User reviews

****SPOILERS**** The film "Sniper" is undoubtedly based on the exploits of legendary US Marine sniper Carlos "Gunny" Hathcock. The unassuming soft-spoken Mister Rogers look-alike who ran up a score of as much as 300 confirmed and unconfirmed Vietcong and North Vietnamese military kills during his two tours in "Nam".Which shows just how deadly and effective a trained military sniper really is.

Tom Berenger is cool clam and deadly as Sgt.Thomas Beckett who's at the end of his career as a top US Marine sniper but who later in the movie realizes that a life as a civilian will be pointless. Since there's nothing outside for him to do with his skills that he learned in the US Marines unless he decides to become a mob hit-man. Backett reluctantly accepts his fate as a lifetime professional killer for his country.

The story of the film "Sniper" is focused on Sgt.Beckett with the assistance of former sharp shooting silver medalist and US government agent Richard Miller, Billy Zane, being sent deep inside the Panamanian jungle. The two snipers are to take out rebel General Miguel Alveraze, Frederick Miraglittoa, and Colombian drug king-pin Raul Ochoa, Carlos Alveraze, who's supporting him in a planned a military take-over of the country.

We see earlier in the movie Sgt. Beckett scope and take out a rebel leader which I feel was the best scene in "Sniper". For it shows step by step how Sgt. Beckett with the help of his spotter Cpt. Papich, Aden Young, does his job. There's also a sub-plot that was later aborted in the movie about a rebel sniper DeSilva, Eward Wiley, who was stalking Beckett and who later killed Papich as they were both waiting to be lifted out of the jungle by a military helicopter. You would have thought that a deadly cat and mouse was being played out between the two that would culminate when the movie ended but Sgt. Beckett had no trouble at all in dispatching DeSilva early in the film by using an unsuspecting Miller as bait.

What hurt the movie the most was ironically the last fifteen or so minutes when the story went from a one shot one kill sniper movie to a Rambo-like ending with Sgt. Beckett and Agent Miller fighting off an entire battalion of rebels with bullets flying as thick as a London fog.

"Sniper" is still well worth watching for the fact that it tells the story about a person who until now has not really been glamorized in war movies: A solitary killer who kills with the precision and skill of a master diamond cutter or accomplished neurosurgeon and who does it in total secrecy.

Though the plot may be familiar (mistrustful pair teamed together to go on a dangerous assignment), the premise of having two snipers as the protagonists is interesting. The film builds on this by offering an insight into the psychological effects of this kind of warfare, but ultimately this degenerates into a yarn. One with a particularly limp ending at that.

Berenger is convincing in his portrayal of a hardened, veteran sniper, completely impassive in what he does. Zane, however, doesn't really pull off his role as an Olympic medal winning shooter who has to face his first live kill. The pairing never truly gels, which is a shame as it's their relationship that's important over the actual plot.

The film looks great, largely set deep in the Panamanian jungle. There are some exciting moments, cool camera tricks and even some genuine tension. It's just a pity it didn't hold together better.

Despite some negative comments this film has garnered in the IMDb pages, it's still worth a look as this is a story about survival and camaraderie between two different men with different mentalities while in a difficult mission in the Panamanian jungle.

Peruvian director Luis Llosa takes us along to watch this thriller set in Panama. The film has some good moments as Beckett, the veteran marine, takes a newly arrived man, recently sent to try to eliminate a notorious drug cartel head and the corrupt army general who might be the next president of the country. The only problem, Miller, has no experience in what he has been entrusted to achieve.

Miller, the arrogant newly arrived man to the jungle and to the guerrilla warfare between the military and drug lords against the infiltrated American intelligence men, learns a valuable lesson from Beckett. What looks good in theory, is irrelevant in the jungle.

Tom Berenger, is an actor who doesn't register much, as he proves in this movie, but in the context of the movie, he is right as a man of a few words. Billy Zane playing Miller does what he can with a role that doesn't afford him any glory until the crucial end.

For lovers of action film, "Sniper" offers an 112 minutes of action that with a bit of trimming would have made a more satisfying movie.

Two snipers travel deep in the jungles in search for their targets; a slimy South American drug-lord and a prominent general.

Moderately successful at building a brooding atmosphere, Sniper is by most accounts a very solid thriller, taking it's time, establishing it's characters and their plight and climaxing in some good action sequences. Director Llosa isn't always successful at maintaining the sombre mood and could have tightened the story somewhat; some detours here don't add up to much. But this film is far better than his Stallone/Stone travesty The Specialist.

Billy Zane, usually incredibly tiresome, does surprisingly well as the inexperienced Sniper teamed up with veteran Berenger. As for Berenger this film proved to be his last good big budget Hollywood venture. He can do these kind of roles in his sleep and he's very convincing here, reprising the role twice more in direct to DVD sequels.

A jungle setting is the backdrop here as the "Heroes", one a lifer snipe with 300 confirmed kills and the other is a rookie with a fetish for bulls eye targets and not filthy foreign flesh. This, of course, sets off a chain reaction of a love-hate relationship in the middle of a deadly assassination assault.

Both characters have moments of believability with Tom Berenger almost always assuring, but is haunted by his key-chain mementos of fallen fellow soldiers. Billy Zane is convincing as a whiny, reluctant participant that enters into a "Baptism of Fire" and becomes a convert.

This is a somewhat inconsistent and incoherent insight into the mind and soul of the Military's role in global affairs and the personnel it trains and positions in ambiguous assignments where the motivations of the soldiers are "ours is not to wonder why...".

Political and moral considerations aside, this can be enjoyed by the action and military fans that want their fiction to rely on psychology as much as patriotism. It is an engaging outing, if dense and heavy handed at times.

As a long time Federal Agent and gunnnut I thought it was great. The high light was when the high level government officials called in Zane and told him he would be sent to a jungle, would kill an extremely dangerous drug dealer, he may be killed in the process and they would make Zane (drum roll please)(Tah-Dah!) a GS-9. At this point I burst out laughing. Nobody else said a word. This was the funniest thing I ever heard. I was a GS-11 at the time. This is just like the Federal Government. Officials chose an employee for the "fast track" (usually a brown noser/ass kisser) who they want to rise in the ranks over others more qualified. They team this "fast track" person with an experienced, well qualified, person who will really do the work. The goal being the high officials get the credit along with the "fast track" and the experienced person will get shafted. I liked the movie except for rifle scope with moving lights inside. I am a shooter and I have never seen a scope like this one. However, I did like how the experienced sniper dressed and acted. This was accurate as far as I understand and this is how real snipers really operate.

This was huuuuugely favorite movie of a buddy of mine when we were kids. I hadn't seen it in probably that amount of time but found it on the streams the other night.

This movie definitely made "bullet time" a thing in movies and video games.

Tom is great in this. He's kinda typecast in this roll but he does it well. Also Billy is really underrated in it as well. A young hot shot that hasn't had much real world experience with the grizzled old veteran who knows everything. You're not sure if you like Zane's character or not but he pulls it off really well.

The movie isn't overly cliche and that's refreshing considering the time period. I was scared it would have aged poorly but it's still really good. Heck I might appreciate it now more than I did back then.

I sat down in 2022 to watch the 1993 action thriller "Sniper" again for about the fourth or fifth time since it was initially released, given I have just sat through the less than mediocre 2022 addition to the franchise "Sniper: Rogue Mission". So I wanted to return to the original movie and watch something proper again.

And I will say that writers Michael Frost Beckner and Crash Leyland managed to put together a wholesome and entertaining storyline 29 years ago. And it is definitely a movie that still holds up today and proves every bit as enjoyable now as it did back in the day. So thumbs up to the writers for that accomplishment.

Director Luis Llosa managed to put the script to life on the screen in a very enjoyable manner, and it feels like you are right there along side Beckett (played by Tom Berenger) and Miller (played by Billy Zane) as they trek through the jungle in order to get to their appointed target.

If you haven't already seen the 1993 action thriller "Sniper", and if you get the chance to do so, then you most certainly should do that. It is a very entertaining movie. And if you enjoy warfare movies, then this is something I warmly recommend.

My rating of "Sniper" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

I saw this already about 4 year ago, and liked it a lot better back then.

It's still quite an entertaining watch though, cause snipers are cool (and you know it!). The acting is lame however, Zane is terrible and Berenger doesn't do a lot better. It's like a buddy-sniper movie in the jungle. People die, there's a dispute between the snipers, the old trainee suddenly shows up, they talk about the emotions of killing and how it changes you. O yeah there's also some sniper action, not on a realistic level compared to other movies, but it's OK. It's really the kind of action movie you really love as a kid and later on still like, not because it's good, but because it makes you feel nostalgic.

Another bland buddy film, this one violent versus comical. A pro sniper (Berenger) is teamed up with a rookie (Zane) who doubts his master's choices.

Screenplay misguides the film, and the direction style is weak and the backgrounds (jungles, rivers, plush landscapes) all look fake. Had me on the edge of my seat - waiting to jump up and leave. Very boring.

2/5 stars -

John Ulmer

I've heard people who say this movie is dull dull dull. I don't think they were watching the right movie. This isn't the prototypical action movie, thank God.

This is a psychological drama about the rookie and his mentor that just happens to be about killing people. In this way it works extremely well, with terrific performances from Berenger and Zane (who doesn't sleepwalk through the movie like he has in other roles - he actually looks like he's acting).

I was disappointed with the action towards the end - a lot of it didn't make much sense and was unsatisfying given the buildup from the rest of the movie. But watch Zane's face as he panics, alone, while Berenger does the dirty work.

Generic story, but the end of film warrants checking this out. The Billy Zane's character is ridiculous and being a sniper who struggles to shoot anyone is a bizarre characteristic to give him. The film is very typical and cliche riddled, nothing overly special. I watched this a lot when I was younger and sadly this fails to meet those easy expectations. Good final third saves an otherwise dull storyline.

Sniper is the kind of film you find on the USA Network. The writer was probably well-intentioned, but they couldn't scrape up more than twenty dollars to hire decent talent or equipment.

We follow Billy Zane, who I think of as the flamboyant version of Vin Diesel, into the jungles to help Tom Berenger hunt a drug lord and some rebel factions. Zane is the higher rank, but he's just a guy in a suit. Berenger has been eating and breathing sniping and jungle love for some time now and doesn't need Zane to watch him.

The film works if you like watching two guys in the jungle shooting at things. Because mostly that's all you're going to see. But don't be fooled: this isn't Rambo, the action isn't as intense. Nor is the story as interesting or the acting as fun to watch (which is weird, since you'd think Stallone would be easy to top).

If I had to say something nice about this film, I'd say the scenery was very good. Best jungle I've seen since "Predator". Not that I was really hoping to see many movies with really nice jungles.

I can't see why anyone would buy this or even rent it, but maybe you're into the whole military in the jungle genre. You're a rare breed if you are, but this might be your cup of Colombian coffee.

Deep in the jungles of South America...lies a professional army veteran. A pro with firearms, this sniper aims using deadly efficiency and he eliminates his targets in a silent, slick manner. Familiar with the territory, proficient in both armed and unarmed forms of combat, this soldier, fluent in both English and his native Spanish is a man who shoots first, and asks questions later. His covert missions are usually top secret...and he works alone too. This time though, he has company.

For it is imperative that this new assignment be accomplished as quickly and stealthily as possible... Or else...all hell will break loose in a whirlwind of fury...

Tom Berenger is an experienced, suicidal marine who has acclimatized himself to handling all forms of jeopardy. Newcomer Billy Zane is an amateurish tyro...who cannot make his first kill. In the vast jungle-lands of Panama, the two snipers are assigned to assassinate a Colombian druglord who has the potential of gaining power in the government. The two men arrive only to find themselves caught in a maelstrom of vehemence. The two encounter conflicts with their enemies...and eventually each other... The pressure is on!

SNIPER is a mediocre motion picture. This film tries to be more of a psychological drama than an action thriller. True, there are lots of macho philosophizing; slow motion bullets flying at close range; bold, tough guy effrontery, and an almost all male cast with no female leads. What makes SNIPER more unique though is that this movie has better character angles than expected. Billy Zane, for one, actually shows the right stuff in this movie. Zane does a superb job portraying a rookie sniper with a conscious...and a short fuse. He demonstrates the vulnerability, the problems, and the integrity of a soldier coping with the focus of his mission...and the nature of his deeds. Berenger does a fine job also, delineating a cocky, over-the-top Sergeant with an itchy finger constantly on the trigger. The two leads have created a couple of emotionally ambivalent characters (although fabricated in a banal manner) who must deal with their purpose...and each other's weaknesses.

Excellent performances by Tom Berenger and a young, show-stealing Billy Zane lift SNIPER from turning into a complete fiasco. Consequently though, in spite of some well executed action scenes and an inkling of tension permeating throughout the movie, SNIPER is surprisingly tepid in the adventure genre. The technically well-staged action scenes for example are somewhat unpolished and they lack finesse. The photography is also swift; just the rest of the movie, including character development doesn't really come close to swiftness.

This ambitious character study just misses the mark. The nuances of character are there, but the film as a whole is no different from most other action pictures. Unfortunately, the pace in SNIPER is extremely vapid, with more screen time spent on characters talking and running around rather than generating any real action.

In spite of the faults evidently gathered in SNIPER, this flick is a tolerable action movie. The action isn't really exhilarating, and the thrills in SNIPER are left to be desired for. Still, Billy Zane and Tom Berenger salvage this film from transforming into a complete mess. They work well together and though the plot is itself contrived, and these two characters are atrociously full of clichés, the two main leads do add credibility to their parts. Director Luis Llosa (ANACONDA, THE SPECIALIST) has designed a dubious, but OK, just not great film. If you are not demanding a high caliber thriller, then you'll find this motion picture to be serviceable.

RATING: ** out of ****.

This is definitely Tom Berenger's signature film, he is perfect for this role and also Billy Zane did his job well in this film.

The best thing about this film is it's simplicity just like predator, the jungle and well chosen music works perfectly with this film adding to the suspense. This is a generally speaking (in a non-sexist way) truly a guy film, I remember watching this with my girlfriend and I am sure she was counting the squares on the carpet after five minutes so be careful who you watch it with. I have watched this film many times and it goes on "the keeps" shelf of my DVD collection, awesome film.

Unfortunately I can't say the same for the sniper films that come after this but they are watchable.

Beckett(Berenger, reserved and experienced) is top-of-the-line for snipers. He works in the Panamanian jungle. People like him work in pairs, or alone. Trust between the two can mean the difference between life or death. And he's paired up with rich pretty-boy Miller(Zane, more of an office man), who's never killed anyone, for the next mission. Will they ever get out alive?

This favors tension(with a constant low current of it through the 92 minutes, or 95 with end credits) over action, and those looking for a popcorn flick should look elsewhere(no offense intended). Aiming for a narrower audience, pun intended, this seeks to be a gritty, realistic and highly detailed depiction of the reality for war-time marksmen. For those of us who want such, it's satisfying, although this approach is occasionally broken by brief bouts with Hollywoodism. Acting and casting is great.

It's a thriller with a focus on the psychological, and, indeed, one of the biggest conflicts is between the two leads, who are among the only characters in this. You'd almost be forgiven for calling this a minimalist piece - two people, in the one seemingly endless setting, and a straightforward plot. Both are human beings, with flaws, and as this progresses, they get to know each other, not everything goes as it should, and things will get pushed right to the edge.

There is some strong language and bloody violence in this. I recommend this to anyone who likes the concept. 7/10

I remember being mildly entertained by this slow moving action film back in the day and re-watching it now, I was again mildly entertained. Tom Berenger plays an army sniper who is saddled with a new young know-it-all partner, Billy Zane, and the two must work together on a dangerous mission in South America. The one part of the film that was burned into my memory is a key sequence where the two are outside a military compound trying to move into position for a shot on their target. The best moment of that sequence is Zane looking through a scope across the field only to see a clump of grass unexpectedly slide across the field, which is Berenger stealthily getting into position. The build-up to this sequence of Berenger and Zane trekking through the jungle is not especially well written, but the two actors make the most of it and do manage to make it watchable. The events of the film occurring afterwards aren't all that interesting either. The filmmakers clearly wanted to make this a taught psychological thriller of dueling snipers and diverging world views, but the script is nowhere smart enough for that. I did see that Walon Green ("The Wild Bunch" "Hill Street Blues") was one of the executive producers and Barry Levinson ("The Wire" "Bugsy") was attached to direct at one point, so very likely this was going to be a much smarter film somewhere along the line. Still, that one set piece in the middle of the film and strong performances by Berenger and Zane make "Sniper" worth checking out. The great J.T. Walsh also appears in the film, but if you want a great sniper duel film, watch "Enemy at the Gates" instead.

Despite its interesting premise, 'Sniper' is quite tedious. With a tighter script and sharper directing it could have been electrifying; instead it plods along with little tension.

Sitting at home on a work-night, there is nothing to do and you're bored. You

flip on HBO and Sniper is coming on. Watch it. I'm not saying it's a movie that you have to try hard to see and definitely not rent. It has its moments. Pop open your beer or favorite beverage and relax. The movie starts off enticingly. Its plot developments, although, lack follow-up. I realize that Beckett (Tom Berenger) is a closed mouth, hard nose, kill-and take-dog-tags-later kind of guy; but instead of having him show his softer side daydreaming about Montana, let's hear about DeSilva and the training. The movie was better than a five by a nose - I give it a six. If character and plot development was better planned who knows how great this movie could have been.

The film seems to try to be too many things at once, has a lack lustre plot and has not aged well. It often comes off as ridiculous as Rambo but you can tell the director, Llosa it is trying to evoke serious emotions. Everyone displays dry performances and even though Berenger was the highlight of the cast, he still seems to be partially coasting through the film which is disappointing considering he was fantastic in Platoon only several years prior. The plot has a very typical "mission" which I would not critique by itself but there is no real climax and you will probably feel unfulfilled by the end. Finally, the many decisions by the director like the in flight bullet effects, Scope point of views and slow motion hits and deaths along with everything touched on earlier make it painfully cheesy and something that you would expect in a much older movie considering what else was already done in the genre and what was being put out in 1993. Ultimately I went in expecting a different type of military movie based on Berenger's previous performances. Even though it would not be on my list of recommendations, if you go in with a hankering for mindless action and cheese, you will probably be entertained enough.

Sniper gives a true new meaning to war movies. I remember movies about Vietnam or WWII, lots of firing, everybody dies, bam bam. "Sniper" takes war to a new level or refinement. The movie certainly conveys all of the emotions it aims for - The helplessness of humans in the jungle, the hatred and eventual trust between Beckett and Miller, and the rush of the moment when they pull the trigger. A seemingly low-budget film makes up for every flaw with action, suspense, and thrill, because when it comes down to it, it's just one shot, one kill.

This is really nothing special , there`s far too much seen it all before thrills of having a combat vet team up with a newbie on a dangerous mission together . Tom Berenger more or less plays Sgt Barnes again , not that there`s anything wrong with that , in fact Berenger`s performance is one of the few convincing things about the film . SNIPER is pretty routine for the most part but what drags it down is the completely stupid last 20 minutes