![]() He's known to the media and the police as the In-and-Out Bandit, such a monstrously terrible name that it's even made fun of in the dialogue, and in this he has stolen something in the vicinity of $9 million over the years. Neeson is, of course, the honest thief, Tom Dolan of Boston, Massachusetts. The subjective, simplistic word "boring" is the single worst one for any critic to ever use about any art object, because it doesn't really mean anything, but here we are: Honest Thief is extraordinarily boring, surely the most boring of all the thrillers that Neeson has headlined since redefining his career with 2008's Taken, and a steady contender for the worst-made on top of it (though 2014's Taken 3 at least makes that latter one a competitive race). Not a high bar, and yet somehow, Honest Thief does not succeeded in clearing it. Additionally, our coverage will provide alternative viewing options whenever they are available.There's only really thing a late-career Liam Neeson action movie has to do, which is show Liam Neeson engaged with the business of doing action. We encourage readers to follow the safety precautions provided by CDC and health authorities. Open Road Films will release “Honest Thief” in select theaters on Friday, October 16.Īs new movies open in theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, IndieWire will continue to review them whenever possible. “Honest Thief” may have missed its moment, but at least it captures the appeal of Neeson’s action stardom, and provides a welcome excuse to return to better examples. These days, however, that concept alone can’t salvage a movie far beneath his talents. On paper, that pitch may have sounded appealing 10 years ago, when Neeson was in the throes of his new chapter as escapist centerpiece. Think “Occupy Wall Street” by way of “Robin Hood” - the ultimate warrior-for-the-little-guy plot. Frustrated with the one-percent, Tom decided to steal from it. An apparent Vietnam veteran who returned to a broken home, Tom explains his sob story as the result of his father losing his job over corporate embezzlement. ![]() The movie has an indistinctive lo-fi look, and unfolds against the rather tired milieu of a gritty city overwhelmed by corruption.Īt least the backstory has some modern-day resonance. There have been better versions of this scenario throughout film history - think Jules Dassin’s 1949 noir “Thieves’ Highway” - and “Honest Thief” can’t seem to escape their shadow. But he’s still quite the efficient killer, and when the movie lets him loose, it can be fun to watch him unleash his rage.īut only to a point. Neeson is certainly persistent, and it’s obvious that he is uncomfortable with the violence he inflicts on others. (Then again, he’s so good at spinning his path to redemption that of course she falls for it.) It’s a wonder she doesn’t flee when she learns that that man she loves has been lying to her about his past. If one actor can define a franchise, this one has peaked.Įven so, Neeson outshines much of the mediocrity around him, including Walsh’s underdeveloped Annie, whose half-hearted performance makes it hard to invest in the developing stakes. ![]() At times, Neeson’s investment in the role hints at something meatier around the corner, and he brings a notable gravitas to a part that keeps the movie watchable even during its most contrived twists.īy now, however, this itself has become something of a routine: another opportunity to watch Neeson run-and-gun his way out of a jam, in a humorless scenario devoid of any big reveals. There’s little to distinguish the ensuing conflict from scores of other B-grade action-thrillers, except that this one stars Neeson as a former marine and demolitions expert, which is a solid selling point given his track record for elevating this kind of pulpy material. It all seems to be going to according to plan - until he’s double-crossed by a pair of corrupt FBI agents (Jai Courtney and Anthony Ramos) who frame him for murder. Instead of simply returning the millions he stole, Tom contacts the FBI, offering to turn himself in and give back the stash he stole over the years, in return for what he hopes will be a lighter sentence. He doesn’t particularly like the nickname, but after he falls in love with the vivacious Annie (Kate Walsh), he decides to make a fresh start by coming clean to her. Dubbed the “In and Out Bandit,” Neeson’s Tom is a meticulous Boston thief who has stolen millions from banks while managing to keep his identity a secret. While “Honest Thief” starts out as the story of a bad guy looking to do good, it eventually shrugs off that premise for a more typical man-on-the-lam setup. When Liam Neeson Looks Back at His Career, He Has a Few (but Not Many) Regrets
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