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Liam Neeson plays an unnamed thug working for minor Boston mob boss Charlie Conner (Ron Perlman). He's been assigned to back up the heir apparent Kyle Conner (Daniel Diemer) who is green, arrogant, and a druggie. He's suffering from memory issues which turns out to be CTE. He tries to reconnect with his kids. His daughter Daisy (Frankie Shaw) doesn't want anything to do with him and his son died without his knowledge.

This is Liam Neeson doing Liam Neeson except this character is on his last legs. That is a good spot for him as he ages and isn't quite the killing machine of his younger days. I wouldn't mind dropping the girlfriend and spend more time to generate drama with Daisy. The writing can do some sharpening but one must also remember that the man is suffering from mental degeneration. He can't be throwing out snappy one-liners. I like this for Liam Neeson although everybody else seems to be unimpressed.

BEWARE: all you Liam Neeson action fans, this is a subtle DRAMA and NOT a hardhitting gangster movie AT ALL. Best suited for an arthouse movie audience!

The good: Liam Neeson is still starring in solid movies at his age. He is still convincingly portraying these old gangster characters with a heart. And this story is all about ageing and nearing the end of ones life and trying to heal family bonds that were long lost. It isnt a riveting drama, but a quite slowburning and subtle one and for those who are interested in this genre it could be worth a watch, but dont expect fireworks!

The bad: I love to see Liam Neeson in his hardhitting old man gangster roles in which he fights and shoots bad guys. But this movie has very little of that and therefore I got a bit bored with it half way through.

NOT suited for the Liam Neeson action gangster fans. Best suited for an arthouse movie audience which likes to watch a subtle slowburning character drama...

This is not your typical action-packed Liam Neeson movie, and that might be why some people dislike it or find it boring. However, for me, this was exactly why I enjoyed it. For the past few years, I've felt like all his movies were becoming repetitive-different titles but essentially the same movie. Absolution breaks away from that mold, offering a surprising level of emotional depth that sets it apart from his usual roles. The film provides a thoughtful exploration of redemption and relationships, which I found refreshing. That said, I wasn't a fan of the ending. It felt dragged out, taking too long to get to the point, which slightly detracted from the overall experience for me.

I was expecting another Liam Neeson driven action flick but this is a more thoughtful movie. It is slow paced for sure but I feel unfolds nicely. You really get the sense the guy at the end regrets his choices in life. You also get the sense he was destined for that life. I think the development of Liams character over the course of the movie builds your feelings for him. This is a flawed/violent person who at the end grows more desperate to reconcile with the family he walked away from. The movie touches a lot on inter-generational abuse and neglect and the chaos and struggle that leads to generation after generation. Also, I felt the movie was exceptionally written. If you're willing to give it the time and enjoy Neesons more subtle performances you should enjoy this.

Liam Neeson's latest crime thriller, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Hans Petter Moland (Kjærlighetens, kjøtere, Gymnaslærer Pedersen, En ganske snill mann), is imbued with a deep melancholy and sense of humanity. There have been many films about thug life in Boston, but the story of Thug (Neeson) holds its own among the better ones. The main reason is that he is a fully fleshed-out character who is brought to life by Neeson's seasoned performance. And although his world is populated with overly familiar small-time mobsters and let-down women, Moland takes his time to tell their stories with conviction and care.