Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Robert Lorenz, ‘The Marksman‘ journeys along with Jim Manson, a retired Marine sniper and Vietnam veteran who now leads a regular life in rural Arizona. When he is not patrolling his ranch with his pet dog, Jackson, he keeps a lookout for illegal border crossings. On one such occasion, he encounters a mother and son who are seemingly on the run from the cartel. Before he can even process this information, a fierce battle with the criminal gangs ensues, and as a result, the mother, Rosa, meets her tragic end. With a promise of reuniting her son, Miguel, with his family in the homeland, Jim steps back into a life of bloodshed, overcoming every obstacle along the way. This action–adventure movie then takes the form of a thrilling road trip, one with life-and-death choices. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Jim Likely Breathes His Last in the Final Moments of The Marksman
At the end of ‘The Marksman,’ Jim sits down in a bus after reuniting Miguel with his family, only to notice that the bullet wound in his abdomen is too severe to recover from. Accepting the inevitable, he looks ahead and smiles before seemingly breathing his last. Although the final scene of the movie does not outright confirm whether he lives or dies, there is nonetheless a sense of finality in the moment, which strongly indicates that he has passed. This brings a poetic conclusion to his arc throughout the story, as his final action is protecting an innocent child. However, there is a slim chance that his wound will be noticed and attended to just in time, making it possible for him to survive and live to tell the tale. Still, his expression at the end is one that strongly indicates a sense of closure, which reiterates the idea of him meeting his end.
Although Jim’s injury comes as a surprise in the final scene, it can be traced back to his showdown with Mauricio and the cartel. After taking out most of the gang, Jim prepares to bring his mortal enemy down, but is stumped when Mauricio holds Miguel hostage. Stretching his cruelty to its limits, he directs his gun into the child’s hand and urges him to land the killing shot. Although Jim accepts his fate in that moment, Miguel shows his intelligence by dislodging the gun’s casing in the critical moment. While this gives Jim the edge he needs to win, it comes at a cost, as Mauricio still manages to land a shot into his abdomen in a blink-and-miss moment. Though Jim conceals the wound and still wins the fight, it is clear that the loss of blood and internal injuries takes a toll on him. Still, his resilience pays off, and he manages to hold himself together till Miguel returns home.
Jim’s Story Ends With a Triumph Regardless of His Ultimate Fate
As Jim is most likely dead by the end of ‘The Marksman’, several plot threads also find their conclusion. This, in turn, also converges into the larger thematic touchpoint surrounding his wife, who died due to cancer. Throughout the movie, Jim’s moral actions serve as an extension of his desire to help people in the same way he helped his wife, and as such, his death can be interpreted in a new light. His smiling as he loses consciousness can be read as him fondly remembering his family, especially his beloved wife, whom he will reunite with soon. This also holds true for Jim’s dynamic with Jackson, his dog and only companion for quite some time, who tragically dies earlier in the movie.
One important detail in the final sequence is that Miguel and Jim never get to say their proper goodbyes. Jim manages to hang on just long enough to see Miguel reunite with his family, but when the child turns back right after, Jim is gone. As such, if Jim manages to survive his injuries, it is possible that he may reconnect with Miguel and find a new purpose in life. There is also his dynamic with his stepdaughter, Sarah, who likely still believes that he is a criminal, and a different conclusion for Jim may allow him to improve that relationship. The fact that the last scene does not confirm his death is likely an intentional decision on the creators’ part, as it leaves his fate ambiguous in both directions. While the ending has a strong sense of closure, he still has a lot to live for, and that hope is embodied in Miguel. Nonetheless, it is more likely that Jim breathes his last in the final scene, spiritually passing the reins to the next generation.
Read More: Is The Marksman a True Story?
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