MARKSMAN, THE

(director/writer: Robert Lorenz; screenwriters: Chris Charles/Danny Kravitz; cinematographer: Mark Patten; editor: Luis Carballar; music: Sean Callery; cast: Liam Neeson (Jim Hanson), Katheryn Winnick (Sarah), Juan Pablo Raba (Maurico), Teresa Ruiz (Rosa), Jacob Perez (Miguel); Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producer: Mark Williams/Eric Gold/Warren Goz/Robert Lorenz/Tai Duncan; Open Roads Film; 2021)

“A routine action pic that I can take or leave.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Robert Lorenz (“Trouble With The Curve”) directs and co-writes with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz. For Liam Neeson it’s another predictable and passable formulaic action film (a routine action pic that I can take or leave), just like the other mundane secondary films he’s been recently doing late in his career. This one has the look of a Clint Eastwood film.

Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson) is a retired Marine marksman who now seeks solitude and resides on an isolated Arizona ranch at the Mexican border. His wife recently succumbed to cancer, and the lonely rancher is about to lose his ranch to foreclosure.

One day on his ranch Jim spots a young mother named Rosa (Teresa Ruiz) and her son Miguel (Jacob Prez) illegally crossing the border fence and fleeing. When he stops them, they tell him they are being chased by assassins from the cartel. He decides to help them. In the ensuing shootout, Rosa is killed. Her death wish is for Jim to take Miguel to relatives in Chicago.

Anyone who has ever seen a latter Liam film can tell you what awaits in this road film.

The body count mounts. The bond between boy and stranger grows, despite not speaking the same language. And the action between the bad and good guy become treacherous.

Man and boy have little to say to each other, but have a good chemistry together. Everything is standard for this well-crafted action pic. I can’t say I was surprised by anything.

REVIEWED ON 1/17/2021  GRADE: B-