Unseen Movie Review: Shooter

By Robert Dixter Mar 10, 2007, 13:56 GMT

 “Shooter” is an action-packed thriller starring Mark Wahlberg as Bob Lee Swagger, a former Army sniper who leaves the military after a mission goes bad. After he is reluctantly pressed back into service, Swagger is double-crossed again. With two bullets in him and the subject of a nationwide manhunt, Swagger begins his revenge, which will take down the most powerful people in the country. Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) directs. ...more

In the world of movies, January is a pretty slow month (think Lindsay Lohan the morning after a night of vodka and Red Bulls).  Most theater goers are still sifting through the Oscar hopefuls and studios are dumping garbage like Cedric the Entertainer’s ‘The Cleaner.’

February is not much better with ‘Norbit’ and ‘Hannibal Rising’ (Oh Tommy Harris, do you really need money that badly?). 

So as I sit around my house eating crumbs from the bottom of a bag of Baked Ruffle chips and drinking Mountain Dew that expired in January (Did you know soda had an expiration date?  Me neither) I’m really hoping for a good action thriller to take my mind off Nicolas Cage’s hairline.  I think I may have found it in Mark Wahlberg’s new film, ‘Shooter.’

The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua who might have slipped with ‘King Arthur’ but nailed it harder than Barry Bonds after a steroids cocktail with ‘Training Day.’ 

Antoine’s film school consisted of doing music videos for Prince and Coolio (who should be popping up on Dancing with the Stars or The Surreal Life any day now).  But unlike other video directors, he actually learned how to tell a story.  His films might not always be great, but they’re much more accomplished than other video directors like McG (ok, obviously I would exclude David Fincher from that list as well).

I mean anyone who shortens his last name to be his full name should be questioned.  Who do they make the checks out to?  McG?  And a bank will cash those?

The main reason I’m excited for this film is because of Mark Wahlberg.  There are very few actors whose films I actually look forward to seeing if only because they always make interesting choices. Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg.

Four guys who might not always star in classic films but who always choose interesting movies (except ‘Cat in the Hat’). On top of choosing interesting projects, Wahlberg can deliver the goods. His performances in ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘The Departed’ were stellar.

Mark is a pretty smart guy when it comes to steering his career. He drives it with the same precision Paris Hilton uses when she’s aiming her Bentley and a street lamp. He seems to work with directors who know what to do with him. It’s almost as though he chooses films based on the director, as opposed to many actors who will sign on to a film and then hire a director to work with what they already have in their minds. I think this is why Mark’s work is so varied.  Look at the names he’s worked with, PT Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, David O. Russell. 

And while you might mention ‘Planet of the Apes,’ keep in mind Burton also directed ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and ‘Sleepy Hollow.’

There are very few missteps with Mark and his career, and even when he does falter slightly (‘Rock Star’ – good idea that turned out to be a TNT special movie presentation) you get the sense that Mark simply brushes it off like Hugh Grant acknowledging he likes to prowl Sunset Boulevard for hookers, and moves on to the next project.

With the exception of Will Smith, I don’t think there is anybody else in Hollywood who is so comfortable being who they are, and makes no excuses for the choices they make or their actions in public or with the press.

In fact, as I was writing this piece I realized there were a few Mark films I have not seen and so I recently added ‘The Yards’ to my Netflix queue.  While I’m not expecting greatness I am sure I will see some more interesting work by a former underwear model who has what I believe, is one of the most promising careers in Hollywood.