Movie Review of The Marksman – Directed by Robert Lorenz
My first movie review. The Marksman stars Liam Neeson, hence the reason I watched it. I’m a big Liam Neeson fan, especially when he plays a tough guy – like The Taken series. Love those. In this movie Neeson plays Jim Hanson, an ex-Marine. Sounds good so far, right? And obviously, he was a sharpshooter for the Marines. Jim Hanson is also financially broke, his wife died of cancer in the last couple years, and he’s about to lose his ranch in southern Arizona, near the Mexico border.
A woman, Rosa, and her child, Miguel, are fleeing Mexico because Rosa’s brother has stolen a bunch of money from the Cartel. Not real a smart thing to do. And even less smart, Rosa has the money with her. They come through a hole in the fence onto Jim’s land and he just happens to be driving by that spot and has to stop fast so that he doesn’t run over the kid. The Cartel patrols that area of the Mexico side and of course, they see Rosa and Miguel running for the fence. Mom and son make it through the hole and plead with Jim to help them.
Along comes the Cartel boys. Three of them. They ask Jim politely to hand over Rosa and Miguel. But the politeness only lasts for that one request. Jim refuses. Some back and forth banter. Gun battle ensues. Jim kills one of the Cartel boys, who happens to be the brother of the head enforcer. Stray bullets kill Rosa. Before dying she tells Jim she wants him to deliver Miguel to Chicago, where they have family. Jim is reluctant. But finally decides to do so.
Great set up. Cartel pursues Jim. Many sticky situations. The movie is worth the watch if you’re bored and can’t find any other Liam Neeson movies to watch.
For me, I found Neeson’s character to be not the brightest Marine in the platoon. He knows the Cartel is after him. He has a bag full of Cartel money. And at the first gas station he pays with a credit card. Doh! He’s pulled over by a cop on the payroll of the Cartel. I won’t describe what happens, but suffice it to say, Jim and Miguel get away. However…remember, he has a bag full of Cartel cash. He continues on in the same truck! Come on, Jim. Use some of that cash to buy another car. Even after he finds out the car has a hole in the radiator, he gets it patched up instead of buying another car.
One more use of the credit card and he finally wises up on that front.
Last faux pas. Our ex-Marine on the run from the Cartel drives straight into Chicago via an interstate. Of course, there are people looking out for him.
The ending is a bit depressing. I won’t tell you what it is, but will give one spoiler. Okay, maybe not such a spoiler, but the kid does get to his family in Chicago.
One other oddity, at one point Jim tells the kid that there is no heaven, that it’s only a place we’re told about to make us feel good. However, he later says something about his wife watching over what he’s doing and Rosa watching over Miguel. Odd theology going on there.
The movie was rated a 6/10 on IMDB. I’d agree with that rating. Not Neeson’s best movie, but good enough to keep me watching it.
On the content side. It’s PG-13, mainly for some violence. No sex. Some profanity, but not much. Considering Cartel killers involved, pretty clean.
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