Sniper (1993)

A US Marine sniper is partnered with a SWAT member to take out rebel leaders in the jungles of Panama.

Director:

Luis Llosa

Writers:

Michael Frost Beckner, Crash Leyland

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Billy Zane, J.T. Walsh

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Thomas Beckett
Billy Zane	...	Richard Miller
J.T. Walsh	...	Chester Van Damme
Aden Young	...	Doug Papich
Ken Radley	...	El Cirujano
Reynaldo Arenas	...	Cacique (as Reinaldo Arenas)
Gary Swanson	...	NSC Officer in Washington
Hank Garrett	...	Admiral in Washington
Frederick Miragliotta	...	General Miguel Alavarez
Vanessa Steele	...	Mrs. Alvarez
Carlos Álvarez	...	Raul Ochoa (as Carlos Alvarez)
Tyler Coppin	...	Ripoly (as Tyler Copin)
Teo Gebert	...	Ripoly's Friend
Edward Wiley	...	DeSilva
William Curtin	...	Mountain Top Pilot

Storyline

Tough guy Thomas Beckett is a US Marine working in the Panamanian jungle. His job is to seek out rebels and remove them using his sniper skills. Beckett is notorious for losing his partners on such missions. This time he's accompanied by crack marksman Richard Miller, who's more of an office-type. Together they plan to seek out an important rebel leader, whilst avoiding a rogue marksman who frequents this part of the jungle.

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Plot Keywords:

sniper | jungle | shot in the head | soldier | machine gun | 

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Taglines:

One Shot. One Kill. No Exceptions.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The weapon used by Billy Zane in this movie is not an H&K PSG-1, an expensive precision semi-automatic rifle commonly used by special forces snipers. It is an H&K SR-9 TC , a similar but cheaper version of the PSG-1 that was designed for civilian sales.

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Goofs

When the Robinson R22 lands and throttles down, the sound is of a turbine helicopter spooling down, Robinson R22 helicopters have piston engines.

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Quotes

Richard Miller: When the "rush" is over, it hurts. Doesn't it?
Thomas Beckett: What you're feeling now ain't the worst pain. The worst thing is not feeling the hurt anymore.

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Alternate Versions

UK DVD by Entertainment in Video misses some scenes but also adds/replaces scenes not present in the R-rated version.

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Connections

Followed by Sniper: Ghost Shooter (2016)

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Soundtracks

Medicine Man
Written and Performed by Henry Lee Summer
Courtesy of Epic Associated Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Moody thriller

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Vidio [Indonesia]

Country:

USA Peru

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

29 January 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sniper

Filming Locations:

Kuranda Railway, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,715,435, 31 January 1993

Gross USA:

$18,994,653

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,994,653

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baltimore Pictures, Iguana Producciones, Sniper Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1