Last Geriaction Hero

Film reviewed - Run All Night by Jaume Collet-Serra

Starring - Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman and Vincent D'Onofrio

Synopsis - Veteran mob killer Jimmy Conlon (Neeson) kills the son of mob boss Shawn Maguire (Harris) whilst protecting his own son (Kinnaman). A night long chase proceeds with Maguire and NYPD officer (D'Onofrio) both trying to catch Conlon before the other does. 

Review - In Hollywood there are two types of actors - those that transform from character to character and those that play the same role but the films change around them. Liam Neeson falls in the second category. This is not a bad thing. They are all characters we like - Taken (1, 2, 3), Walk Among the Tombstones, Non-Stop etc. etc. Run All Night fits the same bill. 

Jimmy Conlon is man who did bad things in his past and is paying for them in his current life. Having being cut off from his son's life and family, Conlon descends into alcoholic depression. However once the film bursts into life he springs into action but not with the same slick style of Bryan Mills of Taken fame. More like your dad trying to be John Travolta on the dance floor. But with a gun. And old gun which needs loading every five minutes. 

If this film shows anything it's that the NYPD either does not prioritise murderers and cop killers or they tend not to look in the obvious places for fugitives. At one point in the night Neeson visits his brother then his sick mother in hospital and there's not an NYPD badge in sight. Surely these are prime spots for catching a criminal on the run? Or have I been watching too much Criminal Minds?

Despite the large sections of the film which are completely implausible it is oddly enjoyable. It has a good pace, likeable characters and, even though the "twists" are so obvious, they actually are quite comforting. Like a nice warm blanket of certainty. 

I will probably never think of this film ever again in my life, but I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for some action (no not like that). 

Go and see it if...you don't wish to use your brain for two hours. 

Score - 7/10