The emergence of Liam Neeson as an action star has been a sensational turn at the movies. It really began with Taken (Pierre Morel, 2008). In a taut thriller, Neeson dealt the required beatdown, and then some. But Neeson also brought a distinctive gravitas to his role, of retired CIA agent Bryan Mills.
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Run All Night (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2015) has Neeson playing former criminal enforcer Jimmy "The Gravedigger" Conlon. He now spends the days trying to forget his violent past, through the eraser of alcohol. His son Mike is played by Joel Kinnaman, who fans of The Killing will recognize as Stephen Holder from the TV series.
A depth of quiet pain is suggested between father and son. Mike is unable to forgive Jimmy, for abandoning Mike's mother and him in his youth. Nor can Mike accept Jimmy as the foul drunk he has now become. Mike has cut his father out of his life, keeping Jimmy away also from his granddaughters, Lily and Catelyn.
Jimmy's employer from his criminal past, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) has a son as well, Danny (Boyd Holbrook). As opposed to Mike, Danny is anxious to impress his father with his own criminal skills. It happens that Mike witnesses Danny committing murder, during one of his shady schemes.
Danny sets out to silence Mike permanently. He is a moment from pulling the trigger on Mike, when he himself is shot dead by a vigilant observer. Jimmy Conlon.
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Shawn Maguire vows revenge on Jimmy, and he means to take Mike's life in return. The Conlons, father and son, must run for their lives as night falls on the city. Run All Night is enhanced by its excellent lead performances, and of course, the compelling work of Liam Neeson.
