The Marksman takes its cues from road trip films and classic Westerns, but it is an intrinsically human film at its core. Out in theaters on January 15, it centers on the growing bond between a rancher named Jim (Liam Neeson) and a young Mexican boy named Miguel (Jacob Perez) who is on the run from cartels.
Star Liam Neeson spoke to Screen Rant about what attracted him to the role and praised his co-stars for their intense performances.
Your character, Jim, feels almost like a modern-day Clint Eastwood. What intrigued you about this role in The Marksman?
Liam Neeson: I like the fact that he's a hurt individual. He served his country in Vietnam; he was a marine. He's about to lose his little ranch, his cattle and stuff; he's lost his wife tragically. So, he's hardened himself. Then he meets this kid that's from a different culture entirely, and he ends up - spoiler alert - trying to help this young boy.
I think it opens him up to the fact that no man is an island. We shouldn't be an island, you know?
The director has mentioned that this is also a character study on the human condition. Aside from the thriller and action elements, what do you think is going to be the draw for a lot of viewers?
Liam Neeson: I think the draw will be all of those elements of different genres that you mentioned. It's certainly a road movie, and certainly an action film. It's a very human film, I think, with a lot of heart. And it's just a good story. It's just a really good story. It's got a lot of heart.
When I first saw the film, I found myself being moved by the bad guy, Mauricio, played by Juan Pablo Raba. He's a fantastic actor. I find myself seeing life from his eyes.
He was made to be a drug carrier from an early age, to be a cartel soldier from the age of 10 or 11. I didn't quite see that in the script, but then when Juan Pablo played it, it was like, "Wow, of course." I was full of admiration for him, and for Rob Lorenz's directing. He's from the Clint Eastwood school: shoot the rehearsal, or maximum do two takes and move on. I love doing that.
You've worked with numerous kid actors, but Jacob Perez comes off as not just authentic but amazing in this film. What can you tell me about him as an actor and the connection that your characters grow to share?
Liam Neeson: Well, Jacob doesn't have a lot of experience. That's why Rob Lorenz shot the film kind of in sequence; continuity sequence. I really liked Jacob very, very much and find myself learning a lot from him. He was always raw. He was always real in every scene we did. He could break your heart with that little face of his, because there was a sadness at the back of his eyes and stuff. But then when he grinned, when he smiled, he lit up the world. We became quite close friends, and he calls me "grand-pap," or grandad.
