Worth: $14.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Robert Patrick
Intro:
…an enjoyable B-grade popcorn flick.
Liam Neeson’s career is aligning closely with the big action stars of the ‘90s; just like the Van Dammes and Steven Seagals of their time, he’s essentially playing the same character in every new film, always facing very similar stakes. For Neeson, it’s typically a retired professional who is pulled back into action when a loved one is put in danger. At one point in Honest Thief, Neeson even mutters into a phone “I’m coming for you” to his enemy – a direct reference to his beloved Taken series – but as they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Honest Thief isn’t as polished as the Taken films, nor tongue-in-cheek like Cold Pursuit, but it’s an entertaining watch all the same – especially given the very low quantity and quality of films being released amidst the current situation. While he’s worked as a producer on everything from Ozark to The Accountant starring Ben Affleck, this is only Mark Williams’ second feature in the director’s chair. He hits all the right notes, if only a little too predictably, which is okay considering that the premise is hardly going to provoke Oscar buzz.
Neeson plays Tom, a bank robber who has successfully stolen $9 million without anyone knowing his whereabouts or identity. Things change when he falls in love and decides that he wants to lead an honest life. He negotiates a deal with the FBI to hand over all the money in exchange for a reduced sentence, but when two crooked cops decide to keep the money for themselves, things go south quickly.
Honest Thief has got everything that you need from a supporting cast: a likeable love interest (The Umbrella Academy’s Kate Walsh), some familiar faces (Suicide Squad’s Jai Courtney and She’s Gotta Have It’s Anthony Ramos) and reliable veterans (Robert Patrick). Walsh, in particular, is great fun to watch, as is Fargo’s Jeffrey Donovan. Courtney definitely hams it up the most, which is mandatory, given that he’s the only character raising the stakes.
The score is about as cheesy as it gets, with dramatic string build ups during the hopeful romantic scenes early on, before the grungier guitar work hits hard and fast as the action builds. All in all, if you’re willing to leave your brain at the door, then this is an enjoyable B-grade popcorn flick. However, if you’re tempted to question how and why everything is playing out, then you’ll lose interest pretty quick.
