If Billy Zane plays his cards right, he just might be the next Gary Busey. He has just enough charisma to make his presence in major studio projects like Titanic seem warranted, but has also done enough time earning street cred in cheesy dreg projects that he’s within reach of a status that few actors can ever hope to have:cult hero. Here, he returns to one of his most famous roles in the latest installment of the unbeloved Sniper franchise, cheerfully surtitled Reloaded. He is but a minor character here, but if there existed a separate Oscar ceremony for straight-to-DVD releases, Zane would surely be in contention for a career summation award.
Sergeant Brandon Brackett (Chad Michael Collins), the son of Tom Berenger’s character in the first film, is a marine keeping the peace (so-to-speak) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping to train military officers in a country not known for its desire to be ruled. One day, while out on a mission to rescue a European farmer, he and his men are ambushed by a mysterious sniper. Beckett is injured in the attack, frustrated by the lack of response by the UN, and suspicious that there are secret alliances that allowed it to occur, Beckett sets out on his own to figure out and avenge it. Hearing about his predicament, Richard Miller (Zane) sets out to help him. To do so, he must train him in the ways of the sniper.
For a direct-to-DVD release, Sniper: Reloaded is surprisingly solid. The action is competently staged, and the sense of military camaraderie is no less compelling than that in many major releases (Battle: Los Angeles for example). But Zane absolutely steals the movie, delivering all of his lines with a cocky hillbilly swagger that could match wits with Tommy Lee Jones. With any luck, it could be used as an audition piece for a major Hollywood comeback.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
The disc also contains some previews.
"Sniper: Reloaded" is on sale April 26, 2011 and is rated R. Action. Directed by Claudio Fah. Written by John Fasano. Starring Billy Zane, Chad Michael Collins.
