Chechen terrorists take over a Russian nuclear power plant. They threaten to detonate the nuclear plant, which would destroy two world powers and kill thousands of civilians. The United States government must rely on a single man to get the job done; Painter (Wesley Snipes) is the Marksman. He is a highly-trained special agent called tasked with the job of taking out the nuclear power plant before the rebels can use for their horrific plans. Painter's dangerous mission is to infiltrate the plant, and place a target inside to guide a US missile air strike. But only after placing the target does he discover evidence that it was an elaborate set up, and that the live reactor will be detonated by the US missiles! Now the Marksman and his special team must race against the clock in order to stop the air strike that they have initiated. An espionage thriller with plenty of action, and the fate of two nations rests in his hands.