| No less than a dozen
action blockbusters in 2007 will assuredly step over the line into
eye-rolling excess, completely obliterating the audience's ability
to believe what they are seeing. It is an all too common
mistake that evaporates any real sense of tension. Those
frenzied films dwindle into silliness and are soon forgotten.
"Shooter" rarely makes that mistake. Sure, it has all the
prerequisite action sequences -- but it generally avoids "those moments" when
you laugh at the ridiculousness. This, I think, is a lesson
learned by Antoine Fuqua, whose "Training Day" was a classic cop
thriller, but whose "King Arthur" strayed a little too far.
Mark Wahlberg takes aim in "Shooter"
This time around, Fuqua gets it right again with a film that
rivals the supreme excitement of Matt Damon's "Bourne" series.
The premise of "one man against the corrupt
system, fighting a gross injustice and facing insurmountable odds"
is a familiar one... but it is one of my favorites. I love
films like "The Fugitive", "Chain Reaction", "Behind Enemy Lines",
"Bourne Identity and Supremacy", "Mission Impossible" & TV shows
like "24". Your opinion of those specific titles will likely
guide your thoughts on "Shooter".
Mark Wahlberg plays Bob Lee Swagger (what a "movie name"), an ex
marine marksman, one of the very best ever, who is recruited to
investigate a possible assassination attempt on the President.
In doing so, Swagger is framed for the attempt and is forced into
hiding, on the run and desperate to uncover the conspiracy against
him.
The film buzzes along at a brisk pace, never allowing momentum to
wane. I really appreciated the direction. Fuqua knows
how to maintain a minimum level of tension.
Kate Mara should make a sequel to
"Shooter"
Wahlberg is an underrated actor. Here, he reminds me most
of Bruce Willis in the "Die Hard" series... very restrained,
intense, inventive and ingenious... always one step ahead of the
villains. Kate Mara is a bright new star, absurdly pretty and
cinematically captivating. She lends a really nice effort here
as Sarah... one that signals she will soon be A-list material.
Supporting roles are nicely delivered by Michael Pena, Rade
Serbedzija, Danny Glover & Rhona Mitra.
I really recommend this film. It will almost certainly be
one of the best examples in the genre in 2007. It is
thrilling, intelligent, believable, witty, energetic and intense --
everything one could ask for. "Shooter" won't make my Top 10
Films of the Year, but it will make the my Top 10 Action Films of
2007. |
