A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

US, 2014, 114 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, David Harbour, Dan Stevens, Boyd Holbrook, Astro.
Directed by Scott Frank.

Many of us used to enjoy reading the crime novels of Lawrence Block, especially back in the 1990s. It is surprising to find that, previously, only one of his novels had been brought to the screen, 80 Million Ways to Die, starring Jeff Bridges as the former policeman, private detective, Matthew Scudder. It would have seemed a very promising franchise, a series of films with Matthew Scudder.

It is only now that Liam Neeson portrays Scudder. In recent years Liam Neeson has been doing a lot of action roles, especially in his series, Taken, but also in, Unknown, Non-stop. While there is some action in the film, this is rather a private eye investigation film.

It opens in 1991 with an alcoholic Scudder involved in a shooting confrontation with some robbers, but also killing a little girl by accident. The action shifts to 1999 when Scudder has left the police force, has given up drinking and has been attending AA meetings for all these years. He looks a little bit more spruced up than previously but one wonders how many cases he has actually had.

He is approached by a young man who wants him to help his older brother, Boyd Holbrook and Dan Stevens. The latter reveals that his wife has been abducted, he has paid the ransom but the results have been disastrous. Scudder is reluctant to take on the case, because Kenny, Dan Stevens, lives in a luxury apartment and is clearly a drug dealer (or trafficker as he prefers). On a compassionate whim, he finally decides to take the case.

The film is interesting because there are several abduction cases which Scudder investigates. They also lead him to quite a range of characters, with the abductors revealed halfway through, which means than that from a detection story it becomes a pursuit story. The abductors are particularly ruthless, David Harbour, physically resembling Michael C. Hall as Dexter, a sadistic serial killer.

There is no romance. The main emotional support comes from the young African-American? lad, T.J., whom he encounters in a library. He is unwell though not admitting it, has some ambitions to be a detective and tries to tag along with Scudder. Eventually, he uses his wits and becomes very involved in the final confrontation.

A values perspective is offered during the final encounters with the killers. The AA 12 steps are voiced at each moment.

Liam Neeson is expert at this world-weary kind of character. On-screen as a character actor since the early 1980s, he has become a top-billing star for more than 20 years after his performance as Oscar Schindler. In his early 60s, he still has a commanding screen presence.

This all makes them very interesting but, of course, given the nature of the plot and the cruelty of the abductors, there are a couple of scenes of rather graphic violence. But, Lawrence Block would probably be pleased with the film as will fans of private detective stories.

1. The evocative title? Emphasis on death, the cemeteries, bodies?

2. Lawrence Block and his character, Matthew Scudder? A New York story, Washington Heights, steps, the neighbourhoods? Wealthy homes? Shops? Apartments, the roofs, the streets? Interiors? The score?

3. Introduction to Scudder, in the car, clash with his partner, going to drink and eat, the robbers, the shooting, his pursuit, the cars, in the street, his bedraggled look, drunk, shooting the girl? The repetition of these scenes in flashback? The effect, the AA meetings, 12 steps?

4. The 12 steps, his changing, the meetings? The different meetings, meeting Peter? And the aftermath and Peter lapsing? The final use of the 12 steps at each stage of the confrontation?

5. Peter asking for his help? Kenny, the situation, Peter asking him to go? Drug trafficker? The emotional appeal, the payment, Scudder deciding to take on the job? The portrait of Kenny’s wife on the wall? The story, the flashbacks, the graphic aspects of the abduction, the torture and killing, the body and the boot, in bags? Kenny and his reaction? The later meetings with Kenny? Bargaining for the amount of the ransom? Peter, his apartment, art, the AA meetings, the truth about his love for Kenny’s wife, the paintings? His being picked up by the DEA, the interrogations, his giving up Kenny? His helping at the end, the box with TJ, his Army background, the rifle, the Gulf War? The shooting, his being killed?

6. Matthew and TJ, the encounter in the library, Matthew and his research, the other cases, the discussions with TJ, his vegetarian life, the revelation of his illness? TJ following as Scudder was following Jonas? warning him off? The episode with the gun and its use? His being bashed? The phone call, Scudder going to the hospital, TJ going out, sitting on a chair, his office? His being asked to bring the box? Smart, hiding in the van, looking in the window, getting away, phoning, information about the criminal’s whereabouts? Scudder ensuring finally that he was safe?

7. The visit to the cemetery, the dead women, gravestones? The pieces found in the lake? Interrogating Jonas, his story about the pigeons, his lies? Matthew confronting him, the flashbacks about his being made to participate in the abduction, his running away, giving a name? Jumping to his death?

8. The actor, his girlfriend being abducted and murdered, his wealth, his drug trafficking? His window visible from the roof? The visuals of the abduction and torture?

9. Going to the diner, Scudder being bashed, the owner and his son? The encounter with the DEA officials, trying to track their van, no phone number, his being taken into the vnd, interrogated, let go?

10. The killers being seen, the DEA information, the planning of their targets, only affluent drug dealers, wanting the money, knowing that the victims would want the women saved, the abductions, the sadistic behaviour, the cruelty, the deaths? The two men at home, together, in action? The abduction of the Russian girl? Scudder entering the phone? The scenes of them scouting the house, seeing the nurse, the paralysed woman and the eyedrops, effecting the abduction? Scudder intervening, the planned meeting, the counterfeit money, the confrontation, the shooting? The girl safe? The abductor and his bullet-proof vest? Peter and his intervening, being shot? TJ arriving, giving the information of the address? Kenny and Scudder in the room, the basement and one killer murdering the other? Kenny, Scudder leaving him with the decision about the killer’s fate? Tying him up, getting free, the confrontation and Kenny’s death? Scudder’s return, the fight with the killer, Scudder at a disadvantage, seeing the Taser on the dead body? Calling the police? TJ safe? The use of the 12 steps throughout this confrontation?

11. A tough private eye thriller with reference to Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe?