After an unsuccessful comedy (A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST) and drama (THIRD PERSON), Liam Neeson is back in full TAKEN (that unexpected 2008 hit that made this greying screen vet a full-fledged action hero) mode. There’s a couple of twists for this go-around. He’s not out to rescue a loved one from kidnappers, but is hired to track down somebody that’s grabbing up victims for ransom. Now like NON-STOP from early this year, he’s a haunted fella’ who’s battling the bottle (in the former flick he was still imbibing, while now he’s in full program). But he’s not on a plane or dashing around exotic locales. He’s trudging the gritty, and often soggy, mean streets of Manhattan. Interestingly he’s playing a character we’ve seen on screen before, way back in 1986 it was Jeff Bridges in 8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE. Let’s see how Liam fills Jeff’s gumshoes as a private eye in A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES.
The action literally starts with a bang in 1991. Street cop Matt Scudder (Neeson) is gulping down his usual liquid breakfast, when a trio of thugs blow away the barkeeper. Scudder fumbles for his piece and blasts away at the gang as they try and flee. Flash ahead to 1999 and the Big Apple’s in the grip of Y2K paranoia as now private detective Scudder leaves an AA meeting. A recovering addict (Boyd Holbrook) convinces Matt to meet with his brother about a possible paying gig. Scudder meets Kenny Kristo (Dan Stevens) at his plush townhouse. Seems that Kristo’s gorgeous wife was kidnapped, but he’s not looking for a rescue, Kristo wants revenge. Suspecting him of engaging in illegal activities, Scudder refuses the job, but Kristo is persistent. A bit of research provided by a street urchin named TJ (Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley) at the library’s computer banks (Scudder’s a tad tech-phobic) piques his interest. Soon Scudder embarks on a hunt for an extortionist/serial-killing duo that attracts the local PD, the feds (especially the DEA) and the Russian mob when an innocent life hangs in the balance.
Neeson fits into the role of hard-bitten grizzled private eye as if he were slipping on an old comfortable trench coat. He shows us the tired, world-weary ex-cop effortlessly, much as his ex-special ops agents, and long-time jedi. He’s shouldering a heavy secret (which the trailers reveal, darn em’!) which adds fuel for his quest for justice. I could say that Neeson can play roles like this in his sleep, but he still makes this tough guy more interesting and tragic than many generic lone, lonely seekers of truth. Bradley injects a bit of comic relief into the somber tale, but often the script relies on “savvy black street kid teamed with out of it old white dude” clichés (being a classic comic fan I was reminded of Will Eisner’s The Spirit and his sidekick/pal Ebony). Holbrook also scores a few laughs as the unreliable ex-junkie who falls off the wagon often, but quickly hops back on board. Stevens is seething, tightly wound rage as the wronged husband. David Harbour and Adam David Thompson provide creepy chills as the sleazy, cold-hearted partners in crime while Olaur Darri Olaffson alternates between menacing and pathetic as a schlubby witness who knows more than he admits.
As I mentioned above, the trailers and TV spots do indeed reveal far too much and spoil almost all of the film’s few surprises. That along with the film’s snail-like pacing drain much of the story’s tension. Perhaps director Scott Frank, who also adapted Lawrence Block’s novel, just didn’t wish to streamline the plot. Besides the Y2K stuff, what does the 1999 setting really add to the proceedings? Plus, what is it with the sudden downpours? Perhaps a way to add more atmosphere or to endanger one of the main characters who has a medical condition. And like most thrillers, we must endure two or three false endings before the tales skids to a halt. This is a tepid follow-up to Frank’s first feature, the quirky, suspenseful THE LOOKOUT from 2007. Even with the stellar cast A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES is far from a brisk jaunt. More like a nasty, unending trudge.
2.5 Out of 5
