Run All Night (3/13/2015)

Rated R for strong violence, language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Starring Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Ed Harris, Common and Vincent D’Onofrio

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown and Non-stop)

Liam Neeson once again plays the tough-as-nails man-on-a-mission character.

Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon (Neeson), once known as The Gravedigger, has seen better days. Longtime best friend of mob boss Shawn Maguire (Harris), Jimmy, now 55, is haunted by the sins of his past—as well as a dogged police detective (D’Onofrio) who’s been one step behind Jimmy for 30 years. Lately, it seems Jimmy’s only solace can be found at the bottom of a whiskey glass. But when Jimmy’s estranged son, Mike (Kinnaman), becomes a target, Jimmy must make a choice between the crime family he chose and the real family he abandoned long ago. With Mike on the run, Jimmy’s only penance for his past mistakes may be to keep his son from the same fate Jimmy is certain he’ll face himself…at the wrong end of a gun. Now, with nowhere safe to turn, Jimmy just has one night to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie and to see if he can finally make things right.

In the opening scene of Run All Night we see Jimmy Conlon flat on his back with a bullet in the side. The rest of the film explains how he got there…although that’s a pretty big spoiler; it’s still worth watching the story unfold.

One of the first things that will jump out at you is the way this movie is filmed. Director Collet-Serra and cinematographer Martin Rhue use some very clever camera tricks to keep the film moving at a swift pace.

Liam Neeson plays a tough Irishman who drinks…I’m starting to think he’s beginning to be type-casted. As we discover more about his past, the relationship with his son and the predicament he finds himself in, all starts to make sense. He is able to play the conflicted, the down-and-out, and the tough guy all flawlessly. The rest of the cast includes Joel Kinnaman, who continues to impress me, Ed Harris and Vincent D’Onofrio, both of whom are fantastic. The interactions between Neeson and Harris and Neeson and D’Onofrio are mesmerizing and fun to watch. Another fun surprise is Common. He doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but what time he does have, is really intense.

One of the biggest reasons for dropping it down to a “Rental” is the level of ridiculousness we, as an audience, must believe about Jimmy’s ability to do some of the things he does. Besides surviving several gun shot wounds, beatings and a seemingly broken ankle, he is still able to pick off bad guys like fish in a barrel.

It’s an action film with not a lot of substance; it’s a “Rental” at best.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity but the violence and language are pretty rough. There are over 25 F-words and the body count is much higher. I would say no for this one.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. How would you describe Mike and Jimmy’s relationship?


2. Why is Mike so angry at his dad?


3. How does Jimmy try to make amends?

Read Luke 17:3-4

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”


4. How should we respond when others hurt us?


5. Who do you need to forgive?