An aging gangster attempts to reconnect with his children and rectify the mistakes in his past, but the criminal underworld won’t loosen their grip willingly.
Chuck says:
Something is amiss in Liam Neeson’s latest film, “Absolution.” There’s a genuine attempt to tell a story with substance and meaning. Now don’t get me wrong; director Hans Peter Moland isn’t so foolish to stray too far from the norm where vehicles for the withered action star are concerned. There’s still enough gunplay and violence to satisfy genre fans. Yet the balance between character study and action sequences are part of the problem with the film. Moland and screenwriter Tony Gayton’s intentions may be sound, but they err in the way they balance these two elements, ultimately to the movie’s detriment.
Neeson is Murtagh, an aging gangster who’s coming to realize he’s lost a step or three. Not quite as quick as he once was in the boxing ring and taken to forgetting names or even where he lives, he knows something is amiss. A trip to the doctor confirms this when he is diagnosed with CTE. Realizing his days are numbered, he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Frankie Shaw) and get to know his grandson, Dre (Terrence Pulliam).
Of course, these are gestures of a foolish, desperate man as far too much time has passed to mend these bridges. A budding relationship with a neighborhood woman (Yolonda Ross) is doomed from the start, yet she and Murtagh go through the paces, taking temporary solace in one another. Finally, an event occurs that awakens his conscience. Having taken a job with a nefarious bunch, he comes to find out he’s unknowingly been complicit in a human trafficking ring, the cargo in the trucks he’s been driving containing women who’ve been taken or sold into prostitution.
Murtagh’s road to redemption contains no surprises, which makes the film’s nearly two-hour running time excessive. Narrative repetition sets in, far too many moments spent with our anti-hero trying to connect with Dre, sequences with his new ladylove serving little purpose. I never thought I would write such a thing regarding a Neeson feature, but more action is needed here to goose things along.
Neeson doesn’t sleepwalk through this feature, which is a refreshing change, excelling in moments when Murtagh struggles with his memory or inability to connect with his family. Dream sequences in which he spends time with his long-dead negligent father are also of note, each providing a surprising emotional impact. These moments prove the actor still has something to give despite his wallowing in the B-movie wilderness.
Exploring some of the same thematic territory as Tim Mielants’ upcoming and far superior “Small Things Like These,” inaction and the guilt stemming from it are the focus, Murtagh shackled to his code of looking the other way in direct conflict with his awakened conscience. This is a worthy avenue to explore, especially during the contentious times we live in. Yet, despite being relatable and timely, “Absolution” is far too ponderously paced to have a genuine impact.
2 1/2 Stars
