Review of The Commuter (2018) by Rrmm — 20 Jun 2018

The Conmutter is the new film starring Liam Neeson, the same actor who filled us with adrenaline with the trilogy of Taken) escaping from international criminals and protecting his beloved family, returns to seduce us with a character designed just for him. In The Conmutter we see a loving family man, insurance salesman (retired policeman) and frequent user (Commuter) of the New York train system, confronting a criminal organization, which "forces" him to identify a possible witness for (his or her) subsequent elimination. When we write the word "forces" in quotes, we do so with all the intention, since it is really an offer that the character accepts under certain conditions.

The Conmutter, is the fourth collaboration between the Irish actor and the Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra, (after the successes of Unkoown, Non stop and Run all night )who seems to be responsible for the transformation of the high Irish actor in a Hollywood action hero, who made his name on the big screen at the hands of Steven Spielberg for Schindler's List (not exactly embodying an action hero) and the director's second collaboration with the beautiful and talented Vera Farmiga, after the success of The Orphan.

The push that the Spanish director has given the Irish actor comes basically in turning his characters, from father of affectionate family, to an action hero, almost like a modern James Bond. This combination (of characters) seems more a mixture (in the good sense of the word) between James Steward and Clint Eastwood, or to be a bit more current between Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise (keeping the distances in both comparisons). The film is full of a progressive tension and a fast-paced action that feels and sees the viewer, along with the very good and customary performance that Liam Neeson gives us, along with a production that few would say was not filmed in the same train system in New York (it was actually filmed in recording studios in London, making exact replicas of the trains and the memorable Grand Central Terminal in New York).

The Conmutter provides us with a character, married with children and responsible for them, and that due to unexpected economic situations sees the offer of an unknown woman in his daily trip on the train attractive, after having a moral dilemma, whether or not to follow the instructions that this mysterious woman sends him. Liam Neeson does not disappoint us, on the contrary he strengthens his image as an actor who plays the father protecting his family embarking on a fast-paced action, and the director repeats the magic of suspense that brought us with Non Stop flight.

Finally, it is possible to conclude that it is worth paying the entrance to the cinema, and also a good movie theater combo, popcorn and full refreshments, so you do not to leave the cinema seat for a second.