IR Film Review: SEVEN SNIPERS [Well Go USA]
A tit-for-tat "Sniper"-type thriller hasn't been done in a while. While "Seven Snipers" has some story issues, its taut progression, effective acting and great use of a single location allows it to rise over others of its ilk despite some story issues. This has to do with the three leads, in Radha Mitchell, Ioan Gruffudd and Tim Roth. While the main face off is between Mitchell and Roth, Gruffudd, who many know from the early 2000s "Fantastic Four" movie, plays Milk, a compadre of Mitchell's character Hewndricks and bridges the gap for Mitchell's daughter Anja (Annabelle Wolfe). Gruffudd really has the most range of the characters because of the balance of humanity he shoes versus technical skill. He is a badass without losing his humanity (and we are not talking vulnerability). Mitchell, channeling her own Charlize Theron, as Hendricks has to be cold even with her daughter. Roth, who can channel anything, plays the Dragon who comes back to claim something he believes is his but he has a game he plays to their proceedings. Hendricks and The Dragon's connection is specific but it is not clear enough the full context of the setting considering where Hendricks served in her duties as sniper and their eventual interaction. We hear her kill count and we hear Roth was a warlord (but it is not clear where). Roth still comes off as a Englishman but that is the film's main thrust. That said, the precision and how the hunting goes on around the specific farm location in Queensland really is kept taut and vicious without overdoing it.
Milk, Hendricks and The Dragon all have their specific ideas of how it plays out. There is also a full compliments of back ups to face off against but against it is kept in check and efficient. The film is very good at not overplaying its hand and yet it keeps the screen action moving. Mitchell as Hendricks uses a certain psychology that works but there is still a disconnect from her daughter for obvious reasons so the full connection is never quite felt (though one scene comes close). Wolfe as Anja also is the only exterior force who is not military and she in a way grounds the film, though her character and her relationship with what is going on is not clear. She seems to have had interactions with this before but seems oblivious to the danger which is odd. Her training that her mother gives her comes in valuably but her pursuer should have known that. The final consequence is also seen as more metaphor than realistic. The Dragon is obviously much more skilled than anyone there (despite their training)... but why make it a game when the goal is very specific (other than for dramatic purpose). On top of this, Hendricks' trauma is buried of course but the actual circumstances of her imprisonment or incarceration (and what happened) isn't fully explained (which could have been done in a certain way)...and though that might be a story specific decisions, it would definitely affect perception and stakes. Granted this is meant to be an action film and with all its sniper scopes, it is mainstream, affordable but looks great with its use of drone shots. But one wonders how those additions might have changed the funding or progression. Either way, the film is sleek, effective and well acted, which for any kind of entertainment is a plus. B
By Tim Wassberg
