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Shooter
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Mark Wahlberg
Genre:
Action-Adventure
Run Time: 124
min.
Release Date:
March 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Bobby Lee Swagger (Mark
Wahlberg, THE DEPARTED)
is a disgruntled vet. Ultimately left for dead on a sniper mission
toward the end of his career, Bobby survives while his spotter-partner
“takes one for America.”
Several years later we find Swagger living a life of self-imposed exile
in the Colorado Rockies, his only friend a mutt who guards him and his
home. He has no plans to re-enter society until...
Enter Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover,
DREAMGIRLS), a “patriot” who
claims that the life of the President of the United States is in danger.
Knowing Swagger’s history and his righteous defense of everything
American, Johnson approaches the sniper-extraordinaire with a
proposition: help them find out how an attempt on the President will
take place and thus they can defuse it.
Come to find out, Johnson isn’t working for the President at all and is
in the pocket of a U.S. Senator named Charles Meachum (Ned Beatty).
Their plan isn’t to kill the Prez but to eliminate another threat that
stands near him during a speech in St. Louis (naturally money is
involved).
Having utilized Swagger, the Colonel attempts to off him but fails, much
to the chagrin of Senator Meachum.
Swagger is now on the run, wounded and bleeding, his face plastered on
every television screen claiming he attempted to kill the President.
Knowing that he has to get away no matter what, Swagger runs afoul of
Secret Service agent named Nick Memphis (Michael Pena,
CRASH). Hobbling
him in quick, military fashion, Agent Memphis is just “glad to be
alive.” Which brought up a unique question: Why didn’t the sniper just
kill him? This drives Agent Memphis to make some terrible discoveries
about his boss, his job, and what America values most.
Double-crossed for the last time, Swagger seeks out those who framed him
and uses his sniper training to ultimate advantage. Anyone less than
1,000 yards away is surely in trouble now. He even eventually brings
Agent Memphis into his fold and teaches him the fine art of Sniperdom.
SHOOTER’s details are more interesting than the whole, as are the DVD
special features. How a shooter positions himself. The effects on his
shot from weather and wind to the curvature of the Earth are brought
into play, making the mechanics more fascinating than the story.
There’s also the fact that some huge holes develop later on. Swagger
nearly gets killed, then suddenly BANG! we’re somewhere else where he
can eliminate a threat to himself. There’s no rhyme or reason to this
showing that director Fuqua needed a little help come editing time. And
then (drum roll) the big problem: Swagger is in custody and then,
without clear reason, he’s set free. The ridiculousness of this event is
mind-boggling, even while watching a fictitious film where one must
suspend disbelief.
This film might appeal to military types who like to watch long shots
being made at moving targets, but other than that, it’s probably a safe
pass.
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Image from Shooter
DVD cost: $25.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The FBI agent helping the
shooter is wearing a Che Guevara T-Shirt in a scene.
Movie Quote: "There's
gonna be an attempt to assassinate the President. This shot will be
taken from over a mile."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Shooter
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