Returning to his Northern Ireland roots for a 70s-set old-school Neo-Western that makes the most of its The Troubles backdrop, Liam Neeson happens across something pretty rare in his messy latter-day DTV film history: a semi-decent gem.
Neeson's churned out 8 action movies in the last three years, which isn't merely a personal record, it's also a hell of an irony for a man who - long ago - announced his retirement from action. In that slew he's drifted not only further away from his genuine acting days of old, but far from even his early Taken-era action heyday, affording fans mediocre entertainment in silly fare like The Ice Road, but diminishing returns for the likes of Blacklight, Memory, Marlowe and Retribution. Reuniting with Robert Lorenz, producer-turned-director who made a solid start with his Eastwood vehicle The Trouble with the Curve, and gifted Neeson an acceptable enough DTV outing in the forgettable The Marksman, finding their rhythm second time out for a quaint little Irish-set Western-styled effort which might be somewhat damned by the faint praise that is "the best thing Neeson's done in years" but that doesn't necessarily make it any less true.
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In the mid-70s, Finbar Murphy has spent his post-WWII life, after the loss of his wife, whiling away the days taking pieces of contract work for a local crime boss, but he's finally just about done with that too, looking to grow a herb garden and actually 'retire'. Unfortunately a group of IRA fighters, fleeing from a successful bombing botched only because it resulted in some very public collateral damage, just happen to be hiding out in Finbar's neck of the woods, and it's only a matter of time before their paths cross...
After watching the last half a dozen Neeson straight-to-streaming efforts in a row, it would likely be hard mustering up the courage to even consider his latest effort, and In the Land of Saints and Sinners is certainly not going to go down on anybody's 'recommended' Neeson film list, with that particular accolade likely eluding most everything he's done in the last decade, but Neeson is a veritably watchable entity, even in some of the trash he's churned out, and finding a better than usual effort in with the garbage is a pleasant surprise.
Undoubtedly a huge key to the success of this over other attempts is the setting - not just revelling in the sheer natural beauty that Ireland has to offer (reportedly primarily shot in County Donegal) but also soft-playing that backdrop to The Troubles, affording a tense, explosive start, but keeping the remaining political unrest as a newspaper headline that colours the situation rather than dictates it.
those who've suffered through his last batch of flicks will probably come out of this particular one rather pleasantly surprised
And at 71, it's nice seeing Neeson taking something a little more considered, which doesn't necessarily rely on some kind of ninja skills he was called upon to pull off 15 years ago, suiting the full barrel shotgun-slung-over-the-shoulder look, and embracing his character's (admittedly now cliché, and slightly meta given the actor's own movie choices) simple desire to retire from a world of violence. What's even better is that he's drawn in a whole slew of Irish companions for the journey - a bigger cast too than he's perhaps enjoyed of late, but also a team of game players, most of them veterans in much more prominent productions, perhaps affording this more consideration because of the Irish bent. Long-time real-life friend Ciarán Hinds plays his character's long-time cop mate, and Colm Meaney his boss, both bringing pleasant gravitas to the proceedings, with Bad Sisters' Sarah Greene in the mix too, whilst Kerry Condon - who's enjoyed quite the resurgence following The Banshees of Inisherin - is palpably threatening as venom-spitting IRA frontrunner calling the shots.
Less a conventional action movie in Neeson's recent mould, and more an Irish-set Neo-Western, complete with harmonica score and traditional western beats (from the quaint town to the retired gunman and his wannabe successor to the on-the-run criminals and the vulnerable they prey on), the slower set-up and narrative evolution works for the style they're going for, replacing some of the low budget DTV vibes you might otherwise feel with that pretty organic 70s Irish environment, with older actors more naturally playing older characters for once, and making it work. Yes, it's not going to completely make you reassess Neeson's career choices of late, nor stand out as some particularly memorable endeavour, but those who've suffered through - or even tried to seen the good in - his last batch of flicks will probably come out of this particular one rather pleasantly surprised.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners is in 4K Ultra HD on Netflix UK from 26th April 2024
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