“The Marksman” |

NOTE: I watched this movie from the comfort of my home using a digital screener. Before reaching the multiplex, consider the health risks associated with attending group meetings. Take very good care of yourself – I want to see you on the other side.

“Ah, it’s a cruel world.”

story: Miguel is just a kid who lives his life in Mexico. But when his mother, Rosa, receives a call from her brother that they have to run because the cartel will be after them to “teach [others] a lesson “? They do. Meanwhile, Jim Hanson is raising cattle in Naco, AZ – right on the border between the United States and Mexico – trying to avoid foreclosure on his ranch, and reporting” IA “to Border Patrol via walkie-talkie – Transitions. But when Jim sees Rosa and Miguel, things get dangerous. The cartel seems to have followed them. Will Jim help? Well after a while.

Genre I would put it in: Clint Eastwood-like protective thriller

Remake, sequel, based-on or original: References to the oeuvre of Eastwood and Neeson from the 1970s, but original.

I must say: Neeson is a retired Marine who works with a number of stereotypes in this time-by-number thriller. While fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy here, casual neeson aficionados will want more.

Not that Neeson doesn’t give everything. As Jim, a man who has seen way too much and lost even more, his world-weary demeanor has a steel back ready to go the distance when he decides his duty is underway. The problem is, he is usually drunk and / or completely apathetic. But his honor is touched by Miguel’s plight, especially since Jim is an important reason why Rosa doesn’t make it past the first few feet of American soil. He’s not a bad guy, just one tired of thinking too much about anything. Jim’s arch is shaky but will stick around if you don’t think too much about all of his waffles out of nowhere.

In general, if you think too much about this movie, you’ll see all the glue and tape the scriptwriters used to hold this story together. Sagittarius reminiscent of 70s action films like The gloveand while that can be a good thing as it’s a simple clock, it’s a movie built on tropes and pieced together with clichés. The bad guys are absolutely unredeemable (stick a pin in it, we’ll get to that), the kid is a cute cipher, and we even get this bullshit plot device, the bad guy who kills the dog. (#SorryNotSorry – I know I’m not the only one who hates this John Wick Rip off crap, and so I’m ditching this treat. You’re welcome.)

The climax is the usual shootout of “bad guys being picked up one by one until only The Bad remains”. Neeson and Juan Pablo Raba sell it well, but I couldn’t help but believe I bought the same old thing. And back to the matter of “bad guys cannot be redeemed”? The film tries to throw a little sympathy in their direction, with Rabas Macurio talking about how he was just like Miguel before Mac was kidnapped and turned into a soldier for the cartel. “Do you think I had a choice? I never had a choice! “If that backstory had been hinted at earlier in the film, I might have given myself a shit. But Mac is 110% immoral throughout the film. One final hint from Hagel Mary about his broken psyche is not enough for anyone to really care Too little too late, my husband.

This movie isn’t bad … it’s just average. The cinematography is fine, the performances are good enough, and the story is interesting enough to keep me interested without having to resort to Candy Crush to get through. Yeah I damn it Sagittarius With weak praise but it’s all I have

Note: C.

#Protip: Jim’s tough life as a border rancher doesn’t make up for the movie. There are people who say that their livelihood is at risk from the current placement of the walls. Others believe it won’t do anything to really protect them and would rather have more “boots on the ground”.