"Absolution," directed by a vision that eludes me, features the formidable Liam Neeson alongside a cast that includes Frankie Shaw, Ron Perlman, and Daniel Diemer. It attempts to take us on an emotional journey of an aging gangster trying to reconnect with his children while the criminal underworld supposedly seeks to thwart his efforts.
This marks my second foray into the realm of films with memory loss as a theme this week—having previously watched "Knox Goes Away", starring Michael Keaton, which was actually a very good movie and offered a refreshing take on the concept. Now, with "Absolution," Liam Neeson takes on the memory loss theme for the second time after his 2022 film "Memory," which was less than stellar but at least had some redeeming moments. I went into "Absolution" with a flicker of hope: maybe, just maybe, this would be a gripping character study dressed in gangster tropes. Instead, what I received was a claustrophobic sludge of narrative that barely resembled the premise promised, landing it squarely in the territory of pure crap.
A Plot that Simply Goes Nowhere
The synopsis hinted at a thrilling conflict with the criminal underworld, which instantly raises expectations. Unfortunately, "Absolution" opts for shallow explorations over substantial storytelling. Where do I even start? The movie is a jumbled mashup of gangster dramas, familial ties, love stories, and redemption arcs—all vying for attention but resulting in a confused and uninviting experience.
The storytelling feels lazy and incoherent, as if the script's writer threw ideas onto the wall and hoped something would stick. Each theme—gangster dynamics, paternal regret, revenge—merely grazes the surface, failing to develop into anything meaningful. I looked desperately for moments of connection, relatable struggles, or character arcs, but what I found instead was a plot as flat as a pancake. Every attempt at emotional depth flounders, leaving nothing but frustration in its wake.
There were hints of a larger narrative potentially involving the criminal underworld, but these aspects remain weak and underdeveloped. The film ultimately becomes a collection of poorly connected vignettes that sprawl into a sense of futility. The pacing meanders like a lost puppy, dragging through scenes with little substance or reward.
Talent Wasted in This Mess
Liam Neeson, a powerhouse of an actor often capable of making the absurd resonate with charm and intensity. Yet here, he is little more than a ghost of himself, playing a character (referred to as Thug) who could have been painted in brighter strokes but somehow feels faded and lethargic. His talents are squandered on a script that provides him with little substance, leaving him to wander through scenes void of connection or growth. As much as I wanted to root for him, I couldn’t help but feel he was trapped in a narrative labyrinth with no exit.
The supporting cast adds little to elevate the dimensions of this film. Characters like Daisy (Frankie Shaw) and Kyle Conner (Daniel Diemer) barely escape the realm of caricature, performing as mere placeholders in a story that does little to flesh them out. I was hoping for sparks of chemistry or meaningful conflict, but what remained are representatives of forgettable roles in a forgettable film.
A standout moment in the film comes when Javier Molina delivers the phrase "sureno style!" during a particularly stylish and rapid sequence that caught my attention. It’s a moment that showcases a flair for the dramatic, managing to be far more intriguing than much of the film's overall narrative. One can’t help but wish the characters could infuse that same level of intensity into the story itself.
A Directorial Snooze Button
The director of "Absolution" leaves much to be desired when it comes to visual storytelling or creative direction. If there was a bold vision behind this film, it hid itself well among the script’s insipid lines and lackluster pacing. Choices that could have injected life into the film instead feel pedestrian. I yearned for scenes that would underline the emotional stakes or adventurous elements, but they remained unmet, lost in a daze of generic filmmaking.
Rather than cocooning us in the labyrinth of an aging gangster’s confounding world, the direction feels as though it is frantically searching for a heartbeat. Unfortunately, its approach strikes that unfortunate balance of being entirely forgettable—mixing ambition with a lack of execution. The energy is missing, and scenes stagger along, resulting in what feels like an overextended nap interspersed with half-hearted moments of action.
Visuals that Fade into Oblivion
The cinematography and visual aspects of "Absolution" are far from cohesive. They flicker between being overly dark and unexpectedly dull, failing to capture the gritty aesthetic one might expect from a film involving criminal elements. Talk about wasted potential—I found myself longing for an aesthetically gripping frame, only to be met with bland compositions that feel haphazard.
Lively action sequences are often frenetic but come off more as chaotic than thrilling. As for set design and special effects, they hardly register. At best, one might say they are serviceable, but if any intentionality was there, it certainly eluded me. I wouldn't even have noticed if the movie opted for silence; the music wasn’t any better, blending so seamlessly into the background that it was invisible to my ears.
Script: A Not-So-Magical Mystery Tour
In a perplexing turn of events, you’d think a film featuring organized crime and family pressures could deliver some compelling dialogue. Alas, the script takes a nosedive into mediocrity, where the writing feels painfully clichéd and uninspired. Characters talk past each other, and when they do manage to engage, the conversations lack authenticity, leaving them sounding more like scripted pieces rather than genuine interactions.
Moments meant for depth are handed over in platitudes that read painfully awkward. Each line feels like an effort to fill space rather than cultivate real tension or drama, reducing pivotal scenes to mere footnotes in a story that barely breathes. Dialogue ends up feeling like a chore, one that the characters and audience wished to escape.
A Soundscape of Silence
In a film where music and sound design could have woven emotional threads, we instead receive a soundtrack that barely registers. The score, when it occurs, is forgettable, failing to elevate key scenes or amplify the emotional stakes. It's as if the sound team stepped out for coffee, leaving the film bereft of the life that strong compositions could have provided. It’s disappointing when you recognize the potential for sound to transform a film, and here it only hinders the experience, reinforcing our lack of connection to the unfolding drama. In a matter of moments, I felt an overwhelming urge to mute the experience altogether.
A Failed Exploration of Themes and Impact
The film touts itself as a journey of redemption, lost family connections, and the ravages of a criminal life—yet what we encounter resembles a derailed train. Themes that could have resonated deeply are instead glossed over or mismanaged, leaving any potential for emotional impact by the wayside. My connection to the protagonist's plight is strained at best, seemingly doused in cliché after cliché that renders it hollow and unengaging.
As I made my way through the film, I longed for a concrete theme to latch onto, yet I only found verbal platitudes. If the film makes any statement about the criminal life or the journey of aging, it quickly swirls away, lost among the clutter of unresolved arcs and lackluster execution. Overall, the film's attempts at layering meaning ultimately fall flat, leaving viewers grappling for something—anything—that might invoke real emotion.
In conclusion, "Absolution" is a cinematic disappointment that drags through a maze of half-hearted storytelling, pedestrian performances, and uninspired direction. Liam Neeson’s immense talent is overshadowed by a narrative that merely meanders rather than compellingly drives forward. As I left the theater, I couldn't help but shake my head at yet another film that missed the mark, a missed opportunity that could have explored richly woven character dynamics instead of offering a lukewarm retread of tired tropes.
