Surprisingly Intelligent

Rating: 7/10 (13 March 2007)

Although advertised as a typical bang 'em up action flick, "Shooter" is a surprisingly intelligent and even provocative film. Mark Wahlberg ably plays the title character, a former Marine who finds himself involved in an elaborate political scheme. Wahlberg adds depth and charisma to a role that could have easily been played by any run-of-the-mill wooden actor (think of Stallone and Seagal flicks in the '80s). He's backed up by a strong supporting cast, including Michael Pena as a wide-eyed FBI agent, Danny Glover as a morally ambiguous superior, and Kate Mara as the Southern belle who also ends up tangled in the crossfire. Rhona Mitra, however, is wasted in a role that likely ended up on the cutting room floor.
"Shooter" is, obviously, an unapologetically violent film; Men are shown being shot in the head, chest and neck ad nauseum. But the filmmakers realize that the most disturbing violence in the film is that of an establishment that is free of remorse, and while it may take excessive violence to get there, the point is proved.