jack's personality and behavior. Second, Jack's story doesn't have character evolution, he doesn't have a set journey, he doesn't learn from it, and he doesn't change in the end, so this movie needs a writer who understands it."
And Christopher McQuarrie, who won the Oscar for best screenplay for "The Usual Suspects," is undoubtedly the best candidate. Lee Chad recalls: "I remember being nervous when I received the script because someone had adapted my work. I read it once and immediately read it again because it was so well written that there were only two people in the world who wrote it. Get Jack, one is me, and the other is McQuarrie."
As for the casting, the producers and the director were unanimous in favoring Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. However, there is a big difference in appearance between Tom and the original character who is 1.9 meters tall. In this regard, Tom also said that he was a little nervous at first, "Because this is a novel by Lee Chad, I need his blessing. If he doesn't like me, I can't act well at all." Fortunately, the original author said that Cruise played Jack's character, which is more important than appearance similarity.
"According to the physical characteristics described in the book, there is no perfect match for the actor. So we have long believed that appearance is not the primary consideration." Director McQuarrie also emphasized, "Jack's charm is personality, and Jack and K. Ruth just happens to have a similar personality. Jack is very confident, and if you spend time with Cruise, you will find that he is very similar to Jack." Also, like the "Mission Impossible" series, in addition to starring, Cruise Also serves as the producer of the film.
Shooting Fight and Car Chase in Pittsburgh
Jack Reacher follows the tradition of classic thrillers from the 1970s, choosing to shoot the thrilling car chase in downtown Pittsburgh. Oscar-nominated photographer Caleb Deschanel, reminiscent of 70s thrillers, decided to shoot in anamorphic widescreen. The film was shot in Pittsburgh, which Granger said gave it an "industrial" feel. "Pittsburgh is a city dug out of the rock, born of the Industrial Revolution, rich in red clay and steel, full of earth tones. No wonder Jimmy Biel's art designs and Susan Mattson's clothing designs have this Style. We wanted to introduce our new American hero in a typical American city."
The car chase scenes that are typical of American action movies were originally not in the plan of "Jack Reacher", because Jack doesn't drive. Stunt coordinator Paul Jennings explained: "There was only a short car chase. McQuarrie and I often discussed how to make the movie different, but also wanted to keep the classic elements and present the car chase we love. People used to think about how to shoot a car chase scene, such as using the camera angle to make the speed look faster. But we thought: 'You know what? We also prefer old and new contrasts, such as having a modern Audi and chasing a vintage Chevrolet SS. It’s wonderful.” Once the car and shooting method are decided, it is necessary to make good use of Tom Cruise's superb driving skills. Cruise, who trained professionally in stunt driving in Los Angeles, continued his training in Pittsburgh, driving a Chevrolet borrowed by the production team.
Granger recalled: "There was a parking lot across the river, where he practiced. Tom drove up and down. He said to me: 'Get in the car'. I got in the car, he buckled his five-point seat belt, I Just a normal car seat belt and he started showing all kinds of driving stunts and I never want to go back to that car. Enough is enough." It's all worth it, and Tom Cruise's car chase doesn't require doubles at all. Granger said: "I don't know who else would shoot a car chase scene like this, because you have to find an actor like Tom Cruise, who is willing to go in person, and each car can go up to 60 miles per hour. In addition, the actor has to Trained in stunt driving. An actor who fits that, I just want to get Tom Cruise."
Tom Cruise said: “It’s really fun to drive these cars. Listening to the engine and seeing how it looks on the screen, we don’t shoot with a green background, so it’s important to plan ahead, but even when you do, you can’t be sure. The result is unpredictable because the road conditions are unpredictable. We will discuss the weather, the rain, the slippery road, and the change in temperature. The car often drifts, and I basically buckle the five-point seat belt. The car is equipped with a sports car seat and stabilizer, and the impact force is still very large. - Cameras in and out of the car also take care. It's a delicate task, but it's also very exciting, and I'm driving these cars to see how far we can push the limits." Stunt coordinator Paul Jennings said: "I've since learned more about guns, forensics and cars. Every time you make a movie, you learn something. When we were shooting a car chase, we were going to break out of the traditional mold. Putting the actors on the field, usually by hiring stuntmen. It’s a whole new way of filming, and it’s exciting.” Since Jack is not an ordinary hero, "Jack Reacher" also has to shoot a special fighting scene, which uses the Chis fighting technique from Spain. This kind of self-defense exercise requires special instinct, and makes good use of elbows, knees and other tools to win in one-to-many small battles.
Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel tried every means to capture the fight scenes in the film. Fighting scenes are like car chase scenes. They do not rely on photography skills, such as camera angles and ropes. Martial arts instructor Rob Alonzo said: "Jack Reacher's fighting scenes have both military and tactical references. I hate formality, so I directly train Tom Cruise in a certain fighting technique. We practiced For a few months, almost every day, let him develop his natural responses. I turned him into a fighter, so he knew how to fight whenever he was, not scripted." Cruise was actively preparing during the pre-work period, and during the filming period, the schedule was full, and he had to rehearse, shoot, and train. One of the most important fighting scenes, a group of villains deliberately provoke Jack, Jack also specially warned them that the consequences would be unimaginable, which fully reflects Jack's personality. Cruise said: "Jack is a man who loves freedom and only lives the life he chooses, but he is in this muddy water mainly because he has a sense of responsibility and is clear about right and wrong. The fight outside the bar is a good example. He doesn't want to engage in it at all. In this way, he resisted with all his strength, and those people forced him. Jack is very special, he is very honest, and he is warm."
Trivia
·The film is adapted from the novel "One Shot" by Lee Chad, and the original title of the film is also called "One Shot". Later, for market reasons, it was changed to Jack Reacher, the protagonist's name.
The film is the second directorial work of "The Usual Suspects" and "Action Target Hitler" screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie.
In Lee Chad's original novel, the character Jack Reacher is 6 feet 5 inches (about 1.95 meters) tall and weighs between 210 and 250 pounds (95-113 kilograms). And Tom Cruise's figure is far from the description in the original book.
The first trailer for the film was released on Tom Cruise's 50th birthday.
·Tom Cruise did all the stunt driving shots himself on set.
·Before Tom Cruise, A-list actors such as Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Jimmy Fox and Will Smith had come to the set to audition for the role of Jack Reacher.
After learning that it was Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, fans of the novel set up a Facebook page called "Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher" to express their love for Cruise casts dissatisfaction with the character.
View more about Jack Reacher reviews
