Starring: Liam Neeson, Astro,David Harbour, Dan Stevens
Director:Scott Frank
Back in 2008 Liam Neeson reinvented himself into a successful action star. Simply put Neeson is a man with a particular set of skills. He has saved people in Europe, he has saved people while his identity is stolen, he has saved people at 30,000 feet. The last one despite a drinking problem of course the natural progression is to have Neeson on the wagon and that’s where we find him now. A former cop who had a bullet take a bad bounce, he now finds himself in recovery while doing under the table PI deals. In this instance it’s finding the men that kidnapped and murdered a drug dealers wife.
We first meet Mathew Scudder (Neeson) with what can only be described as an Irish Mullet pounding some shots when a bar robbery goes bad. In full dirty hairy mode, these would be robbers get mowed down. We then meet a late 90’s Scudder using his particular skill set for “gifts”
What starts as a typical Neeson action romp becomes more of a thriller when Scudder has to figure out who is ransoming and killing the loved ones of local New York drug dealers. Along the way he meets T.J (Astro)a local homeless youth with an interest in private eyes who already has picked out his sleuthing name in the likes of those in the Sam Spade novels he reads…wait for it, that’s right Dante Culpepper a terrible name for a football player but great for a PI.
Scudder utilizes his former detective skills to piece together who is behind the twisted plot, while inspiring T.J
With minimal action and a bit to heavy handed on the sobriety train even including the twelve steps verbalized at the end, this pushes very close to crossing he line into after school special territory yet never quite goes that far. If you like your Neeson kicking ass Bourne style this is a bit of a departure despite the trailer alluding it to be.
The character of T.J is completely unnecessary and could have been easily omitted from the film, the same could be said for the entire recovery angle. It is however a solid thriller even if it does come with a bit of a message.
Grade – 78
