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The Marksman review
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What the hell....?

"Are your nerves shaking?...that means your instincts are turned on."


It seems that in recent years, washed up action stars like Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris and Van Damme obtain their income from starring in low-budget, crappy straight-to-video action flicks. Since they started in that industry, there is little wonder why they continued - they just don't have the acting skills to be hired for anything good.

After Wesley Snipes featured in films like Blade and Demolition Man among others, no-one anticipated that he would lower his standards to the world of low-budget straight-to-video action flicks. It's impossible not to wonder what's compelling this actor to feature in such an appallingly low-rent affair. Regrettably, with Snipes starring in scrupulously inept and poorly produced action fares such as 7 Seconds and The Marksman he's venturing into the same dangerous territory formerly tread by Seagal, Van Damme and Chuck Norris - three actors who sorely need to retire.

Okay, so I admit that occasionally I do enjoy a good violent action flick. Even if they are low-budget, they can supply a healthy dosage of thrills and action. I viewed The Marksman in the faint hope of something like that, and boy was I wrong! The paltry budget is obvious from the first shot! One of the aspects I discovered from the initial 10 minutes is how poorly the film has been made. The opening "action" sequence is impossible to watch because of the poor lighting, the abysmal directing, the choppy editing, the feeble audio mix, embarrassing acting and the shortness of action!

The plot starts off reasonably straightforward and easy to follow. Basically, there's a mysterious mercenary with a formidable reputation only known as Painter (Snipes). After a preposterously terrible opening scene that depicts a training exercise, Painter is presented with his latest mission. The US army send him to a Chechen nuclear power plant with a group of soldiers as his back-up where a group of stereotypical, forgettable evil terrorists are threatening to set off a live reactor. Though his objective is to secure the reactor and save the hostages, Painter's superiors make it clear that his priority is the reactor. However, it doesn't take long before Painter discovers that he and his soldiers are being elaborately set up - leaving Painter with little choice but to take on all the terrorists single-handedly.

After the first 40 minutes the plot transforms into some political mumbo jumbo that's virtually impossible to follow. The dialogue is hard to understand as well, thus the film is hard to follow. Then again the script is filled with dialogue that one won't want to listen to...quite simply, the script is poorly written and executed worse!

The worst insult is that the screenwriters were obviously aiming to create some interesting action flick with a political sub-plot, like Behind Enemy Lines or something. Wesley Snipes is thus tossed into the mix due to the success of his previous movies. The difference is...films in that fundamental style actually flaunt a decent script. The screenwriters here fill the film with ludicrous dialogue and forgettable action.

Wesley Snipes made a terrible career move when he decided to star in this mess. His acting isn't even slightly memorable. One would expect his experience to be the saving grace here...but it's not. Combine a talented actor with a team of hacks and this is the result. The rest of the acting is largely pathetic. You can't help but feel sorry for the waste of talent. It's apparent that the actors tried. Similar to Wesley Snipes, it's the filmmakers that destroyed all the potential for good performances.

Overall, The Marksman is a missed opportunity. The concept is mediocre and could have achieved some entertaining results for sure. However the film looks ugly and feels ugly. Every shot looks grainy, every action scene is lifeless. This film is utter tripe! Wesley Snipes was never the best actor in the world, but surely even he deserves better than this!

2.1/10

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Added by PvtCaboose91
15 years ago on 25 June 2008 07:50

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Claudia