The Marksman (2021) – Movie Review
The Marksman (2021), directed by Robert Lorenz, is a tense action thriller that follows a retired Marine turned rancher, Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson), who finds himself caught in a dangerous mission to protect a young boy from ruthless criminals. With Neeson’s trademark gravitas and an intense plot that revolves around survival and morality, the film delivers solid action moments, but its predictability and formulaic storytelling hold it back from being a standout.
The story is straightforward: Jim Hanson, a man living in the Arizona desert, is struggling with personal demons and the consequences of his past military service. His quiet life is disrupted when he comes across a mother and son trying to cross the border into the United States. After the mother is killed by cartel members, Jim takes it upon himself to protect the boy, Miguel (Jacob Lattimore), and bring him to safety while evading the relentless cartel hitmen pursuing them.
Liam Neeson is, as always, the standout performer in the film. His portrayal of Jim is a classic “grizzled hero” role, and his commitment to playing a character with a strong moral compass, despite his past mistakes, is palpable. Neeson’s commanding presence adds depth to the character, and he manages to make even the more predictable scenes feel grounded in emotional weight. His bond with the young Miguel is the heart of the film, and while the father-son dynamic doesn’t break new ground, it works thanks to Neeson’s skillful acting and Lattimore’s sincere performance as the scared, yet resilient, boy.
The action sequences in The Marksman are well-executed, but not groundbreaking. There are moments of tension and some solid shootouts, though they often feel by-the-book for this genre. The film’s pacing is fairly tight in the beginning, but it slows down in parts as it delves into the characters’ motivations and the moral dilemmas at play. While this adds some emotional weight to the film, it can also feel like a lull between action scenes.
The supporting cast does its job, with Katheryn Winnick playing the role of a sympathetic border patrol agent, though her character doesn’t have much development. The film’s villainous cartel members, led by a merciless leader (Juan Pablo Raba), are one-dimensional and lack the depth to make them truly menacing. Their motivations feel generic, and as a result, the stakes of the film don’t feel as high as they could be.
Visually, The Marksman makes good use of its Arizona setting, with sweeping desert landscapes that provide a fitting backdrop for the story’s themes of isolation and survival. The cinematography is clean, and the desolate environment mirrors Jim’s internal struggles. However, the film doesn’t always capitalize on its setting to build as much atmosphere as it could have.
The biggest critique of The Marksman is its familiarity. While it’s a competent action thriller with some emotional beats, it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the genre. The plot follows a predictable trajectory, and the stakes, while personal to the characters, don’t ever feel like they go beyond the usual “protect the innocent” trope. The pacing can feel uneven, and the film never fully embraces the potential for deeper exploration of its themes.
In conclusion, The Marksman is a solid, if unremarkable, action film. Liam Neeson once again excels in a role that plays to his strengths, and the film offers enough thrills and emotional moments to keep viewers engaged. However, its lack of innovation and reliance on familiar tropes prevent it from standing out in the crowded action-thriller genre. For fans of Neeson’s action roles, it’s worth a watch, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
