BLACKLIGHT
US, 2022, 108 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Taylor John Smith, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Claire van Der Boom, Yael Stone, Andrew Shaw, Zac Lemons, Tim Draxl, Mel Jarnson.
Directed by Mark Williams.
Liam Neeson as action hero again. In fact, since 2008 when he appeared in the original Taken and proved his credentials for taking on this kind of role, he has averaged an action adventure movie every year since. (And, while Blacklight is for 2022, he has already another two films like this waiting for release – and then, he will appear as the classic private investigator, Philip Marlowe.)
In many ways, this is standard Liam Neeson action. He plays Travis Block, whom we first see being a doting grandfather, his daughter wary of him, fearing that he is going to turn the little girl into a security expert – she is already alert to dangers in situations, her grandfather tutoring her. And, throughout the film, there are some very pleasant grandfatherly sequences, Travis doting but then caught up in action and forgetting to turn up for the little girl’s play at school.
And, Travis has every reason to be distracted. The film is set in Washington DC and opens with a protest rally, a type which Donald Trump would not have approved of. The speaker is a passionate young woman and while we look forward to seeing and hearing more of her, she is set up and killed, appearance of a hit run accident. So, sinister beginnings.
A young man is seen at the rally and it emergence that he is the speaker’s boyfriend, Dusty Crane (Taylor John Smith). And, he is on the run, pursued by Travis, interrogated by him, revelations that he has been working undercover – which means then that we are on the way to a deadly conspiracy.
Dusty Crane has been in contact with an ambitious reporter, Vera (Emmy Raver-Lapman) who dismisses him but is forced to take everything seriously, Travis interrogating her, enlisting her help to track down the assassins.
It is also revealed that Travis has been working for years with the head of the FBI, Robinson (Aidan Quinn looking older and not immediately recognisable). Travis has been doing undercover work for Robinson because of the debt when Robinson saved him from court-martial in Vietnam.
So, it all builds up to a confrontation, revelation of a make America great again moral disapproval of American culture, justice being done, the rescue of daughter and granddaughter in witness protection and a happy reunion.
This is a film that Liam Neeson made in Melbourne in 2021. While the four central roles are played by Americans, the quite long list of supporting characters is all played by Australians.
The director, Mark Williams, created the television series Ozark – and clearly has a dislike of some of the triumphalist aspects of the Trump years.
- Political thriller? Washington DC? The FBI? Conspiracy theories? Echoes of the Trump era?
- The Washington settings, the city, offices, outside rallies, homes, the streets? The musical score?
- The title, the conspiracy, the FBI, Operation Unity? Assassinations?
- The opening rally, the tone, protests and demonstrations, Sophia and her assured speech, Dusty Crane in the audience, tentative, applauding? The relationship? Her going home, taxi, standing at the taxi window, the car and her killing?
- Travis block, a Liam Neeson hero, age, alienation from his daughter, care for his granddaughter, the scenes of him being a grandfather, the outings? If his daughter concerned about his security background, knowing how many exits, his granddaughter and her comments on security?
- His background, explanations, the Vietnam war, the rescuing of the woman in the alley, the irony that it was the Cmdr and the assault, Gabriel Robinson covering for him, his debt? The return from 50 Vietnam, 15 years, his being recruited by Robinson? Espionage, hitman? Outside the law?
- Dusty Crane, his age, experience, undercover, his training, with Sofia? Spying on her, falling in love with her? The impact of her death? His wanting to make a confession? Contact with the journalist? The encounter with Travis, taking him in, interrogation, his escape, the pursuit? Meeting the journalist, the computer stick, his being attacked, death?
- Mirror, her work as a journalist, her boss, sceptical about her story, wanting evidence? Her boss and the discussions? Her personal life? Scepticism about Dusty, going to meet him, moving away? Phone calls, contacts, his death, her blaming herself, grief? The discussions with Travis, the walks, further investigations?
- Robinson, head of the FBI, home, smooth, charmed? The emergence of the truth? Operation Unity? Wanting secrecy, wanting loyalty from Travis? His politics, philosophy, cleansing and protecting America? The elimination of Sophia, her knowing too much about Dusty? Eliminating dusty? His henchmen, running over Sophia? The pursuit of Dusty? Pursuit of Travis?
- Travis, preoccupied, neglecting his granddaughter? The disappearance, witness protection? Is challenged to Robinson, demands?
- The set-ups, the pursuits, shooting? His going to Robinson’s house, confronting him, the threat? Robinson’s capitulation?
- Vera, her story, accepted, published? Her career?
- Travis, older, saving his daughter and granddaughter, settling down? Or not?
