JACK REACHER : NEVER GO BACK : Tuesday 25th October 2016.

The character of Jack Reacher first burst onto our cinema screens in 2012 as portrayed by Tom Cruise in the title role, and now he's back, in 'JACK REACHER : NEVER GO BACK' which I saw this week. Based on the best selling series of books by Lee Child, that first outing was developed from Child's 2005 book in the series 'One Shot' as Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and Co-Produced by Cruise for US$60M with a worldwide Box Office take of over US$218M, and generally positive critical Reviews too. Now in 2016 Jack Reacher is back and Tom Cruise is reprising his role in Lee Child's 2013 novel adaptation 'Never Go Back'. Once again Co-Produced by Tom Cruise but Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Edward Zwick this time, the film was made for US$60M, and so far made back US$60M.

The film opens up as per the early trailer promoting the film. Reacher (Tom Cruise) is sat in an empty diner with his back turned towards us, when outside pull up two Police Officers, surveying the human carnage comprising four or five strewn bodies outside the diner where are amassed a bunch of onlookers. One witness recounts that the man inside took them all out single handedly within a matter of seconds, and then took a seat at the bar in the diner. The Police walk in and promptly handcuff Reacher rifling through his meagre belongings. Reacher proclaims that within 90 seconds two things will occur - first the pay phone will ring and second, the senior Police Officer will be wearing the cuffs for the part he plays in a human trafficking ring which Reacher has just brought down. And so it comes to pass!

Next up we see Reacher speaking over the phone with Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) who thanks him for alerting her to the human trafficking bust. The two develop a friendly rapport which also serves to set the scene for the relationship that will unfold. He vows to look her up when next he is in her neck of the woods, and arriving a few days later Reacher seeks her out at his old military headquarters at Fort Dyer. He walks into her office to be greeted by Colonel Sam Morgan (Holt McCallany) who delivers the news that Turner has been arrested and held on charges of espionage. Reacher instantly smells a rat!

Reacher locates Turner's designated military lawyer Colonel Bob Moorcroft who explains that Turner is being held over the suspected murder of two of her own soldiers in Afghanistan. While they're at it Moorcroft has done some digging on Reacher too and has 'evidence' that a Candice Dayton has filed a paternity suit against Reacher and claiming that he is the father of her daughter Samantha Dayton (Danika Yarosh), now aged fifteen, even though Reacher denies it vehemently. At a subsequent meeting Moorcroft meets Reacher on the street and hands over some further information, but is later found dead at the hands of 'The Hunter' (Patrick Heusinger) - an assassin. Reacher is framed for this murder given the two were last seen together, and that meeting ended rather acrimoniously.

Reacher is later called in to meet with Morgan and is promptly taken into custody for Moorcroft's murder, assigned a military lawyer, and is carted off to detention with Turner. Whilst being held over for questioning his spies out of the window two goons making there way into the prison, supposedly to transfer Turner to another facility. With some quick thinking and astute observations, Reacher grasps the situation and over powers the two goons in Turner's cell, and then he and she get the hell outta there. With Reacher and Turner on foot with the Military Police in hot pursuit, followed by The Hunter, the pair successfully evade capture but not before some close quarter hand to hand combat in the kitchen of a restaurant. By now they have deduced that Morgan is somehow involved, and so make their way to his house where they question him in no uncertain terms and download a bunch of relevant files to aid their own investigations. Later, The Hunter, arrives at Morgan's place and deduces that Reacher and Turner must have got away with something, and so he kills Morgan with the desk top telephone set, which has Reacher's finger prints all over it from his earlier visit.

One of the files downloaded to the USB stick at Morgan's place contained photo surveillance images of Samantha, and so they deduce that she must be in danger. The two hot foot it to her house where they find her two old hippy type foster parents dead, and Samantha hiding in a cupboard. The action then takes us to New Orlean's where the three now are in search of Daniel Prudhomme (Austin Herbert) who witnessed the murders of the two soldiers that Turner is accused of. They track him down in an old warehouse that is home to a bunch of drug addicts, of which he is now one, and learn that Prudhomme was part of a private military security organisation originally hired by the US Government, called ParaSource. Their US$1B contract had been cancelled and so ParaSource had fallen very quickly on hard times with mounting debts, and need to secure a new lucrative income stream.

Prudhomme comes clean with everything he knows including the cover up of the murders. Turner contacts a friend in the Military Police, Captain Anthony Espin (Aldis Hodge) to take Prudhomme into safe custody in exchange for everything he knows that will implicate ParaSource, but in doing so they are ambushed and Prudhomme is killed by ParaSource contractors. Needless to say Reacher and Turner overcome their attackers in a hail of gun fire and explosions.

Acting on information gleaned from Prudhomme, Reacher, Turner and Espin make for a local airport where a consignment of returning weapons is due to land a few hours from now. There, General James Harkness (Robert Knepper), the now CEO of ParaSource, is on hand to meet the arriving aircraft. Reacher and Turner have every reason to believe that the crates will be empty having sold them to the insurgents in Afghanistan, and upon intercepting Harkness and his goons, demand that the crates be opened. As per the flight manifest all weapons are in the crates intact, and Turner is left with egg on her face and a lot of explaining to do. Harkness demands that she be taken into custody by her own Military Police, but Reacher thinks that things just don't add up, and so opens up another crate, pulls out a rocket launcher and thumps it barrel end hard on the ground, ejecting several bags of opium. The process is repeated for all crates revealing over 50kgs of smuggled opium. Harkness is taken into custody so clearing both Reacher and Turner of their alleged crimes.

Meanwhile Harkness was able to trace a credit card transaction back to Samantha in the hotel where they were staying, and sent The Hunter to track her down. A foot chase between Samantha and The Hunter and two others ensues through the streets of New Orleans at night, whilst the city celebrates Halloween with a street carnival. Reacher and Turner make for the hotel and have to trace Samantha's steps in order to rescue her from certain death at the hands of The Hunter. Chasing through masked revellers, decorated parade floats, and the jostling crowds of party goers Reacher and Turner take out the two henchmen, leaving The Hunter with a captured Samantha dangling on a rooftop ledge. Samantha breaks free from her captor, leaving Reacher and The Hunter to fight to the death. Needless to say you'll guess easily enough who rises victorious albeit a little battered and bruised!

In the end with their names cleared Turner returns to Fort Dyer and to her former position. Reacher meets with Samantha in a diner and it is revealed that the woman who served him his coffee is her biological mother, and as Reacher and the woman didn't recognise each other despite the passing of fifteen years, that Reacher can't be her father, and that it was a planned ruse anyway to secure some easy money with which to start afresh. After a tearful farewell, Reacher thumbs a lift to the next town carrying just the jacket on his shoulders and a toothbrush in his pocket.

This instalment is enjoyable enough and a worthy follow on to that earlier film. It moves along at a good pace, is a simple enough story and is fairly predictable by the numbers leave your brain at the door fare too. Tom Cruise is convincing enough as the tough as nails take no prisoners vigilante drifter Jack Reacher, but there are no surprises here and a plot that we have seen before countless times. The action is fairly pedestrian and comes in fits and starts waiting for the big crescendo on the roof top in downtown New Orleans, and Samantha's final farewell to Reacher on the steps of her new school is soap box stuff! Watch out for the cameo of author Lee Child (Jim Grant). If you're a fan of the genre, or Tom Cruise, or Lee Child's series of Jack Reacher novels, then this is likely to be for you, but you can easily save yourself the price of a cinema ticket and wait for the BluRay or DVD in a few months time and watch it from the comfort of your own home.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th October 2016.

Not many people will have heard of Jim Grant, but a good many will have heard of Lee Child - the pseudonym under which Jim Grant writes his acclaimed and hugely popular 'Jack Reacher' series of books. With the release of the second Jack Reacher film this week 'Never Look Back' with Tom Cruise in the title role once again, it looks like this franchise has legs, and so I thought a little Jack Reacher synopsis was in order. The character of Jack Reacher first hit the book stands in 1997 with 'Killing Floor', followed up by a book every year since, except 2010 when two books were published. With 'Night School' due for imminent release, this marks the 21st novel in the long running history of this former Major in the US Military Police Corp now turned drifter, odd job man, and investigator of suspicious and often dangerous situations, more often than not across the USA from urban to rural locations, and occasionally overseas. Two books have so far made it to the big screen - the first Jack Reacher outing in 2012 based on 'One Shot' published in 2005, and 'Never Go Back' published in 2013. In addition, there has also been a collection of novella's and short stories which in all to date make up 32 publications featuring the character, including the yet to be released 'Night School'. To date Lee Child has sold over seventy million Jack Reacher novels putting the character firmly in the billion dollar brand category.  Lee Child has won numerous awards for his writing efforts about the exploits of his created character.

This week then, we have six new movies coming to a big screen near you. Starting off with a sequel to a very popular fictional character from a very popular series of books reprised by a popular Actor now establishing what could be a popular new franchise. Then a period piece framed around the Hollywood of yesteryear from an acclaimed and prolific Writer, Director and Actor once again with his trademark all star cast. Next up is an action comedy putting a new spin on a tried & tested formula that we have seen before that sees a meddling couple get in over their heads with a pair of highly trained secret agents; before moving onto a young models burgeoning career in over drive but at what cost ultimately to herself and those around her in this horror thriller that has split audience opinion. Sticking with the horror theme, we move to mid-'60's LA for an origin prequel about a board game that conjures up all sorts of nasties from the other side for this young family in mourning, before wrapping up with an acclaimed Australian supernatural coming of age story from a first time Director.

With more great choices as Previewed here, Reviewed previously and those others still out on general release it's a week of action, drama, jump scares with a little comedy thrown in for good measure. When you have sat through your movie of choice, remember that you are encouraged to share your moviegoing views and opinions by leaving your Comment below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear form you, and in the meantime, enjoy your film.

'JACK REACHER : NEVER GO BACK' (Rated M) - the character of Jack Reacher first burst onto our cinema screens in 2012 as portrayed by Tom Cruise in the title role. Based on the best selling series of books by Lee Child, that first outing was based on Child's 2005 book in the series 'One Shot' as Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and Co-Produced by Cruise for US$60M with a worldwide Box Office take of over US$218M, and generally positive critical Reviews too. Now in 2016 Jack Reacher is back and Tom Cruise is reprising his role in Lee Child's 2013 novel adaptation 'Never Go Back'. Once again Co-Produced by Tom Cruise but Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Edward Zwick this time, the film was made for US$96M.

Set four years after the events of that first film, Jack Reacher returns to his old military base to meet with Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) who has been working with Reacher on various cases across the country that have required his particular set of skills. Upon arriving he quickly learns that Major Turner has been accused of treason. Seeking to uncover the truth behind a major governmental conspiracy, and that Turner is innocent, he goes on the run in order to clear his name, that of Turner's whilst uncovering a secret from his past, that could change his future forever.

'CAFE SOCIETY' (Rated M) - marking Woody Allen's 47th film as Director, 'Cafe Society' was Written by him, and he provides the narration for the film too. Made at a cost of US$30M this is Allen's most expensive film to date. The film Premiered at Cannes earlier this year, was released Stateside in mid-July and so far has garnered critical praise. Set in the 1930's, Bobby Dorman (Jesse Eisenberg) leaves his home in the Bronx for all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood hoping to make it big in the movies.  He lands a job with his powerful talent agent uncle Phil Stern (Steve Carell) where he quickly falls for his secretary Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) who is tasked with introducing young Bobby to Hollywood. Coming to realise that Vonnie is Phil's mistress, Bobby returns to the Bronx heartbroken, and lands a job in a nightclub and in time Bobby meets the new love of his life, Veronica  Hayes (Blake Lively) and they eventually marry. All goes well, until Phil and Vonnie visit New York and Bobby's nightclub when old feelings are reignited. Also starring Parker Posey, Corey Stoll and Ken Stott.

'KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES' (Rated PG) - this action comedy offering from Director Greg Mottola sees the perfect and beautiful neighbourhood couple Mr. and Mrs. Jones (Tim, as played by John Hamm, and Natalie, as played by Gal Gadot) channelling a certain 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (John as played by Brad Pitt and Jane as played by Angelina Jolie from 2005) - a couple of highly trained and elite government secret agents living in suburbia whose neighbours Jeff and Karen Gaffney (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher respectively) suspect that there may be more to their perfect neighbours lives than meets the eye. The Gaffney's soon become entangled in a web of international intrigue and espionage with their perfect neighbours, that certainly brightens up their otherwise mundane lives but puts them straight in the path of danger, destruction and death all in the name of Uncle Sam - and doubtless with hilarious results!

'NEON DEMON' (Rated R18+) - Directed, Co-Produced, written for the screen and based on a story by Danish Nicolas Winding Refn, this horror thriller costs just US$7M to make, competed at Cannes this year for the Palme D'Or and divided audiences. The film was released back in June in the US, France and Denmark and has so far grossed just under US$4M. Starring Elle Fanning as  Jesse who shortly after her sixteenth birthday ups sticks and relocates herself to Los Angeles to pursue a career, fame and fortune as a model. Her modelling agency believes in her, telling the young Jesse she has the natural beauty and ability to go all the way to the top, but she quickly incurs the wrath of those other models within the agency and the industry at large for her fresh faced looks and natural beauty. As Jesses's career starts to take off, those other models almost are cast aside as yesterdays news and has-beens, leaving the new 'it girl' to learn new skills to ensure she maintains her position at the top of the heap and overcome the adversity thrown at her by her jealous rivals. Also starring Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee and Keanu Reeves. This film has polarised audiences for all its extreme, gut wrenching craziness.

'OUIJA : ORIGIN OF EVIL' (Rated M) - in 2014 Stiles White in his Directorial debut brought us 'Ouija' which was panned by the critics, but it nonetheless returned US$104M from its initial US$5M budget outlay, making a follow-up a sure thing. Now two short years later and we have that follow-up in the form of a prequel to that earlier horror thriller film - hence 'Origin of Evil'. Made for US$6M this time and Directed and Co-Written by Mike Flanagan, here we are transported back to the mid-60's Los Angeles where widowed mother and her family run scam seances to earn a crust. Upon discovering a Ouija game board Doris Zander (Lulu Wilson) sees this as a way to connect with her deceased father. As the game gets underway, a dark figure manifests itself, and Doris is possessed by an evil spirit. Doris' new 'friends' from another world try to pass into this world and claim the young girl for their own. This results in the family having to play the Ouija game for themselves, confront their worst fears and rescue Doris from unthinkable malevolent forces if their lives are ever to be returned to some sort of normalcy.

'BOYS IN THE TREES' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Edited by first timer Nicholas Verso this Australian supernatural thriller is set on Halloween 1997, and for some it's the final day of High School. Celebrating their passing of childhood into adulthood Corey (Tony Wallace), Jango (Justin Holborow) and their skater gang mates 'The Gromits' run wild with their new found freedom and the prospect of what lies ahead in their lives. When a bullied old schoolmate and former friend Jonah (Gulliver McGrath) is harassed by the other Gromits, Corey's plans for an evening of wild adventure take a different turn. With Jonah persuading Corey to walk him home, the pair step into a realm of supernatural fears, dark secrets, and old nightmares that cloud what's real and what is imagined, before they emerge at the other end with the scariest prospect facing us all - real life and everything it throws at us. Also starring Mitzi Ruhlmann as Romany. Critically acclaimed, this debut feature for Melbourne Director Verso shot mostly in the suburbs of Adelaide, has been well received at both the Toronto and Venice Film Festivals, and for a local production is one to watch out for.

Six new filmic offerings to coerce you out to your local Odeon in the coming week then offering horror, thriller, drama, action, comedy and supernatural themes to give you plenty of choice once more. Share your thoughts when you have sat through your movie of choice, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon sometime in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-