Absolution

MOVIE: ABSOLUTION

STARRING: LIAM NEESON, RON PERLMAN, YOLONDA ROSS, FRANKIE SHAW

DIRECTED BY: HANS PETTER MOLAND

AMovieGuy.com RATING: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 4)

RATED: R

RUN TIME: 112 MINUTES

Liam Neeson has become synonymous with a certain mold in his films—one that has cemented itself over his career. Between 2020 and 2024, I’ve reviewed several Neeson-led films, most bearing one-word titles like Retribution, Marlowe, Memory, Blacklight, and now Absolution. Each is marketed as a potential successor to Taken, and while there’s some truth to that—Neeson often plays hitmen, gangsters, or wronged men seeking vengeance—the true narrative often gets overshadowed. However, Absolution is different. It’s not an action film but rather a poignant meditation on loss and redemption, exploring the life of a man grappling with increasing dementia and striving to reconcile with his past.

Neeson’s character, known simply as “Thug,” is a former boxer turned gangster, now a solitary figure estranged from his family. His boss, Mr. Conner (a strong performance from Ron Perlman), sends him on various jobs with his son, hoping the veteran will impart some wisdom. When Thug experiences memory lapses, he reluctantly seeks medical advice and learns he suffers from severe CTE due to his boxing days. This revelation prompts him to step away from his violent life, reconnect with his estranged daughter (played by Frankie Shaw), find companionship with the equally lost Looper (Yolonda Ross, delivering a standout performance), and reflect on his past mistakes.

The marketing for Absolution may attempt to align it with Neeson’s previous action-packed roles, but it leans more towards a narrative fitting for an actor of his caliber at this stage in his life. Screenwriter Tony Gayton sidesteps the usual gangster tropes, although there’s a memorable scene where Thug takes out a few adversaries with surprising agility. Instead, the film delves into existential themes. Director Hans Petter Moland paces the film thoughtfully, allowing for deep conversations about regret, the lives Thug has taken, and those he never truly knew. Dream sequences reminiscent of Life of Pi add a surreal layer, revealing Thug’s haunting memories of his father’s upbringing and glimpses of his possible afterlife.

Ultimately, Absolution prioritizes emotional depth over action. While it may be marketed as a new Taken, the film is a far richer experience. Neeson approaches his role with sensitivity, embodying the terrifying reality of losing one’s grip on life and identity. It’s a film that dares to be more than just guns and gangsters, and it deserves a chance to be seen for what it truly is.

3 STARS

Absolution is playing in select theaters on Friday, November 1st, 2024.

Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com