10/22
Thug: Were you born without a filter?
An aging gangster tries to reconnect with his children and right the wrongs of the past, but the criminal underworld does not loosen its grip willingly. Liam Neeson began boxing at age 9 and fought at an amateur level until he was 17. The doctor diagnosed Liam Neeson’s character with CTE. A definitive diagnosis of CTE can only be made by examining brain tissue after a person’s death. This diagnosis should have been presumptive with other options and possible treatments explored.
References Jurski Park (1993)
Or is that something you had to work at?. Lucky Number Written by Lene Lovich, Les Chappell (as Leslie Chappell) Performed by Lene Lovich Licensed courtesy of Oval Music and Oval Sounds (PRS). On the surface, “Absolution” seems like an amalgamation of every Liam Neeson film released in the last five years; The plot sounds especially familiar: IMDb describes it as a story about “an aging gangster who tries to reconnect with his children and right the wrongs of his past, but the criminal underworld doesn’t loosen its grip on him willingly.” If that doesn’t sound like classic Neeson territory, then I don’t know what does. He’s once again a grizzled, jaded man who’s seen too much, done too much, and now wants to make amends. There’s the tense criminal underworld setting, the looming specter of revenge, and a narrative that delves into the bruised and broken relationships left in the wake of his violent past.
In “Absolution,” Neeson’s character is no longer the invincible force audiences might expect
Add to that the fact that Neeson’s character is dealing with dementia-like symptoms, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that “Absolution” is a spiritual successor to 2023’s “Memory.” The difference lies in the fact that, unlike some of Neeson’s previous action roles, “Absolution” takes a different approach — rather than 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. It’s as if Neeson’s typical action hero persona has aged along with him, evolving from a man who solves problems with his fists to someone who is confronted by 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 haunted by regret, desperately seeking redemption. And while the setup 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-heavy roles. He’s vulnerable, flawed, and forced to reckon with the pain he’s caused others, particularly his own family.
And for some, that might be disturbing
This isn’t just another tale of revenge — it’s a story about confronting one’s past and the potential impossibility of true redemption when the damage is so deep. That said — and I can’t stress this enough — “Absolution” is not an action movie, no matter how much the trailer wants to convince you that it is. There are about sixty (60) seconds of all-out action in this film, and it’s all fast-paced, to the point, and not meandering. Each moment of violence is brief, deliberate, and almost surprising in its abruptness. Someone gets punched, maybe shot, possibly stabbed — and then it’s over.
And you know what?
After all, Neeson has practically made a career out of playing the tough guy who’s as quick with his fists as he is with the trigger. “Absolution” takes a step back, focusing on the man instead of the action. It worked for me.
