Read the Novel 'Point of Impact' Instead

Rating: 5/10 (25 March 2007)

Stephen Hunter, unlike Robert Ludlum, writes exciting and graceful prose, creating credible and dimensional characters in his novels. With the arrival of 'Shooter,' it looks like the Bob Lee Swagger stories have been pegged as the next franchise to compete with Ludlum's Bourne series. But in this movie debut, the skill of Hunter's writing is lost in the translation, and worse still, the filmmakers have taken liberties with the novel's plot.
Despite problems with the third act, and a finale out of nowhere, 'Shooter' is exciting and funny for most of the ride. The director has an opening sequence that is truly exciting, full of 'sniper craft' and combat thrills. And the political commentary throughout is bracing and welcome.
Sorry to say, the final scene almost negates everything good that unfolds before. Maybe Mr. Hunter could be more involved in the next adaptation of a Swagger novel, but he may not be willing. In a recent interview on NPR, the author admits his novel was drastically cut to fit the medium, the screenplay being 'post cards from my novel.' Hence, I suggest you read the story as it was intended, in book form.
After you take a look at Stephen Hunter's novels, be sure to rent the DVD of David Mamet's 'Spartan.' I kept thinking of it while watching the 'Shooter' screenplay spiral out of control in the third act. If 'Spartan' had been a hit, we'd be enjoying a franchise of sequels from the pen of America's best playwright-turned-moviemaker.