Absolution – A Mixed Bag Slow Burn Crime Thriller

Absolution is a crime drama directed by Hans Petter Moland that sees him reuniting with leading man Liam Neeson for the first time since their 2019‘s Cold Pursuit. After a nameless character known only as Thug (Neeson) is given a troubling health update, the ageing gangster tries to reconnect with his children and try to make up for the mistakes of his past. However, as his criminal lifestyle begins to unravel, it threatened to destroy everything he hods dear. Unlike the typical Liam Neeson action thriller, calling it an action film in any way would arguably be inaccurate. Rather, it is more of a slow burn and deliberately paced crime drama, and though still a bit of a mixed bag, it is refreshing to see a Neeson vehicle aspire to be something more than yet another schlocky and disposable action thriller audiences have seen countless times before.

No matter the quality of his recent efforts, Neeson consistently gives these roles his all and never phones it in no matter what. That being said, he delivers what it is easily one of his finest performances in years, with the role serving as the perfect bridge between his action fare and his more serious work that he looks to be heading towards. Neeson perfectly sells the physical side of things when he has to, despite his age, while also showcasing how great of a dramatic actor he can be, given the right script. Meanwhile, Shaw is a standout as Thug’s daughter Daisy, sharing strong chemistry with Neeson. Their scenes deliver some of the film’s best moments, with some unexpectedly hard-hitting emotional moments later on. While there aren’t many to be had, keeping to the film’s more thriller-leaning side, the few shootouts and hand-to-hand combat scenes it did have are nonetheless solid and gives the film a spark of energy.

Either way, as different as this is for a Neeson film, it doesn’t change the fact that it is still generic, derivative, and standard as far as crime dramas go, and fails to do nearly enough to differentiate itself from the many others of its ilk. However, one of its biggest issues lies with its pacing. The film can be stop and go as it could never quite find its grove, especially as it approaches its intense final act. Outside of Shaw, most of the supporting cast is wasted and aren’t given much of an opportunity to shine. Also, the middle of the film saw stretches that offer little more than boredom, which could easily become a little dull at times. For everything the film accomplishes over the course of its 112 minute runtime, it definitely could have been trimmed down.

In the end, Absolution isn’t a bad film by any means, but it is one for which audiences should adjust their own expectations for and not go into expecting a typical Liam Neeson revenge thriller like the countless ones he has done countless times before. Otherwise, they will be sorely disappointed. While Neeson is great in it, and is far better than a lot of his more recent projects, it never rises above the level of mediocre or just okay, compared to the rest of the vast crime genre. Once the dust settles, hopefully Neeson and Hans Petter Moland have an opportunity to collaborate once again as they have proven that they are great duo who can clearly work well together though next time, that project better be accompanied by a much better script.

still courtesy of VVS Films

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/