Bullet Points: The Marksman (2021)

There’s no way we could not cover a new Liam Neeson movie. He is one of the only action stars to have multiple theatrical releases during the global pandemic. First it was Honest Thief, now we have The Marksman, which is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

• The Plot: Liam Neeson protects a young boy from the Mexican Cartel. How cool is it when you can sum up the plot of the movie in one sentence? The Marksman also stars Katheryn Winnick, Juan Pablo Raba, Jacob Perez and a cool dog named Jackson. Robert Lorenz is the director, and it is written by Chris Charles, Danny Kravitz and Robert Lorenz does double duty by co-writing too. It is rated PG-13 for Old Man Action. 

• Liam being Liam: Let’s take a look at Liam Neeson’s Jim. We will see if his character is similar to the other characters he plays in Old Man Action. Jim is a retired Marine having served in Vietnam. He won a medal, and I’m guessing he was a good shot, because of the film’s title. He is a widower. He drinks too much. He doesn’t speak in a politically correct way. He is about to lose his house and land because he hasn’t paid the mortgage in 6 months. However, he doesn’t own a cell phone, so threatening phone calls will have to be made on pay phones. He knows how to read an atlas, and he likes hotdogs. I must give Liam Neeson credit for continuing to play the same character over and over again. 
• The Kid: Kids in action movies are either a hit or a flop. Put an annoying kid in an action movie, and it is a good chance they will get in the way of the story and the action. I’m not going to make fun of kids from other films. That’s just not a cool thing to do. However, Miguel (Jacob Perez) is a damn good little actor. He helps the story and even the flow of the action. Old Man Jim is asked my Miguel’s dying mom to protect him from the Cartel. Jim and Miguel don’t really get along, because Jim is extremely rough around the edges. Miguel is in a very difficult situation. He just lost his mother and he is stuck with a grumpy old man.  Liam might be The Marksman, but the real star is Jacob Perez. 

• The Cartel: The Cartel usually makes for a great heavy. This is the case with The Marksman. Mauricio (Juan Pablo Raba) looks scary as hell. He is ruthless. (The scene at the gas station is straight up savage) He’s also out for blood. Not only does he want to kill Miguel. He is after Miguel because Miguel’s uncle stole from the Cartel. You know how the Cartel does things: They don’t just kill the one responsible, they wipe out entire families. Mauricio also wants revenge on Jim, because Jim killed Mauricio’s brother in a shootout early in the film. You could say it is very personal for Mauricio, and it adds some depth to his character. Normally, in action movies similar to The Marksman, the bad guys are about as paper thin as thin paper can be. It also seems like the Cartel has connections everywhere in the USA. From Border Patrol Agents to Tattooed Faced White Guys, the Cartel’s operation is on point, and it is hard to believe anyone could survive their relentless pursuit.
• The Action: Once the action gets going, The Marksman is pretty much one big chase scene. Jim, Miguel and Jackson the dog running from the Cartel. We have a lot of near misses and a damn good action finale. Jim lives up to his Marksman name. He’s a great shot. I’m not sure I would rewatch The Marksman anytime soon, but it is entertaining, and it is an improvement from Honest Thief. I would like to think The Marksman would be a film my dad would’ve enjoyed. If you get the opportunity, watch The Marksman with someone who enjoys Old Man Action.

Bonus Bullet Points…

• Chicago Dog: I’ve never had a Chicago hotdog, but I’ve heard you never put ketchup on one.
• Does the Dog Die: Isn’t there a website that tells you if the dog dies in a movie? I’m not spoiling it for you. However, Jackson is such a great dog. He’s up there with Gordon the dog from Friday the 13th Part IV.
• In the End: The catchy song you hear in the trailer is “In the End” by Andrew Simple.
• Score: 3 out of 5 stars.