Starring: Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Ed Harris, Boyd Holbrook, Common, Bruce McGill, Vincent D’Onofrio, Genesis Rodriguez, Nick Nolte, Holt McCallany
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Liam Neeson and Jaume Collet-Serra previously worked together on Unknown and Non-Stop. This is probably the best of the three films they’ve done together, and I kind of enjoyed Unknown and Non-Stop. He knows what works with Neeson, and he’s gotten a few top notch actors for supporting roles.
First off, I support a film career for Joel Kinnaman. I think he’s a great actor, and I would love to see him involved in more things. This film also properly utilizes Neeson as an actor. His character starts off as a drunken asshole, and has to evolve from there. I seriously didn’t like Neeson’s character at the start of the film, and actually thought Ed Harris was the protagonist. He made clearer, safer decisions. He had his shit together. He wasn’t an asshole. But when put in extreme circumstances, and backed into a corner, Harris has some bite left in him. That’s part of what makes Run All Night good, is that Kinnaman and Harris bring it alongside Neeson.
It’s also just a well crafted action thriller. Fast paced, not incredibly obvious, and they didn’t give everything in the trailer. It’s really everything you could ask for in a thriller. Minor problems, of course. Nick Nolte… get your shit together man. You’re gargling through every role now. Are you even acting anymore? Also… I would have appreciated Vincent D’Onofrio using a bit more caution throughout the film, knowing that there are cops out there who have been paid off. He knew that. Yet he always blasted for every cop. It just seemed a bit careless for someone who admitted that he knew his own partner was a bad cop.
But, if you’re looking for a really solid, pretty great action thriller, this is it. Fuck Taken 3. Like, I know I just gave it a C+, which is fine and all… but this is a way better film. Don’t let the studio heads know though. Otherwise we’ll get Still Running All Night or Holiday versions like Run All Christmas. Or maybe they’ll just Run All Day. Not everything needs a sequel. Taken didn’t.
FINAL GRADE: A-
