The Marksman (2021)

Directed by Robert Lorenz. Starring Liam Neeson, Jacob Perez, Katheryn Winnick, Juan Pablo Raba, Teresa Ruiz, Alex Knight. [PG-13]

An aging ex-military sniper (Neeson) living on the U.S.-Mexico border takes in a young orphaned boy (Perez) who made an illegal crossing to escape a cartel hit squad, and the pursuit continues north as Neeson tries to safeguard the kid to family living in Chicago. Frustratingly familiar action thriller never abandons the formula and fails to provide an interesting antagonist. Neeson and Perez don’t develop much of a rapport, and the star exhibits so much Clint Eastwood-esque reticence and intensity, it’s hard to understand why he’d risk his life to fulfill the dying wish of a stranger. Director Lorenz is certainly acquainted with the type—this is his second feature directing job after working with Eastwood in varying capacities on over a dozen projects—but he’s only able to pull off efficiency in the routine action scenes, not excitement. He also co-produced and co-wrote, his first such film credit in the latter role.

41/100