“Taken 4 beats the previous two instalments.”
SPOILER FREE “Oh no! Not another Liam Neeson thriller.” ‘Schindler’s List’ is really what got him known, I just wish he’d do more projects like that. I actually thought the trailer was for ‘Taken 4’, which immediately filled me with dread; although despite my joy when finding out that it wasn’t, still didn’t give me enough drive to make me feel excited to see ‘Run All Night’.
The film begins rather well, introducing us to a few characters that will be taking the story forward – and thankfully they have some relative depth unlike the horrible ‘Taken 3’. The tone of the film is an unrelenting grimy and dirty one. From planting its flagpole within the first 5 seconds, it certainly has a ‘like it or lump it’ feel to it. I’ve always had issues with films being unnecessarily grimy and depressing for only its own sake, but I was rather willing to give the film a try since it opened rather well. It’s similarities with other thrillers starring Liam Neeson such as ‘Taken’, ‘The Walk Among The Tombstones’, ‘Unknown’ and ‘Non-Stop’ are blatant and as subtle as a brick through a window – but once again, entertaining nonetheless. ‘Road To Perdition’ is certainly another influence that cannot be excused. I commemorate the film’s ability to be compelling, interesting and well performed by its cast – but its glaring errors of being so ghastly unoriginal can by no means be overlooked.
Although not established enough as he should have been, Ed Harris does a fine job at portraying the lead antagonist as Shawn Maguire, former boss to deadbeat Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson). What I liked most about ‘Run All Night’ apart from its ability to be rip-roaringly entertaining, was the relationship between Jimmy and his son Mike (Joel Kinnaman). We find out as the film progresses, why their relationship is so awful, but you generally start to care for their wellbeing. Throughout all of the gunfights and car chases, I felt desperate for the two to succeed in their efforts, and for that reason I would say for the most part that ‘Run All Night’ is partially successful.
With glaring holes so large that it would be impossible to read the script, ‘Run All Night’ fails at being an original thriller – but succeeds at being interesting, entertaining and surprisingly strong in its ability to make the audience care for its characters. Liam Neeson may have done too many films with the same plot, but we shouldn’t be done with him just yet.
★★★
Hudson-Cook 