Review of Run All Night (2015) by Tyler R — 21 Mar 2015

This is the second Liam Neeson film of the year, but it is certainly his best since he made his action debut in Taken. Run All Night takes us to the heart of New York as a hitman for the mob and his son are being hunted down over the course of one night.

First off, this marks the third collaboration between Liam Neeson and director Jaume Collet-Serra, who teamed up on Unknown and Non-Stop. Personally, I really enjoy this ongoing collaboration, because all three films feel distinct and visually different.

Run All Night is no exception. We get a less steady, more handheld approach to this gritty crime drama, and it certainly helps with the atmosphere. And just like the previous two films, this one boasts one hell of a cast, with the likes of Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, and Vincent D'Onofrio giving great performances to really bring this film to life.

Everyone is on point, with Harris giving an intense performance, D'Onofrio bringing back the glory days of Law and Order, and Joel Kinnaman reminding everyone how absolutely underrated he is. And then there's Liam Neeson.

For the last six years, we have been watching Liam Neeson: Badass. Run All Night gives us Liam Neeson: Badass...and dramatic actor. Yes, Neeson kills bad guys, but he also gives us a different role than what he has been playing.

Think of his characters from Non-Stop and A Walk Among the Tombstones, but with a few more skeletons in the closet. Needless to say, he nails it. On the technical front, there are some unique little transitions from scene to scene to keep things fresh, but the action itself is shot really well, which is always a big fear that things might get all Bourne-shaky on us.

When the film ends, we are given proof that, yes, Neeson can run, and gun, all night, but he can also give us a character to care about in a film that is his best since Taken.