Shooter 2007

Another banger from Antoine Fuqua. If I did not see the opening credits, I would honestly think this was directed by Tony Scott because of the color and overall aesthetic. The saturated but gritty palette, punchy contrast, warm tones, aggressive visual energy, and slick military thriller look really remind me of films like Man on Fire, Déjà Vu, and Enemy of the State. It has that stylish but still dangerous Tony Scott feel. The story revolves around a man betrayed and lied to by the government, then abandoned when the mission goes wrong. It has the same kind of trope as The Bourne Identity and Mission: Impossible, where a highly skilled operative suddenly becomes expendable and has to use everything he knows against the very system that trained him. The huge explosion at Szerbiak’s estate is a highlight for me. The action, strategic precision, and the way the whole sequence is staged feel cinematic and heroic. The last scene also works really well as a satisfying revenge ending. After watching Swagger get manipulated and betrayed, seeing him finally take matters into his own hands feels earned.