On the viewing schedule last night was the new Mark Wahlberg film, Shooter.
The night began with a few games of Uno and some computer technical support. At the conclusion of which, we left in the mighty Festy, Kate at the helm, to pick up friends on the way and arrived at our destination with tummy’s rumbling.
After a brief foray into the science of centrifugal forces (numerous laps lost around a roundabout) and testing the Festiva’s oil level, we arrived at KFC where Toasted Twisters (on a you beaut, double-deal thingie) were served all ’round.
The time passed and soon the 9:15pm session was looming. After a quick run to Woolworths for supplies (M&M’s, Kinder choccy) we proceeded to the cinema.
The stupid touch-screen ATM there failed to work. Spitting a completed transaction back at me three times in a row before I got sick of $0.00 receipts. Fantastic. Proceed to the ticket counters to do the electronic transfer. And grab a frozen Coke while I’m at it.
From the outset, this looked to be a slick action flick. Focussing on the Marine Scout Sniper Bob Lee Swagger, the introduction scene in Ethiopia made for an exciting look at the art of the sniper. And how expendable one can be.
He retires after the mission goes wrong but after living in exile for numerous years, he is coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill the president. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt, he goes on the run to track the real killer and find out who exactly set him up, and why.
It’s not a movie to think too deeply about… but it is right up there on the entertainment value scale in the same sort of genre as the Bourne series - your ‘bad hero’ style.
Some great performances all around - including an awesome scene worthy of Kate covering my eyes during the film. Sarah (Actress Kate Mara) in her underwear, wielding a chunky looking shotgun against some intruders.
Our bad guys are Danny Glover (as Colonel Isaac Johnson) and Ned Beatty (as the corrupt Senator Charles F. Meachum), both doing a stellar job of making you hate their characters.
Definitely worth a watch if light, gun-slung action films are your thing.
Classic line of the film (spoken by ‘Mr. Rate’ - Levon Helm);
‘I still have the shovel!’.
