Run All Night (2015)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Non-Stop)
Written by Brad Inglesby (Out of the Furnace)
Starring:
Liam Neeson (The Lego Movie)
Joel Kinnaman (The Killing)
Ed Harris (The Truman Show)
Common (Smokin' Aces)
Boyd Holbrook (A Walk Among the Tombstones)
Genesis Rodriguez (Casa de Mi Padre
Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder)
Vincent D'Onofrio (MIB)

Picking up right where 2014 ended, Reigning SQUID Actor of the Year Liam Neeson headlines this seemingly standard entry to the action genre. If only taken for its obvious machismo, Run All Night may be soggy with familiarity but, here, Neeson is backed by an excellent supporting cast and unique, flashy visuals that are a rarity for a brainless revenge romp. 

There are obvious negatives here. It's yet another violent film for Neeson. A standard Caucasian overload in the lead roles. There's no important female affecting the story. But, if you're watching this movie, you already know all that from the outset. The real question is this, what does Run All Night bring to the table? The answer is style. 

In a amicable blend of recent violent stories like John Wick and A Walk Among the Tombstones, with transitions that more resemble a video game than a pulpy, melodramatic shoot'em up, Run All Night manages to be somewhat refreshing. The closest match to the aesthetics would be the superb, instant-classic bicycle chase film Premium Rush where the camera breaks out of the grittiness to give you an out of body thrill while swiftly moving the story along.  

That is the biggest strength for Run All Night. Jaume Collet-Serra's third pairing with Neeson expands the director's camera trick arsenal. It moves and shakes as if the camera was operated by a prodigal ten year old abusing the zoom function. 

There's enough character building in the story to engage the audience and the familiar territory of an estranged son is somehow fresh with Kinnaman and Neeson's interactions. Ultimately, thanks to the flying lens and the zoned-in perspectives, we get to see it in bathed in a new over coat of swirling lights. 

Bottom Line: Its a fun ride and it has some heart. There's a pretty good chase scene. There's a rapper assassin, there's a flaming stick sword fight, there's that gorgeous shot gun shot, and (my favorite element) there's slow motion paired with rotating freeze frames. Absolutely delicious. Go, Liam Neeson, Go!

10 out of 10