Jim Hanson’s quiet life is suddenly disturbed by two people crossing the US/Mexico border – a woman and her young son – desperate to flee a Mexican cartel. After a shootout leaves the mother dead, Jim becomes the boy’s reluctant defender. He embraces his role as Miguel’s protector and will stop at nothing to get him to safety, as they go on the run from the relentless assassins.
Liam Neeson
Jim
Jacob Perez
Miguel
Katheryn Winnick
Sarah
Teresa Ruiz
Rosa
Sean A. Rosales
Hernando
Jose L. Vasquez
Isidro
Juan Pablo Raba
Maurico
Alfredo Quiroz
Carlos
Antonio Leyba
Rigo
Dylan Kenin
Randall
Luce Rains
Everett
Ann Barrett Richards
Bartender Clara
Clark Sanchez
Migrant
Alex Knight
Bank Man
David DeLao
Coyote
Harry Maldonado
Teenager
Elias Gallegos
Agent
Yediel Quiles
Jorge
Christian Hicks
Danny
Grayson Berry
Customs Officer
Esodie Geiger
K9 Officer
Amber Midthunder
Gas Station Clerk
Jose Mijangos
Emilio
Roger Jerome
Otto
Rose Leininger
Waitress
Lelia Symington
Young Woman in Car
Chase Mullins
Boyfriend
Vic Browder
Trooper
Charles David Richards
Gun Store Owner
Assad Khaishgi
Motel Clerk
Jared Corum
Deputy
Kellen Boyle
Dalton
Tommy Lafitte
Minister
Jeremy Evitts
Tattooed Man
Scott Shirai
Store Owner
Patricia Rodriguez
Aunt
Chris Breen
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Jeffrey Cain
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Shawn Cody Calvert
Laborer (uncredited)
Cynthia Casaus
Tourist at the Market (uncredited)
Sonny Ciarlillo
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Richard Fike
Truck Driver (uncredited)
Gary Flamik
Street Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
Brian Gackowski
Store Clerk (uncredited)
Adam Hicks
Border Patrol Agent (uncredited)
Garrett Ielapi
Cartel Thug (uncredited)
Mike Kuse
Bordel Patrol Officer (uncredited)
James LaPrelle
Border Crossing Pedestrian (uncredited)
Dustin Pennington
Contractor (uncredited)
Gonzalo Robles
Latino Thug (uncredited)
Destiny Pearl Salgado
Child Playing Soccer (uncredited)
Melissa Santiago
Church Bake Sale Lady (uncredited)
Cheo Tapia
Border Driver (uncredited)
Ming Wang
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lew Wurdeman
Border Crossing Pedestrian (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Robert Lorenz
Writer
Chris Charles
Writer
Danny Kravitz
January 12, 2021
Liam Neeson is back in “The Marksman” and despite some flaws; the film provides what his fans want and is an engaging and topical film.
Neeson plays Jim; a widower who spends his time on a tiny and struggling ranch in Arizona near the border. Jim is facing foreclosure from the bank after dealing with devastating medical bills for his late wife and feels that as a former Marine he has been given a bad deal by the system.
Jim often drives along the border fence and radios in suspected crossings but is willing to provide aid to those who finds in distress.
When Jim encounters a young woman and her son Miguel (Jacob Perez); he is drawn into conflict when they are pursued by some dangerous people which forces Jim to shoot when weapons are drawn killing one of the group in the process as well as the boy’s mother.
Jim turns the boy over to the Border Patrol where his daughter Sarah (Katheryn Winnick), is in charge of the local office and is concerned when he learns the boy is to be sent back to family. Seeing the individuals he had previously had a gunfight with waiting for Miguel to cross; Jim decides to honor the dying wish of Miguel’s mother to take him to family in Chicago; even when that means abducting Miguel from custody.
The trip not only puts Jim at odds with his daughter but as well as Miguel who wants to return home and causes the dangerous individuals to cross into the U.S. to ruthlessly track Jim and Miguel to exact their revenge.
The film moves at a steady and deliberate pace until the finale gives fans a taste of the action that they would come to expect. It does take some patience as I saw numerous opportunities for a person of Jim’s skill to attempt to set an ambush, trap, or counter the dangers facing them but the final resolutions are enjoyable and satisfying.
While the film does not have the action and intensity of some of Neeson’s recent works; it does provide enough entertainment to make it worth a watch and does contain content based on some very volatile and controversial topics which would spur intense debate.
3 stars out of 5