Sidewalks On The Corner

"Shooter" sounds more like a video game than a movie. In fact that's exactly how it plays out. Director Antoine Fuqua ("The Negotiator", "Training Day") doesn't disappoint with his new thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Michael Pena and Ned Beatty. Not to be confused with two movies with same name in 2000 and 2004, a TV-movie in 1988, and a reality show starring country singer Shooter Jennings in 2005, this film is based on a novel...and it's a killer.

Follow up:

Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg, "The Italian Job", “Invincible") is a highly trained and talented sniper for the Marine Corp. While on a mission in Ethiopia, Swagger, with gunnery spotter/partner Donnie Fenn (Lane Garrison, Prison Break, "Crazy"), is ordered to take out enemy targets. When Swagger and Fenn become over whelmed by gunfire from an attack chopper, they try to call for reinforcements but are cut off by their military command unit. Now left to fend for themselves, they fight to stay alive. Swagger's partner is brutally shot dead ... he is now on his own. After his ordeal in Africa, ex-Marine Swagger moves to a secluded spot in the mountains hoping to stay out of the government’s eye. Then one day, Colonel Isaac Johnson (Glover, "Dreamgirls," "Be Kind Rewind," upcoming "Razor," and one-time "Sidewalks" guest) apprehends him. Johnson believes that there is an attempt to assassinate the president of United States and wants to reinstate Swagger in order to get inside the head of a rogue sniper. Swagger is reluctant at first to take the mission, especially after he learned was double-crossed by his own military unit.

The film follows Swagger as he assist Colonel Johnson in stopping the impending assignation, but Swagger soon discovers he can’t trust anyone. Trying to stay alive, Swagger becomes a fugitive. With law enforcement and the government, including newbie FBI agent Nick Memphis (Pena, "Crash", "Babel") on his tail, Swagger looks for the truth…and to clear his name.

"Shooter" is based on the novel "Point Of Impact" by Stephen Hunter. One of the many films that are derived from novels that have governmental themes, the movie resembles such offerings as Robert Ludlum’s "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy" and Tom Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger" and "The Some of all Fears." But unlike "The Bourne Identity,” "Shooter" is more about the thrills than the intricacies of the government’s inner workings. It plays out more like a video game than a film. But don't get me wrong, this movie is a smart thrill ride, and the action doesn’t stop. It's filled with plenty of helicopter, car chases and slick rock'em-sock'em fight scenes to boot. There are some exciting scenes with Wahlberg behind the gun; taking some well-planned shots at his enemies. Some of the gory scenes are what you'd expect for a movie with the name "Shooter.”

Wahlberg does justice with his character: Swagger is smart and observant and thinks on his feet, but Wahlberg sort of mumbles his way through some of his lines in certain scenes, making it slightly difficult to understand some of the plot points. For the ladies, there are numerous scenes with Wahlberg with his shirt off.

Playing a more realistic role and not super macho or cocky is Michael Pena. Pena flourishes as "fresh out of the academy" FBI agent Nick Memphis, who proves to be heroic and intelligent. Mara (24, "Zoom") plays Sarah Fenn, Swagger’s deceased partner's wife. Although she aids Swagger in clearing his name, romantic moments between Fenn and Swagger felt tacked on and unbelievable in the film. The scenes felt it was gratuitously thrown in.

There are hints of "Training Day" when it comes to Danny Glover's character. Like Denzel Washington, Glover sheds his typical role of the "goody two shoes" kind of guy and tries his hand at the other end of the spectrum in the role of the deceitful Colonel Johnson.

Many of the supporting cast played their characters by the book. Ned Beatty ("Superman 1+2", "Deliverance") plays the conniving "Dick Cheney" like Senator Charles F. Meachum, while Elias Koteas ("Zodiac", "Gattaca") plays Jack Payne, a real slime ball.

All the players in this film executed their parts well and added strength to film.

"Shooter" delivers the good: it’s exhilarating and action packed, and the acting is convincing enough, making this film worth the price of admission.