The Gunman (PG) **** Cold Warrior

Old demons come back to haunt a military operator in the well made The Gunman, presented in B.C. by Elevation Pictures this well-made flawlessly execute dramatic thriller is now making hearts pounds at The Fifth Avenue Theatre. Soldier of fortune Jim Terrier is a man on a mission.

In control as a contractor in e battled Congo is Sean Penn (Milk). Humanitarian work and keeping a mining operation going is in Terrier’s job description – along with doing various “dirty “ work. Given a team of crack ex-military types the squad work outside the box, using their knowledge of weapons and military honed skills to disrupt normal life as it is in This tripled hot spot. Like the title suggests Terrier and crew are crack assassins. So when he’s not romancing the beautiful French transplant Annie our boy wonder finds hi,self caught up in the middle of a political power play laced with destruction. Aloof and coy pretty in pink Jasmine Trinca is about all Terrier has going as this trained assassin becomes hunted prey when his sordid past comes back to haunt him eight years later.

Ace action director Pierre Morel (The Transporter) hails from the Luc Besson school if filmmaking: expect action and your dream will come true. Apart from lots of explosions and bang bang The Gunman boasts an A list cast and is very well written. Topical to be sure the African setting of a land that is backward rife with corruption is nailed and the more modern scenes shot in London and Barcelona give this 115 minute adventure a perfect contrast.

Above all else this thriller is intense whose execution is excellent. Penn is terrific as a team player turned loner/loser who sees his world slowly collapsing with the vultures closing in. James Bond alumnus Javier Badren (Skyfall) makes his presence known as a co-conspirator along with Ray Winstone and slippery as an eel Mark Rylance as a corporate shark if there ever was won.

High emotion in a winner take all story that is as intense and unexpected as they come The Gunman delivers the goods in a fully entertaining and engaging way. Lock and Load.