It's Liam Neeson triple bill time! Let's start with the best of these three, that being Scott Frank's A Walk Among The Tombstones, which, in these times of his cv getting clogged up with by the numbers action roles, is worth catching as it gives Neeson his most compelling role for quite a while. Though there isn't anything too original in his character (a private investigator who, wait for it, is an alcoholic ex-cop!), Neeson gives a nice turn as he attempts to find out who kidnapped a drug kingpins wife. To say anything more would be spoilerific for the smart story line, but Frank's film has a tough edge to it which makes for pleasantly adult viewing, though some people may be disturbed by the scenes of women being tortured (even if it is mainly just implied). The fact that many years ago this was mooted to be Joe Carnahan's follow up to Narc should give you some idea of the tone. Frank's direction is solid (without being spectacular) and you know you're on safe ground when it comes to the screenplay as that has been Frank's main breadwinner for a long time now. The whole film is almost kiboshed though (and loses a point in my review) by "cool urban kid" sidekick character played with zero acting talent by Brian Bradley. His smartass smugness is face slappingly annoying. The next Neeson cab off the rank is Jaume Collet-Serra's Run All Night which, get this, is virtually a re-make of Sam Mendes's Road to Perdition. A serious doff of the cap to who first spotted that. Anyway, we have Neeson as an ex-mob enforcer who, when a drug deal goes south, gets involved in protecting his innocent son from all sorts of heavies (inc. big bad Ed Harris - chewing scenery at some points, acting brilliantly at others). This is the third time Neeson has teamed with Collet-Serra and it's the weakest effort so far. Though there's plenty of gun play and fisticuffs going on, the plot is too convoluted meaning Collet-Serra can't settle on whether this is a drama, thriller or action film and the whole thing gets a bit messy. Worth catching on a Friday night, perhaps. Certainly not worth catching at any point (unless you're a budding director and are keen to learn how not to direct a film) is Neeson's return (surely by reasons of contractual demands only) to the role of former covert operative Bryan Mills in the latest film in the Taken series. If you were one of the seven people on the planet who liked the last film you'll like this one. If you not, forget the plot and actually challenge yourself to see if you can work out what the bloody hell is going on during the toothless action sequences that returning director Olivier Megaton (and, presumably his editor) have cut in such an incoherent manner it suggests that Megaton’s cat tore up the negative the night before the films release with Megaton then reassembling the pieces whilst wearing a blindfold. Also loses marks for Forest Whitaker as a detective with "quirks" (something to do with chess pieces and elastic bands) and the bad guy at the end fighting in a pair of white Y-Fronts. Seriously? Tombstones Rating: 7/10. Night Rating: 6/10. Taken Rating: 4/10.
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