Today’s quick review: Shooter. Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), a retired Marine sniper, is recruited by Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) to scope out a possible sniper threat against the President. But when the assassination attempt is pinned on Swagger, he must go on the run until he can clear his name. His only allies are Sarah Fenn (Kate Mara), the widow of his partner, and Nick Memphis (Michael Pena), a junior FBI agent who suspects Swagger’s innocence.
Shooter is a suspense thriller with a standard premise and capable execution. Shooter has a well-structured plot, sensible direction, the right amount of tension, and enough twists to stay engaging from start to finish. Mark Wahlberg delivers a solid performance to lead the movie, while his supporting cast of Danny Glover, Michael Pena, and Kate Mara play their roles well.
Shooter is one of the better fugitive thrillers out there. Swagger’s skills are impressive yet plausible; his training, resourcefulness, and determination keep him one step ahead of law enforcement without making him superhuman. For his part, Memphis shows an admirable doggedness in his investigation into swagger. The whole affair is capped off by a handful of impressive sniper scenes, giving Shooter a unique and suitably tense flavor to its action.
Watch Shooter when you are in the mood for a tidy, well-executed suspense thriller. Though not the most innovative entry in its genre, Shooter scratches the itch well, and its sniper combat and strong plot help it stand above the rest. Skip it if you are looking for a less conventional thriller, something lighter in tone, or a more cerebral plot.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid execution.