Review of Run All Night (2015) by Harry W — 07 Sep 2015

Being one of Liam Neeson's more well-received thrillers from recent years, Run All Night sounded like it was worth a shot.

Run All Night takes off in the blink of an eye. I should have guessed that the film would be a fast one based on its title, but it struck me by surprise. And it wasn't the only time across the film where I was caught off guard. The fast pace of the film ends up evoking mixed feelings in the long run because although it has a tendency to keep things exhilarating and ensure that there is not much of the film that drags on, it also interferes with a premise which proves to be somewhat convoluted. In what should be a story that ties in family themes to a war with gangsters, Run All Night decides to overcomplicate itself by throwing all kinds of new plot dynamics and characters at the viewer. And with all that coming out of nowhere, it ends up being a bit much to keep up. The fact that the story all takes place over the course of a single night makes the scope of the narrative less complicated, but it also means that there are a lot of plot dynamics to speed through within a limited frame of time. The fact is that Run All Night is a massive rush with a premise which is simple but a lot of character to distract viewers from that. As a result, the feature ends up confusing.

With Run All Night, enjoying the film isn't too much of a challenge if you can sit back and try to piece the story together. I gave it my best shot and although I only got so much of it understood, I was able to embrace the generic narrative underneath all the many characters and respective stories that come with them. For better or for worse, the film combines themes of family drama to a gangster thriller which proves to cross over fairly well. Though a lot of the plot dynamics are familiar, the way they are diverted into a singular fast-paced narrative which does manage to play with conventions. As a result, the story is ultimately decent because it delivers promises set in by a generic contract and yet does prove to put an occasionally clever spin on things. But the story mainly serves as a backdrop for a superior focus on genuine style. This is where the directorial effort of Jame Collet-Serra really proves to do something good because he is able to fuel the film with an atmosphere which remains consistently intense to match the action spectacle he puts in. He isn't the best at stringing a story together, but he sets the mood of the film and puts in enough imagery to match it. And with the story always on the move without ever really slowing down for long, Run All Night dashes between action scenes and supplies the viewer with plenty. There are a variety of action sequences thrown into the film, ranging from car chases to shootouts and stylish fight scenes. Jame Collet-Serra matches his story with a keen eye for imagery, and the film is a step-up from his prior work on Non-Stop. While Non-Stop did nothing but mess around until an unsatisfactory payoff, Run All Night supplies one after the next, even while the story fails to do the same.

And with a talented cast lined up, the actors in Run All Night all manage to keep up with the rapid pace of the film and reflect the tension.

Liam Neeson is in fine form in Run All Night. Even though the film seems to be another meandering entry into his post-Taken filmography, Liam Neeson remains an engaging screen presence. Instead of being on a quest for vengeance this time, he plays a role more suited to his real-life nature as a pacifist using weapons to get a job done. There is a subtle sense of reluctance in his character, though it plays second fiddle to his merciless nature which is good because that's what fans want from him. Liam Neeson is able to repeat his recent trend of success in integrating family drama with action capabilities, and his intensity is consistent enough to carry the film all the way to the end.

Ed Harris is also a nice touch. While Ed Harris begins by playing with a sense of vulnerability and regret, as the story progresses we see the actor build his character up, but even as he intensifies there is still a sense that his character is simply a father blinded by rage over the death of his son and not a legitimate gangster. As a result, his character maintains a sense of human error to him which renders him a more realistic figure for the narrative. Ed Harris is good to see active in large role from a mainstream film again, and while the simplistic nature of the character may not match the higher standard of his better performances, he is still a welcome presence.

Joel Kinnaman also delivers a powerful effort. Playing one of the main characters in the film, Joel Kinnaman is up against the standards of Academy Award nominated actors like Liam Neeson and Ed Harris. But as the characters are all as generic as each other, the level of effort put in my Joel Kinnaman feels like a superior attempt than the other cast members. He isn't as appealing as Liam Neeson, but Joel Kinnaman is arguably the most intense cast member in the film because he really takes the role seriously. He is very swift with his physical movements which shows just how extensive his tension is, and he captures the same level of energy on a small scale with line delivery that builds up a strong chemistry with Liam Neeson. Joel Kinnaman rises to a higher standard of acting than expected from a film like Run All Night, and the film serves as an effective boost on his credibility as an actor.

Vincent D'Onofrio delivers a typically fine supporting role with a sophisticated edge about him, and Nick Nolte's brief cameo is also a nice touch because he remains intense for every second he is on screen. Common also delivers an awesome fight scene.

So Run All Night has a generic story and tries to distract audiences with too many characters, but the rapid pace of the film also manages to keep tension flowing between the many stylish action scenes and challenge the cast to successfully keep up with it.