El Francotirador

Sniper gives a true new meaning to war movies. I remember movies about Vietnam or WWII, lots of firing, everybody dies, bam bam. "Sniper" takes war to a new level or refinement. The movie certainly conveys all of the emotions it aims for - The helplessness of humans in the jungle, the hatred and eventual trust between Beckett and Miller, and the rush of the moment when they pull the trigger. A seemingly low-budget film makes up for every flaw with action, suspense, and thrill, because when it comes down to it, it's just one shot, one kill.

This was huuuuugely favorite movie of a buddy of mine when we were kids. I hadn't seen it in probably that amount of time but found it on the streams the other night.

This movie definitely made "bullet time" a thing in movies and video games.

Tom is great in this. He's kinda typecast in this roll but he does it well. Also Billy is really underrated in it as well. A young hot shot that hasn't had much real world experience with the grizzled old veteran who knows everything. You're not sure if you like Zane's character or not but he pulls it off really well.

The movie isn't overly cliche and that's refreshing considering the time period. I was scared it would have aged poorly but it's still really good. Heck I might appreciate it now more than I did back then.

Two snipers travel deep in the jungles in search for their targets; a slimy South American drug-lord and a prominent general.

Moderately successful at building a brooding atmosphere, Sniper is by most accounts a very solid thriller, taking it's time, establishing it's characters and their plight and climaxing in some good action sequences. Director Llosa isn't always successful at maintaining the sombre mood and could have tightened the story somewhat; some detours here don't add up to much. But this film is far better than his Stallone/Stone travesty The Specialist.

Billy Zane, usually incredibly tiresome, does surprisingly well as the inexperienced Sniper teamed up with veteran Berenger. As for Berenger this film proved to be his last good big budget Hollywood venture. He can do these kind of roles in his sleep and he's very convincing here, reprising the role twice more in direct to DVD sequels.

****SPOILERS**** The film "Sniper" is undoubtedly based on the exploits of legendary US Marine sniper Carlos "Gunny" Hathcock. The unassuming soft-spoken Mister Rogers look-alike who ran up a score of as much as 300 confirmed and unconfirmed Vietcong and North Vietnamese military kills during his two tours in "Nam".Which shows just how deadly and effective a trained military sniper really is.

Tom Berenger is cool clam and deadly as Sgt.Thomas Beckett who's at the end of his career as a top US Marine sniper but who later in the movie realizes that a life as a civilian will be pointless. Since there's nothing outside for him to do with his skills that he learned in the US Marines unless he decides to become a mob hit-man. Backett reluctantly accepts his fate as a lifetime professional killer for his country.

The story of the film "Sniper" is focused on Sgt.Beckett with the assistance of former sharp shooting silver medalist and US government agent Richard Miller, Billy Zane, being sent deep inside the Panamanian jungle. The two snipers are to take out rebel General Miguel Alveraze, Frederick Miraglittoa, and Colombian drug king-pin Raul Ochoa, Carlos Alveraze, who's supporting him in a planned a military take-over of the country.

We see earlier in the movie Sgt. Beckett scope and take out a rebel leader which I feel was the best scene in "Sniper". For it shows step by step how Sgt. Beckett with the help of his spotter Cpt. Papich, Aden Young, does his job. There's also a sub-plot that was later aborted in the movie about a rebel sniper DeSilva, Eward Wiley, who was stalking Beckett and who later killed Papich as they were both waiting to be lifted out of the jungle by a military helicopter. You would have thought that a deadly cat and mouse was being played out between the two that would culminate when the movie ended but Sgt. Beckett had no trouble at all in dispatching DeSilva early in the film by using an unsuspecting Miller as bait.

What hurt the movie the most was ironically the last fifteen or so minutes when the story went from a one shot one kill sniper movie to a Rambo-like ending with Sgt. Beckett and Agent Miller fighting off an entire battalion of rebels with bullets flying as thick as a London fog.

"Sniper" is still well worth watching for the fact that it tells the story about a person who until now has not really been glamorized in war movies: A solitary killer who kills with the precision and skill of a master diamond cutter or accomplished neurosurgeon and who does it in total secrecy.

Deep in the jungles of South America...lies a professional army veteran. A pro with firearms, this sniper aims using deadly efficiency and he eliminates his targets in a silent, slick manner. Familiar with the territory, proficient in both armed and unarmed forms of combat, this soldier, fluent in both English and his native Spanish is a man who shoots first, and asks questions later. His covert missions are usually top secret...and he works alone too. This time though, he has company.

For it is imperative that this new assignment be accomplished as quickly and stealthily as possible... Or else...all hell will break loose in a whirlwind of fury...

Tom Berenger is an experienced, suicidal marine who has acclimatized himself to handling all forms of jeopardy. Newcomer Billy Zane is an amateurish tyro...who cannot make his first kill. In the vast jungle-lands of Panama, the two snipers are assigned to assassinate a Colombian druglord who has the potential of gaining power in the government. The two men arrive only to find themselves caught in a maelstrom of vehemence. The two encounter conflicts with their enemies...and eventually each other... The pressure is on!

SNIPER is a mediocre motion picture. This film tries to be more of a psychological drama than an action thriller. True, there are lots of macho philosophizing; slow motion bullets flying at close range; bold, tough guy effrontery, and an almost all male cast with no female leads. What makes SNIPER more unique though is that this movie has better character angles than expected. Billy Zane, for one, actually shows the right stuff in this movie. Zane does a superb job portraying a rookie sniper with a conscious...and a short fuse. He demonstrates the vulnerability, the problems, and the integrity of a soldier coping with the focus of his mission...and the nature of his deeds. Berenger does a fine job also, delineating a cocky, over-the-top Sergeant with an itchy finger constantly on the trigger. The two leads have created a couple of emotionally ambivalent characters (although fabricated in a banal manner) who must deal with their purpose...and each other's weaknesses.

Excellent performances by Tom Berenger and a young, show-stealing Billy Zane lift SNIPER from turning into a complete fiasco. Consequently though, in spite of some well executed action scenes and an inkling of tension permeating throughout the movie, SNIPER is surprisingly tepid in the adventure genre. The technically well-staged action scenes for example are somewhat unpolished and they lack finesse. The photography is also swift; just the rest of the movie, including character development doesn't really come close to swiftness.

This ambitious character study just misses the mark. The nuances of character are there, but the film as a whole is no different from most other action pictures. Unfortunately, the pace in SNIPER is extremely vapid, with more screen time spent on characters talking and running around rather than generating any real action.

In spite of the faults evidently gathered in SNIPER, this flick is a tolerable action movie. The action isn't really exhilarating, and the thrills in SNIPER are left to be desired for. Still, Billy Zane and Tom Berenger salvage this film from transforming into a complete mess. They work well together and though the plot is itself contrived, and these two characters are atrociously full of clichés, the two main leads do add credibility to their parts. Director Luis Llosa (ANACONDA, THE SPECIALIST) has designed a dubious, but OK, just not great film. If you are not demanding a high caliber thriller, then you'll find this motion picture to be serviceable.

RATING: ** out of ****.