Do you like thriller gangster films? The genre is fun! If the story and acting are right, you can get mighty tense!
Run All Night is way up there when it comes to action. I am reminded of the tone of the original Godfather.
NO spoiler, but here's the basic story: A hit man, played by Liam Neesan, has worked for years for his closest friend, a gangster capo, played by Ed Harris. The hit man is weary and retired, but he is still close with his former boss.
All would be fine in gangsterland if each of the main characters did not have grown up sons who, well, don't exactly behave themselves! When the fathers get involved, mayhem follows. Soon old friends are deadly foes!
Add to that situation crooked cops who chase the hit man. If you can't trust the cops, who can you trust? Oh, by the way, even the honest cops are after the hit man!
So you've got your basic gangster vs gangster with a little twist: The son of the hit man is really a good guy, a family man, but he might go down with his father!
Yikes!
With actors like Liam Neesan and Ed Harris, the film would get my attention right away. But what really sold me was the storyline: taut, edgy, gritty, hold-onto-your-seat tense.
Are there good shooting scenes? You betcha! Some of the flying bullets are captured in slow-motion. Count on lots of shootouts in a variety of settings, from train tracks to the woods.
Is there much redeeming value to this flick? Sort of. Even gangsters have their own morality, and odd as it may seem, the viewers become part of that dark and different world.
Prepare to watch the film without a break....you can barely breathe, because the pace never lets up.
It is somewhat mindless....but fun nevertheless. If you're into thrillers, this one is a gem.
Grade: A+
I used to love Liam Neeson.When his life took a tragic turn in the death of his beloved Natasha Richardson, I watched an abrupt turn in his roles. He took on role after role of the (unlikely) macho action figure. I still can't see it. But I get it. The man needed 1) distraction, 2) easy $, 3) to feel powerful and in control again, which is precisely what these roles provide his psyche. I saw it as a necessary selling out. He even expressed as much on a recent Daily Show. So, it's been a disappointment for me. But, like I said, I get it. I'd just like to see him return to stretching his acting talents, 'cause he's got 'em. Not my type of movie, but you make it sound o.k. :-)
ReplyDelete