3 stars (out of 5)
The second film to feature author Lawrence Block’s continuing character Matt Scudder (after 1986’s 8 Million Ways To Die, with Jeff Bridges), this has been compared to that shot at filming Jack Reacher, although Liam Neeson is more ‘on the grid’ than Tom Cruise’s Jack. And taller too.
Detective Matt (Liam) is introduced in 1991 New York taking on a trio of stick-up kids, and this intense and violent sequence sets the tone for the rest of this dark tale and also provides the reason why Matt’s given up the booze and retired from the force (his ongoing attendance at AA meetings is a key thread here). Flashing forward to 1999, we watch as private investigator Matt is summoned by druggy Peter Kristo (Boyd Holbrook) to talk to Peter’s brother Kenny (Dan Stevens), a man whose wife was abducted and killed by persons unknown despite the payment of a ransom. Kenny wants Matt to track down whoever did the dreadful deed and bring them to him, and Matt’s sleuthing uncovers several other victims of a pair of Very Bad Men who do Very Bad Things. With the help of homeless kid TJ (Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley), who humanises Matt (a bit), our almost-anti-hero gets down to the business of pursuing these sickos, as things get grimmer, nastier and more one-note.
Adapted for the screen and directed by Scott Frank, this is rather hurt by its relentless bleakness (everything is grey, mean and chilly), but Liam’s weary portrayal of Matt saves it from being too much of a damn downer. As tough but more complex than he was in those Taken movies and Non-Stop, he’s the main reason to catch this psychodramatic action movie all about the ugliest side of human nature (just in case you haven’t been seeing enough of that lately).
I Wake Up Screening 