In a career trajectory that has defied even a global pandemic, Liam Neeson has reliably churned out action films, becoming an action star in his own right since the 2008 blockbuster, "Taken." Now at 71, the Academy Award-nominated actor ('Schindler’s List') has taken on roles such as a gruff Arizona rancher in "The Marksman," a vengeful grandpa and FBI agent in "Blacklight," and an assassin suffering from Alzheimer’s in "Memory." In his latest cinematic venture, "Retribution," Neeson steps into the shoes of Matt Turner, an American investment banker living in Berlin.
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One day while driving his teenage children to school, Matt discovers that he's essentially a moving bomb. If he stops the car or tries to exit, it will detonate, according to the voice on his cell phone. Following orders, he drives around Berlin. He unwittingly becomes a part of a lethal chain of car bombings that take the lives of several colleagues. Europol detective, portrayed by Noma Dumezweni, is soon hot on his heels, embodying a hard-nosed, relentless investigator.
This narrative framework, though intense, feels somewhat familiar. Unlike Neeson’s iconic character in "Taken," Matt Turner lacks specialized skills. His primary tools for survival are his driver’s license and his quick thinking. It's also worth mentioning that Matt's personal life isn't peachy. His wife is contemplating a divorce, and there are murky implications of financial misdeeds.
Neeson teams up yet again with producers Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman, marking their third collaboration. They previously worked together on "Non-Stop" (2014) and "The Commuter" (2018). Jaume Collet-Serra, who directed Neeson in these films, now sits in the producer’s seat. While there's a predictable comfort in watching this tried-and-true team operate, it evokes more of a mechanistic efficiency than an artistic or emotional resonance.
Heineman cheekily noted that their films with Neeson have included crashing a plane and derailing a train. In "Retribution," they've moved on to blowing up cars across Berlin. While the ending packs a twist, it only really shocks those who haven't seen the 2015 Spanish original. Most of the action unfolds from the limited space of a car, ratcheting up the tension. Credit should also be given to Jack Champion and Lilly Aspell, Matt’s distraught children convincingly, and to Director Nimród Antal for maintaining the suspense.
In contrast to Tom Cruise, who seems to up the stakes in every new "Mission: Impossible" installment, Liam Neeson's action films feel somewhat uniform. Sure, the players and circumstances may vary, but the tension, risks, and payoff often feel redundant. Even as Cruise has indicated he plans to follow Harrison Ford's footsteps, acting in adrenaline-packed roles into his 80s, one thing sets him apart: a willingness to push the envelope. Neeson, for all his consistency, has yet to make that leap. He often makes his cinematic adventures feel more like calculated products rather than evolving stories.
