Absolution

This movie, in the career of Liam Neeson, is nearly a cliché, a pleonasm. For his age, he has done far far worse since a decade now. He is good in this story which can remind some movies from the seventies. This scheme of an aging hitman or gangster or cop, a character who lives his last moments on this earth, this scheme is not new, it has been told hundreds of times before, but this diminishes nothing to the efficiency of this movie. Liam Neeson is poignant here, no problem. Me, I like this movie, this kind of story. Liam Neeson have made and will make more films like this one in the future. He has no more choice.... This plot and main character reminds me Craig Fairbrass in THE VILLAIN (2020).

Liam Neeson plays a low level gangster who tries to connect with his daughter after being diagnosed with a brain disease.

Look at like this, the reason why this has such a low rating is because most people were expecting An action movie, it's not, it's a slow burn drama and it's quite good.

The movie was no doubt marketed wrong and the wrong crowd watched it in between watching tik tok reels.

This is neesons best role in years and I loved the score.

If for instance it was produced by A24 and had Ralph Fienes in the lead this would probably be rated at 6.4 at least.

Like I say go into this with low expectations and you will have a great time.

Liam Neeson's latest crime thriller, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Hans Petter Moland (Kjærlighetens, kjøtere, Gymnaslærer Pedersen, En ganske snill mann), is imbued with a deep melancholy and sense of humanity. There have been many films about thug life in Boston, but the story of Thug (Neeson) holds its own among the better ones. The main reason is that he is a fully fleshed-out character who is brought to life by Neeson's seasoned performance. And although his world is populated with overly familiar small-time mobsters and let-down women, Moland takes his time to tell their stories with conviction and care.

Most people going to see this film will be disappointed. It is a somber story how cognitive decline takes hold. And with condition like that there's no chance for a happy ending.

Acting was in my opinion good and made it realistic how it's when you can't trust your memory.

So if avarage viewer is expecting visual hollywood fluff with clear morals they will not find it from here. There's no heroes, morals or righteous characters; everything is on a gray scale rather then having good and bad.

And due to confusion setting in to the main character it's hard to see him as a good guy either. He's chosen his path and working for 'bad guys' all his life. Not much to redeem there.

BEWARE: all you Liam Neeson action fans, this is a subtle DRAMA and NOT a hardhitting gangster movie AT ALL. Best suited for an arthouse movie audience!

The good: Liam Neeson is still starring in solid movies at his age. He is still convincingly portraying these old gangster characters with a heart. And this story is all about ageing and nearing the end of ones life and trying to heal family bonds that were long lost. It isnt a riveting drama, but a quite slowburning and subtle one and for those who are interested in this genre it could be worth a watch, but dont expect fireworks!

The bad: I love to see Liam Neeson in his hardhitting old man gangster roles in which he fights and shoots bad guys. But this movie has very little of that and therefore I got a bit bored with it half way through.

NOT suited for the Liam Neeson action gangster fans. Best suited for an arthouse movie audience which likes to watch a subtle slowburning character drama...