Looks like Liam Neeson must tread lightly among the tombstones of his previous big bad characters
Liam Neeson is cinema’s top choice for the melancholy man pushed to action
We know what everyone’s thinking: Oh, another prequel/sequel to Taken? This time in A Walk Among the Tombstones, Liam Neeson plays Matt Scudder, a disgraced NYPD cop now struggling as an unlicensed private detective.
During one assignment, Scudder makes a shocking discovery that pits him against time and questions of morality.
So, it’s not exactly a rehash of Taken. We’re going to give this one a chance. Get ready for a heart-stopping intense action sequence with more turns than a cyclone.
A Book by Any Other Name…
That intense, brooding look is a Liam Neeson staple. He should patent that!
Backed by Lawrence Block’s bestselling novel of the same name, A Walk Among the Tombstones has quite the legacy to live up to. But with the well-aged Neeson playing the hardened hero, we’re willing to bet this movie adaptation would be just as sweet.
Like the book, the film follows sobered-up alcoholic Scudder chasing a couple of crooks who violently murdered his client’s wife. But of course it’s not that simple, or we’d all be done in an hour. (15 minutes since it’s the great Liam Neeson.)
Scudder uncovers a disturbing trail that opens up a grisly can of wormy serial killers, gets embroiled in the mess, and risks turning into quite the monster himself.
Shady Dealings And Odd Couplings
The hard-hitting PI seeks solace in a broke teen artist
Unlike most of Neeson’s previous films, A Walk Among the Tombstones’ protagonist is completely divided by right and wrong. From doing business with drug-pushing moguls to taking the law into his own hands, Scudder appears morally ambiguous, and the film isn’t in a hurry to help us resolve that issue.
Even more unexpected is Scudder’s backup. Where Taken gives its protagonist figures of authority to fall on, A Walk Among the Tombstones sends in an ex-colleague and a homeless teen artist. Like we said, more turns than a cyclone.
Taking Away The Taken
From noir trenchcoats to gravity-defying ‘dos, A Walk Among the Tombstones brings old school cool to the screens
But you’re undoubtedly going to keep thinking of Taken anyway, so let’s establish some unique elements in A Walk Among the Tombstones you should keep your eyes peeled for. For one, it seems like the vigilantism this time isn’t driven by love or revenge, but actual justice.
That said, “It’s not superhero time” is Neeson’s choice catchphrase for the film – to him, Scudder represents real people crippled by real problems.
The strange combination and play between Neeson and his new ‘A-Team’ here also gets us more intrigued. Bet you’re itching to see how they’re going to pull it off, with or without a hitch, this time.
Scudder in his cop days
And that winning mullet-and-beard combo? You’ve got to give A Walk Among the Tombstones five stars for that.
A Walk Among the Tombstones [NC 16]
DIRECTOR: Scott Frank
STARRING: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, Boyd Holbrook, Ruth Wilson
GENRE: Action, crime, drama
RUN LENGTH: 114 min
RELEASE: 18 Sep
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