claudio_carvalho Review of The Marksman

The Marksman (2021)

Reasonable Thriller

[5/10 · 2 July 2021]

In Arizona, the rancher Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson) lives alone in the Mexico border. Jim is a former Marine and widower that misses his wife, who died of cancer, and is completely broken since he spent his savings in hospital bill. His stepdaughter is Sarah Pennington (Katheryn Winnick), who is a border patrol agent, and Jim usually reports illegal crossings nearby his lands. When he sees the Mexican Rosa (Tereza Ruiz) and her son Miguel (Jacob Perez) attempting to cross the border, he reports to the border patrol but soon he learns that they are trying to escape from the drug cartel. Jim protects them and kills the brother of the cartel's leader Mauricio (Juan Pable Raba). However, Rosa dies too but she gives the address of her family in Chicago and asks Jim to deliver Miguel to her family. In return, she offers her bag that is full of money. The border patrol takes Miguel but soon Jim finds that the Mauricio wants to revenge the death of his brother and decides to help the boy, driving him to Chicago but with the cartel on their tail.

"The Marksman" is a reasonable thriller with a formulaic plot. Liam Neeson has great performance in a depressing role of a former marine that has no spot to die since he lost his lands and savings in the medical treatment of his beloved wife. The plot has holes and maybe the worst part is when Miguel and he burn the cartel money in a campfire. The conclusion is very sad. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Na Mira do Perigo" ("In the Target of Danger")

Note: On 02 December 2023, I saw this film again.