Look. I gotta be honest. I was hesitant to take this screener. All respect to Liam Neeson, but I never saw Taken 2 or 3, or many of his action-thrillers. Commuter, Cold Pursuit, Run All Night, probably good fun. As he nears 69 years old this June, it’s impressive he keeps signing on for action movies like The Marksman. All this to say, I was thinking I might not enjoy this movie. I was wrong. Very wrong.
Look, it has all the tropes. All the expected moments. He’s got a dog that’s keeping him going. He’s recently lost his wife. There’s a kid at risk, and unless he utilizes a specific set… I won’t finish that line, you already know it. He’s a Marina with a well-placed USMC tattoo to back it up.
Now, is a 6 foot 4 inch Northern Irishman hard to accept as an Arizona landowner down on his luck? Only for the first few minutes. Was the determined female Border Patrol officer, played by the talented Kathryn Winnick, easy to peg as Neeson’s daughter? Sure, but this movie isn’t here to surprise us with those details.
Instead, it surprised me how much I enjoyed The Marksman. Imagine a little Logan, a dash of Gran Torino, a pinch of Sicario, and three heaping spoonfuls of Taken. Presto, I present you The Marksman. But it’s not just a shoot em’ stew, it really has heart! Neeson plays Jim believably and honestly. You can tell he’s in the shoes of the character and taking it seriously.
Jim and Miguel Go on a Road Trip
Jim’s down on his luck. His late wife’s battle with cancer was as costly as it was tragic. Now, with a handful of lean cows left, Jim’s ranch is on its way to being reclaimed by the bank. When he stumbles on a mother and son crossing the border, fate deals him a dangerous hand and no small task. A powerful cartel is after the pair, and will stop at nothing until they get what they came for.
Miguel is the young boy that Jim’s escorting to his remaining family members, and relative newcomer Jacob Perez knocks it outta the park. He shows an impressive emotional range throughout the film.
Now, The Marksman is less John Wick than it is Gran Torino and there’s a good reason: the Director Robert Lopez was a producer on many of Clint Eastwood’s flicks, including Gran Torino. That grounding in reality, gruff yet loving veteran figure, and gripping action keep you hooked. He doesn’t carry 10 guns into action, he’s The Marksman. And he doesn’t miss.
Where to Watch?
You can see The Marksman in theaters 1/15/2021! Buy your tickets here.
Like a little more cowboy justice? Check out our review of Let Him Go!
Check out more of Tristan’s articles here.