Shooter
If John Rambo used his survival skills to help solve an X-Files mystery, the result might resemble “Shooter,” a politically driven action picture with a military protagonist and more conspiracy theories than the JFK assassination. Based on the intense and entertaining novel “Point of Impact” by Stephen Hunter, the R-rated picture follows “patriot” Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg of “The Departed”), a Marine veteran famous for his skills as a sniper. Swagger abruptly ends his career after some political observers cease providing intelligence reports during a mission in Ethiopia, an act that leads to the death of the sniper’s spotter.
Swagger cuts himself off from civilization by moving to a remote area, but he’s located by Col. Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover of “Lethal Weapon”), a Medal of Honor recipient who asks the Marine veteran to travel to Philadelphia and help ensure the safety of the president, who may be the target of an assassin. Col. Johnson believes Swagger’s expertise will help the Secret Service and other government agencies cover locations – some as far away as a mile from the president’s appearance in the city’s historic district – where a sharpshooter could use his deadly skills.
On the day of the presidential visit, things quickly veer out of control as the chief executive becomes a target, Swagger is framed for the shooting and numerous government operatives start hunting for the innocent man, who knows he will be shot on sight. Swagger then uses every trick he learned in the military to elude capture and locate those responsible for accusing him of being an assassin.
“Shooter” gives us a noble hero who has been double-crossed and then fights a corrupt system, going up against impossible odds to prove his innocence and – of course – get even with those who use the flag to hide their greedy motivations.
The film has been in the planning stages for more many years, with Tommy Lee Jones and Keanu Reeves attached at various times to play Swagger (a character also featured in Hunter’s books “Black Light” and “Time to Hunt”). Wahlberg, who’s currently hot due to his Oscar nomination for “The Departed” and his box-office success with “Invincible,” obviously saw “Shooter” as his opportunity to create a franchise and jumped at the opportunity to play Swagger.
Director Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) knows how to put pop into action scenes, but too much of the time, the filmmaker allows the story to become weighed down by heavy-handed references to things ranging from non-existent weapons of mass destruction to the late Anna Nicole Smith. Viewers are smart enough to quickly recognize the anti-Bush political overtones in “Shooter,” but Fuqua insists on inserting too many themes about personal, emotional and political corruption.
The film benefits from some strong supporting players, including Michael Pena (“Crash”) as a young FBI recruit who believes in Swagger’s innocence, Kate Mara as a widow who helps the on-the-run suspect and Elias Koteas (“Zodiac”) as a sweaty culprit with a sadistic streak.
Fans of hard-core action pictures will enjoy the moments in which the resourceful Swagger turns the tables on the corrupt government operatives who continually underestimate him. However, those same viewers might also feel numb as Fuqua hits them over the head with conspiracy theories about the corrupt nature of our political system rather than just letting the audience follow the appealing Swagger and come to their own conclusions.
Postscript: Many of the most important scenes in “Shooter” unfold in the City of Brotherly Love, and in the film’s production notes, Fuqua sings the praises of the city its and government officials. “In Philadelphia, the FBI just opened their doors to us, which I didn’t think would happen, especially after 9/11. They let us roam all over the offices,” the director says. “We also had the opportunity to shoot in front of Independence Hall, which we couldn’t have done without the FBI, whose offices are right across the street from Independence Hall.”
FILM REVIEW
“Shooter”
Grade: B-
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Kate Mara and Elias Koteas; screenplay by Jonathan Lemkin, based on the novel “Point of Impact” by Stephen Hunter; produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Ric Kidney; directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Running Time: 120 minutes.
Parental Guide: R rating (violence, harsh four-letter profanity).
Visit the Shooter site