The Broadcast Critics group has its ballots, and the votes are due back by the end of the day on Sunday. One of the categories is Best Action Film and there are three slots. Sadly, one action film will simply not be included. Tom Cruise in “Jack Reacher” is not being screened by Paramount before the deadline. That’s too bad– there was some positive buzz on “Reacher” despite the criticism by fans of the books that Jack Reacher is six-foot-five and Tom Cruise simply is not.
Cruise isn’t doing very much press for “Reacher” either– no morning shows, and maybe “Letterman” or “Jimmy Fallon,” where he’ll be safe from any deep questioning about his year (which wasn’t very good–see “Katie Holmes”). Indeed, the premiere for “Reacher” is in Pittsburgh, which is very nice but not exactly the media center of the world.
Paramount needn’t worry as it has “Flight,” which should be a Best Picture nominee, and the fun musical-esque “Not Fade Away” plus “Rise of the Guardians” in animation (maybe a sleeper), and the Barbra Streisand-Seth Rogen comedy “The Guilt Trip.” Also, “Paranormal Activity 4” raked in big bucks.
But no “Reacher” for the Critics Choice Awards, airing live on January 10th on the CW Network. The best action movies of 2012? “Skyfall,” “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Returns.” There’s a lot of action in “Django Unchained,” but I don’t think that’s what they mean. I will vote for Jamie Foxx, though, as one of the three Best Actors in an Action Film. That’s another category that Tom Cruise will be excluded from this year.
