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It’s been 16 years since Taken cemented Liam Neeson’s action career. But while most septuagenarians would have made the transition into sweet grandfatherly roles (or at least crime boss roles) by now, Neeson’s tough-guy characters just keep getting older—and the one in his latest film, Absolution, knows his fighting days are almost over.
Absolution stars Neeson as an aging gangster and former boxer who’s been struggling to hold on to his memories. When he’s diagnosed with CTE and told that it’s just a matter of time before he’s unable to care for himself, he takes a look back at his memories and regrets and decides to do something to make things right—at least where his one remaining child is concerned. But while he tries to fix the mistakes of his past, he finds it difficult to walk away from the life he’s always known.
There’s just something about a Liam Neeson action movie that’s hard to resist. Though Neeson just keeps getting older—and his action roles have started to blend together over the past decade or so—these aging tough-guy films are almost comforting. There’s nothing here that’s especially deep or demanding—and Neeson’s characters don’t really need a whole lot of development. Before the film starts, we know that his character is some kind of lone wolf with a dark past—but also a good heart. We know that he’ll get into some fist fights—and probably kill a couple of people—along the way. But, in the end, he’ll fight his way to some kind of redemption. And no matter how bad his actions may be, viewers can’t help but love him. Maybe it’s just the testosterone equivalent of a fluffy romantic comedy: formulaic and predictable but still brainlessly entertaining.
Admittedly, Neeson looks a little rough in this film; his hair and makeup crew didn’t do him any favors in creating this character. And he may or may not have some kind of Boston accent that comes and goes throughout the film. Neeson can obviously make these films on autopilot by now—but if you enjoy his action movies, you’ll get exactly what you’d expect from this one.
Absolution follows the same formulas as the average Liam Neeson crime thriller—but, for fans of the star’s action films, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s another entertainingly predictable (and generally forgettable) film from the beloved action star.
You can join Neeson’s latest tough guy on his quest when Absolution arrives in theaters on November 1, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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