33/40

Once again, he’s a grizzled, tired man who’s seen too much, done too much, and now wants to atone for his sins

Synopsis

An aging gangster tries to reconnect with his children and rectify the mistakes of his past, but the criminal underworld won’t loosen its grip willingly. At first glance, “Absolution” seems like an amalgamation of every Liam Neeson movie that’s come out in the past five years; the plot feels especially familiar: IMDb describes it as a story about “an aging gangster who tries to reconnect with his children and rectify the mistakes of his past, but the criminal underworld won’t loosen its grip willingly.” If that doesn’t sound like classic Neeson territory, then I don’t know what does. The tense undercurrent of the criminal underworld, the looming specter of revenge, and a narrative that delves into the broken and bruised relationships left behind by his violent past. Add to that the fact that Neeson’s character is dealing with dementia-like symptoms, and we’d be forgiven for thinking “Absolution” is a spiritual successor to 2023’s “Memory.” The difference lies in the fact that, unlike some of Neeson’s previous action-packed roles, “Absolution” takes a different approach: Instead of focusing on gunfights and chase scenes, this film leans into the emotional weight of Neeson’s character; it’s less about physical battles and more about the internal struggle of a man haunted by his own legacy.

In “Absolution,” Neeson’s character is no longer the invincible force audiences may expect

It’s as if Neeson’s typical action hero persona has aged with him, evolving from a man who solves problems with his fists to one who confronts the intangible scars he’s inflicted over the years. Neeson isn’t just a man with “a particular set of skills” this time around; he’s a man tormented by regret, desperately seeking redemption. And while the context may be familiar, “Absolution” aims to explore the emotional depths of its character, adding layers of introspection that set it apart from his recent action-packed roles. He is vulnerable, flawed, and forced to deal with the pain he has caused others, particularly his own family.

Someone gets punched, maybe shot, possibly stabbed… and then it’s over

This is not another revenge story, but rather a story about confronting one’s past and the possible impossibility of true redemption when the damage is so deep. That said (and I cannot stress this enough), “Absolution” is not an action movie, as much as the trailer wants to convince you that it is. There are about sixty (60) seconds of total action in this movie, and it is all fast, direct, and undiminished. Every moment of violence is brief, deliberate, and almost surprising in its abruptness.

And you know what?

And for some, this may be disturbing. After all, Neeson has practically made a career out of playing the rock-hard man who’s as quick with his fists as he is with the trigger. “Absolution” takes a step back and focuses on the man instead of the action. It worked for me.

Plus, there was clear competence behind the camera, and director Hans Petter Moland clearly put in effort into the film’s visuals: “Absolution” looks much better than some of Neeson’s recent films, namely “Blacklight,” “Retribution,” and “Honest Thief”

This is a dark, somber drama in which Neeson gets a chance to show what a good actor he really is; watching him try to reconcile with his family and deal with his rapidly deteriorating memory was both fascinating and heartbreaking, and Neeson added a level of credibility to the role that other actors might not have been able to achieve.

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