By Tim McGroarty

Shooter finds Mark Wahlberg, in his first film since his Oscar nominated performance in The Departed, playing the role of Bob Lee Swagger, a former military sniper who quit the army following a disastrous mission.

Three years later he is hired by Colonel Johnson (Danny Glover) to figure out how a suspected assassin is planning to kill the President. Due to his extensive background in the sniper field, Swagger is asked to supervise locating the sniper on site. But on the day of the supposed assassination, Swagger is set up with for the shooting of a visiting diplomat. Swagger manages to escape the situation and is then left on the run while trying to prove his innocence. He must find the people who set him up and learn the truth about why they did it, along the way taking out his revenge.

Unlike The Departed, Shooter does not allow Walberg to stretch his legs. The film attempts to put the audience in the shoes of a sniper under fire, showing how good they must be not only as a marksman, but also in the face of danger. The film adds a few twists and turns along the way, making sure to keep those who crave a smarter sort of action film satisfied and to make the more “unbelievable” conspiracy more plausible. While similar to Harrisons Ford’s The Fugitive, Shooter does not however have a Fugitive-level plot, but it is enough to justify a few explosions and gunfights.

The movie was meant to do little but entertain, and in this way it accomplishes its mission. There are some elements in the film that are hard to believe, but the film is enjoyable for thrilling action and beautiful scenery. Shooter has a few hit and miss scenes but overall, it certainly delivers as an entertaining thrill-ride. If you want a good action flick with lots of impressive gunplay and several elaborate, thrilling action sequences to boot, Shooter is right up your alley.

GRADE: B-