Shooter

Rating: 5/10 (26 January 2010)

Imagine First Blood mixed with The Fugitive, and that gives you an idea of what to expect with this film, from director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, King Arthur). Basically Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), one of the world's great marksmen, and son of a Congressional Medal of Honour winner, left the military years ago, but is brought back and recruited by lisping Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover). He wants Swagger to help find a way to have the President of the United States killed within two weeks, and he does do it, but he is set up as shooting another politician. The authorities did manage to get two bullets in Swagger's chest, and are convinced he is dead, but he was only wounded by the shots and on the run from the police, and wanting to know who double-crossed him. Obviously villain Johnson is determined to hunt him down and kill him before Swagger, who he knew was still alive, can get to him and his schemes. Also starring Michael Peña as Nick Memphis, Kate Mara as Sarah Fenn, Elias Koteas as Jack Payne, Rhona Mitra as Alourdes Galindo, Jonathan Walker as Louis Dobbler, Justin Louis as Howard Purnell, Tate Donovan as Russ Turner and Rade Serbedzija as Michael Sandor. Wahlberg is a good chisel-jawed lead, Glover is okay as the villainous Colonel, and there are some good chase and action moments, it might have some twinges in the plot, but it is a likable action thriller. Worth watching!