RUN ALL NIGHT

US, 2015, 112 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, Boyd Holbrook, Bruce Mc Gill, Genesis Rodriguez, Vincent D' Onofrio, Lois Smith,. Common.
Directed by Jaume Collet- Serra.

For the last six years there has been a Liam Neeson action thriller every year, sometimes two per year. He has been the lead in the three Taken films, in A Walk among the Tombstones and three films from the present director, Unknown and Non-stop. He clearly likes working with Jaume Collet- Serra.

This time he is not particularly heroic. He portrays, Jimmy, a retired hitman, working for New York gangsters. He is now alcoholic, getting old, alienated from his son, not having much to do or to hope for. His close friend from the past and into the present is also a hitman, Shawn, played by Ed Harris. He is still on the upper, doing business, while not always agree with his crooked son and his proposals for deals, especially when they involve Eastern European thugs.

Jimmy’s son is a good man, married with daughters, coaching young African- Americans to box, and driving for a limousine service. By one of those strokes of fate or screenwriters’ contrivance, he and a young man witness some killings by Sean’s son who proceeds to track him down to kill him. His father has come to warn him and shoots the killer before he can shoot his son.

As the title indicates, the action of the film runs over one night and into the morning, opening with Jimmy wounded, lying in the woods, reflecting on the meaning of his life. It then goes into flashback.

Shawn breaks the news to his grieving wife, gathers his henchmen, meets with Jimmy and vows revenge. This pits the two old men against each other both psychologically and physically. Jimmy’s son, still detesting his father, makes decisions to help him, risking murder from a hired assassin. The plot also involves the son’s wife and children, their having to go into the country to hide, but nevertheless being tracked down and threatened.

Run All Night is set in a world of violence, a world of brutality, a world where those who involve themselves in violence come to violent actions.

The film relies on the strength of the performances of the two leads and of Joel Kinnaman as Jimmy’s son. Music star, Common, has an unusual role as a single-minded killer for hire.

Grim stuff for fans of this kind of action thriller.

1. Tough action thriller?

2. Liam Neeson as an icon for this kind of film? His working with this director in three films?

3. The title, the characters, deaths, vengeance? The action taking place over one night?

4. The opening, Jimmy lying dying on the ground, commenting on his life, not going before his eyes? His regrets?

5. The situation, Liam Neeson as an action man? Ed Harris as the villain? The violence, deaths? The past friendship, sharing? The contrast between the sons?

6. Shawn, his empire, killer, friendship with Jimmy? A base in New York? His men, and their loyalty? The deals? The Eastern Europeans? Drug dealers? Shawn not wanting to participate? Danny and his eagerness, smug, his loyal friend? The deals, the confrontation, Danny and his murders? Michael and the young boxer, in the limousine, witnesses? Danny and his pursuit of Michael?

7. Michael, different, his disdain for his father’s career, treatment of his mother? His marriage, wife, the girls? His training of the boy boxing? Driving limousines? The witness, the boy and the filming?

8. Jimmy, his age, experience, older, a drunk? The contacts with Shawn? His concern about Danny, his violence, his worry about Michael? The pursuit, Michael in the house, talking with his father, animosity? Jimmy leaving, seeing Danny arriving, Danny threatening Michael, Jimmy shooting Danny dead?

9. Contacting Shawn, Shawn knowing, Danny’s friend coming to confess and Shawn violently stabbing him? Communicating to his wife, her grief? His pledge to avenge Danny by killing Michael?

10. Michael, warning his wife, his brother-in-law, at the house, the thugs searching, being called away, the family saved, going to take refuge in the holiday house?

11. Detective Harding, pursuing Jimmy the years, the threats? The phone call, Jimmy offering the information, Harding wanting the lists of his victims?

12. The crooked police, being paid off by Shawn? Arresting Michael, the false charges, the guns? Jimmy and the shooting? His discussions with Michael, urging him not to be a shooter like himself?

13. Andrew Price, the phone call, the commission, his eagerness? Going to the apartment, the shooting, Jimmy burning his face against the heater? Not killing him?

14. The confrontation between Jimmy and Shawn, in the old restaurant? The pursuit of Shawn, in the railway yards, the shooting and death?

15. The family, in the country, Price and his arrival, Michael out in the woods, the family hiding in the rocks? Jimmy’s arriving? Michael’s leading Price away, Price and the confrontation, Jimmy shooting him?

16. The aftermath, Jimmy and the pathos of his death, yet a reconciliation with his son, meeting his daughter-in-law, meeting the children? Satisfied in dying?

17. Michael, continuing his work, the young boxer who had given the film to the police? His winning a bout? Prospects of a happy life?