RUN ALL NIGHT

RUN ALL NIGHT
GRADE: D
Starring Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, Common
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Rated R (violence, profanity)
Reviewed by Paul Gibbs


It is very likely that the most depressing moment I will ever have as film critic came as I was watching Run All Night and realized that the presence of Liam Neeson in a film, like Nicolas Cage and Gerard Butler before him, now all but guarantees a bad film. In all three cases these are actors I once admired, but Neeson stands out far above the other two. Neeson gave a brilliant performance in what I consider to be the best film ever made (Schindler's List), and until recently could be counted on always to rise above even his weakest material (okay, maybe not Clash of the Titans) and make it watchable. But his string of action films has definitely worn out its welcome.

Neeson stars as Jimmy Conlon, an ex-mobster who has an at best estranged relationship with his adult son Mike (Joel Kinnaman). Mike not only has the stereotypical "You were a bad father and you were never there for me" issues with his Dad, there are the "You were a cold-blooded killer" issues on top. The only real friend Jimmy seems to have is Sean Maguire (Ed Harris), a former partner in crime (literally) who has now become a respectable businessman.  But Sean also has a son, Danny (Boyd Holbrook), and Danny is a violent thug. When Danny tries to kill Mike, Jimmy has to kill Danny. And because Sean has seen Road to Perdition and knows that the Irish gangster movie code says that when your best friend kills your no good son you have to kill him, the film becomes a chase, with Sean's goons trying to kill Jimmy and Mike.

All of the this might have at least made for a serviceable shoot-'em-up, but dramatically it's tired to the point of complete exhaustion, and director Jaume Collet-Serra (who previously made the forgettable Unknown with Neeson) alternates between limp and hyperactive (including the worst transition shots I've ever seen). Neeson and Harris are solidly professional in their roles, but uninspired. They deserve better, and so do their fans. Even Common feels wasted. Joel Kinnaman, on the other hand, is my choice as the least interesting screen presence since James Belushi. With every line he spoke I found myself wishing Channing Tatum was playing the role (even the Tatum of his early films, when he couldn't act).

Ultimately, Run All Night is just plain boring. There's nothing aoriginal or interesting, the drama doesn't work, and the action isn't fun. It's one 1 hour and 54 minutes long, but it feels like it runs all night. It's rater R for violence and profanity.