Liam Neeson to the Rescue!
October 23rd, 2020 is going to be very interesting here in Finland as Liam Neeson's latest movie Honest Thief premieres across the country. The U.S. reception last week was positive but lackluster due to the Pandemic, which has kept most patrons cooped up in their homes the past six months or more. Reportedly, Liam Neeson's star power mustered the lowest box office numbers ever to have landed at No.1 position and barely topped Christopher Nolan's Tenet. Weak performance from the box office, true, but considering the circumstances, still a good effort.
Despite this timid performance, it seems that operators are eager for Hollywood to keep "feeding the beast" which is the cinema business. Just as Finland is currently relying heavily on domestic titles, the cinema industry, in general, seems to be laying its chips on alternative content such as indie movies, dramas, romantic, and smaller comedy titles where blockbuster titles are few and far between. With the movie theaters operating at 50% capacity pretty much all around the world, these "smaller" star-studded films increase in significance to all involved, audiences, and operators alike. Personally, I think, this is can be a very good thing. Perhaps a sort of detox from the heavy Hollywood productions that we have been inundated with the past decade?
What about the Movie?
Movie audiences are accustomed to a specific genre called the "Liam Neeson experience". Ever since the Taken movie series (the first irrefutably being the very best), we have been delighted by the actor's fiery M.O. relentlessly and vengefully chasing down the bad guys and making action scene history. Classic Liam.
The very same panache can be expected from his latest installment where he portrays himself as a professional bank robber hoping to make a deal with the FBI agreeing to return all his stolen loot in exchange for reduced imprisonment. Of course, the agents frame him for a murder that he did not commit, and the protagonist, a little like in Harrison Ford's iconic movie and one of my absolute favorite The Fugitive, goes on the run and seeks to bring justice in order to clear his good bank-robber-name. One cannot but marvel at the benevolence and lovely predictability of the character - ergo a classic Liam Neeson experience.
Having well-known actors fill the big screens again is a welcome many have waited for quite some time - what better to do on a Friday night than to go watch Liam Neeson kick-ass - functions well for couples looking corona refuge and a hint of everyday escapism from all the ever-blasting covid-news. It may seem a little too desperate to go as far as stating that Honest Thief promises such relief, however, ...it kind of does, doesn't it?
If we look at the way Hollywood has been treating movie theaters, beyond Tenet, there have not been really any titles with an A-list actor gracing us on the big screen. In this regard, Liam Neeson not only delivers, but he also pummels his way to the rescue. We owe him and the movie Honest Thief our utter gratitude - thanks, Liam!
Moving Forward
I do not know about you, but I am way too familiar with my couch and recliner by now - I am assuming a very many of us are extremely acquainted with every nook and cranny of the sofa having literally lived on it the past dreary months. The rescue and yes, even salvation, that a movie like Neeson's brings, should be accepted with open arms and should be jumped at with utmost glee for the mere release that it provides. Rotten Tomatoes rated the movie at an incredible 88% and as such almost promises an almost cathartic experience for those brave enough to depart from their butt-dent-molded couches and venture out to the cinemas countrywide. Like with any great movie, one must go see it to make up their own mind about it. I, for one, can't wait for the 23rd.
See you at the movies!
Which movie are you excited to see on the big screen next? Please comment below or send me a DM.