Don't get me wrong, I thought Tom Cruise did an awesome job. With that said, it's safe to say he wasn't anyone's first choice. So, who would you have chosen? For me, I would've gone with Dominic Purcell.
http://images.askmen.com/galleries/men/dominic-purcell/pictures/domini c-purcell-picture-1.jpg
"A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts."
i am not the greatest cruise fan, but bizarrely, i think he would have been my first choice! i think the character needed to have gravitas to carry the role, and cruise, whilst sometimes a bit wooden and restricted in range is bankable, trustworthy and certainly has screen presence, someone like you link to, whom, no disrespect, i have never heard of would likely have a hard time connecting with global audiences and carrying the viewer with them for a little over 2 hours.
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H is pronounced Aitch NOT Haitch !
Scott Speedmen
shareI though Cruise did a great job but I also think Hugh Jackman would have been great in the role too
shareAbsolutely Hugh Jackman, no question. The height/weight/size of Reacher, and the quiet menace that holds, is key to his very character.
I have read every single Jack Reacher novel - pre-ordering on Amazon to ensure I get my next Reacher fix. I cannot stand the diminutive Mr Cruise at the best of times )cocky little bantam with small-man syndrome - just saying!), and to try to imagine him as Jack Reacher was just too big a leap of imagination for me. So much so that I cannot bear to watch the film and revel in any negative reviews I read as just reaffirming my own (uninformed) opinion.
I love Hugh Jackman, but personally I would have a hard time having him cast as Jack Reacher after seeing him as The Wolverine for so long.
shareI tend to picture Liev Schreiber in the role. He's not Jack Reacher-huge, but he's a tall, bulky fellow and a great actor with a believable dark edge. I'd buy him as an intimidating drifter. Alas, he's not really a leading man.
Drunken elk are common in Sweden
I agree with you about Liv Schreiber. He certainly has the demeanour to play Reacher - he has a dark edge with a multi-layered personality. I must admit, I nearly always find the characters that he plays to be intriguing. Additionally,as you said, he's tall and bulky, but more essentially, has an imposing air and is a good actor.
It is surprising that he's not actually of leading man status/stature (not sure of right word). Perhaps he's not interested and just enjoys picking roles that interest him.
I thought Tom Cruise was terrible for this part. I've read 8 of the Reacher novels so far, and I can easily picture him in my head, because the author gives a very good discription, and it's not Cruise. To me, Dolph Lundgren fits Jack to a T, and he's not a bad actor, either. Reacher is 6'5", 225-240 lbs, blond hair, blue eyes. Cruise is what, 5'2"? I can't see it!
shareFrom what I've seen and read, it seems like a young Tom Selleck would've been good. He's 6'4" and freaking MASSIVE.
Tyler mane. With the same attitude as tom hardy in 'lawless' and with the same weathered outside look of Iain Glen in 'game of thrones' with Guy Richie directing.
shareJoe manganiello :)
shareRay Stevensen
Lose the Game!!!!!!!
It would have to be someone taller than Cruise, Verne Troyer maybe.
shareMy wife and I just saw this and we thought the same thing.
Cruise does a nice job, but he's just a wee guy. They used all kinds of camera angles to try to hide the height difference, but it was obvious.
My pick would be Viggo Mortensen, but he played a badass role in Eastern Promises, which he might not have wanted to repeat.
Yes, Ray Stevenson!
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