SNIPER 3

US, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Tom Berenger, Byron Mann, John Derman, Dennis Arndt.
Directed by P.J. Pesce.

Sniper and Sniper 2 were very popular at the box office and on video and DVD. Tom Berenger starred as an experienced sniper in various fields of war, especially in Latin America and in Asia. Because of the popularity of the series and Tom Berenger, a third film was made. This time the setting is contemporary Vietnam.

The film focuses on Berenger as Tom Beckett, a skilled sniper who has lost the use of one of his fingers. He is recruited by the CIA to go back to Vietnam and kill a drug dealer. However, the story is much more complicated and there are some expected twists. Byron Mann appears as the good Vietnamese policeman who helps Berenger. John Derman is the Vietnam veteran who has gone under deep cover and become a drug dealer whom the Americans want to get rid of.

This is straight-to-DVD kind of material – but in its ninety minutes, well done of its kind.

1. The popularity of the first two films? The role of the sniper in war? Tom Berenger creating the character of Thomas Beckett? His action and adventures in various parts of the world?

2. Thomas Beckett as older, retiring, the damage to his finger? His hard-bitten attitudes? Towards authorities, clashing with them? The loner and individualist? Seeing him in action, training people, his skills? His attitude towards the next generation?

3. His being recruited by Avery? The compliments on his skills? His mission? In Vietnam?

4. The flashbacks to the war in Vietnam, American memories of that action, the soldiers, those missing in action? Paul Finnegan as a hero – and Beckett going to his son’s wedding, the discussions with his widow, reading out the letter to the son from the father? The irony that he was still alive?

5. The contemporary Vietnam scene, the transition from the 1970s? The Americans returning? Life in Ho Chi Minh City, peace, the hotels, prosperity? The police force? Beckett and his contrasting the present with the past?

6. Meeting Quan? The Vietnamese police? Quan’s contact with the CIA? The discussions, the mission, the information about Finnegan, the club?

7. Finnegan, his work as a soldier in Vietnam, going undercover, in the tunnels? His becoming involved in the drug trade? His cover for the Americans? His decision to stay in Vietnam, cut his ties, let his family assume that he was dead? His skill at his work? His gangs? The traffic, the money? The use of the tunnels?

8. The Americans, recruiting Beckett? Their true motives? The senator and his wanting the presidential nomination? Contriving to keep Beckett ignorant? Presuming that he would succeed?

9. The set-up, Beckett and his gun, the club, looking at Finnegan, shooting? The uproar in the club? Quan and his involvement? Finnegan surviving? The drug dealers being killed? Beckett and the confrontation with Finnegan, Finnegan and his story? The truth?

10. The Vietnam police taking over, the arrest of Beckett, his being jailed? Quan and the ambiguity of his work? The CIA connections? The explosion, Beckett getting out?

11. Beckett teaming up with Quan, their pursuit of Finnegan, going out into the countryside? Finding the tunnels? The chase in the tunnels? The capture of Quan? The martial arts demonstrations and Quan’s skill? Beckett and his gun, his bad finger? The set-up for Finnegan, the bounding bullet, Finnegan’s death? The young men in the drug gangs and their promising loyalty to Beckett?

12. Beckett, the achievement of his mission, integrity? Quan and his integrity? The information going back to the United States, the brief information about the withdrawal of the candidate, the suicide of Avery?

13. American thrillers and their use of conspiracy theories? Corruption in high places and cover-ups? The lone American hero resolving the problems?