Really Jack(ed) about Reacher!!

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by Apache

Why does the actor have to be American? Liam Neeson would have worked and no one can argue about his acting skills.
Apache

Agreed. A non-American makes more sense with Reacher's character anyway, since he grew up on military bases all over the world and has spent almost no time in the US.

I've read all the Reacher books and I'll be giving the movie a miss.

[DianNC]

I agree. Love Liam Neeson and he does great with an American accent.

My list in order (ANY would have been better than Cruise)...

Bradley Cooper

Matthew McConaughey (probably too soon after Lincoln Lawyer, though)

Vince Vaughn (He's 6'5" - probably the closest physically)

Vincent D'Onofrio

All are closer to Reacher's physical size and, IMHO, all would have been decent box office draws.

[HoopyFrood]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Another example of different physical characteristics was the film version of Jeffrey Deaver's "The Bone Collector". In the film, the quadriplegic former detective, Lincoln Rhyme, is played by a black actor, Denzel Washington. He's certainly not black in the books. Did it matter? No, not in the least.

You do have a point, kind of, since they never specifically say whether he is white either, or Indian, or Hispanic. Not that I can recall anyway.

I thought the same thing as you when I first heard that Denzel Washington was portraying Rhymes, but since his mental ability and his paralysis are the crucial points Rhymes could be anything without affecting the character in the least. I thought of him as white when I read the books because I'm white, but you have to admit his skin color is totally immaterial, unlike Reacher's size. IMO anyway.

[HoopyFrood]

I think a much younger Stephen Seagal would have made a pretty good Reacher. His acting is atrocious, but he has the on screen charisma to pull it off. And he can look very bad-a$$, as he was in "Under Siege". But he is way too old and fat to pull it off now.

Vince Vaughn???!!! Seriously, Mr. Pudge? Too soft, and too baby-ish. Just couldn't take him seriously.

Mathew McConaughey might work if he could bulk up about 100 lbs.

Liam Neeson could pull it off without a doubt. Best choice I think.

As an aside I also watched Joe Montegna play Spenser once, or rather try to play Spenser, and also thought that was horrible miscasting.

[new]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Why is the movie delayed? Have they started to feed growth hormones to Cruise?

What about feeding him a brain? Sorry, but with all of the publicity on his private life, I would rather not know by the way, I don't like him.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by rhadin

I have read all of the Reacher novels and I agree with Childs that it is Reacher's character that is more important than his physical characteristics.

I have also read all the novels, and I disagree. The physical characteristics are not just mentioned "in passing", they're highlighted several times in each book and "drilled" into the mind of the reader. When you read a Reacher novel, you're thinking of a very tall and very muscled person, not what Cruise is (either in height or muscle mass). But only a minority of the movie goers will have read the novels, so for most people it doesn't matter who portrays Reacher - but for us readers, it certainly does.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

As an aside I also watched Joe Montegna play Spenser once, or rather try to play Spenser, and also thought that was horrible miscasting.

I thought I was the only one who felt this way. Even Tom Cruise would have made a better Spenser. Other big miscasts were Shiek Mahmud-Bey and Ernie Hudson playing Hawk.
Apache

[DianNC]

Vince Vaughn???!!! Seriously, Mr. Pudge? Too soft, and too baby-ish. Just couldn't take him seriously.

He'd definitely need to hit the gym, which could make him a mean, lean Reacher machine!

Tom Cruise could LIVE at the gym but he'll always be a foot shorter than his ex.

Just cannot picture him as Reacher...ever.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by BenG

Cruise is around 5' 7''. They could hire really short co-stars like Danny DeVito and Michael J. Fox. Linda Hunt could be his love interest.

Or he could just wear heels and put his hair in a kind of bouffant.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Why is the movie delayed? Have they started to feed growth hormones to Cruise?

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Apache

Why does the actor have to be American? Liam Neeson would have worked and no one can argue about his acting skills.
Apache

My thoughts exactly.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Synamon

Agreed. A non-American makes more sense with Reacher's character anyway, since he grew up on military bases all over the world and has spent almost no time in the US.

I've read all the Reacher books and I'll be giving the movie a miss.

I won't pay to see it at the theater, but will probably watch it when it's available on Netflix.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by DianNC

I agree. Love Liam Neeson and he does great with an American accent.

My list in order (ANY would have been better than Cruise)...

Bradley Cooper

Matthew McConaughey (probably too soon after Lincoln Lawyer, though)

Vince Vaughn (He's 6'5" - probably the closest physically)

Vincent D'Onofrio

All are closer to Reacher's physical size and, IMHO, all would have been decent box office draws.

Anyone on your list would've been better than Cruise.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

but since his mental ability and his paralysis are the crucial points Rhymes could be anything without affecting the character in the least. I thought of him as white when I read the books because I'm white, but you have to admit his skin color is totally immaterial, unlike Reacher's size. IMO anyway.

I haven't read The Bone Collector, but if the author didn't make a point of Rhymes' race Washington was fine. But in Child's books a point is made of the size and weight of Reacher. I think that is why a lot are upset with the choice of Cruise.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by afv011

I have also read all the novels, and I disagree. The physical characteristics are not just mentioned "in passing", they're highlighted several times in each book and "drilled" into the mind of the reader. When you read a Reacher novel, you're thinking of a very tall and very muscled person, not what Cruise is (either in height or muscle mass). But only a minority of the movie goers will have read the novels, so for most people it doesn't matter who portrays Reacher - but for us readers, it certainly does.

Exactly.