Some movies, while not perfect, are elevated by a singular aspect within the film, such as acting or directing.

“A Walk Among the Tombstones” (Rated R; 113 min.) is one of those films.

“A Walk Among the Tombstones” is a crime film directed by Scott Frank and stars Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens and David Harbour.

Advertisement

After an accident on the job, corrupt detective Mathew Scudder (Neeson) is a broken man. Eight years later, while working as an unlicensed private investigator, Scudder begins working on a case to find the men who killed the wife of a drug kingpin. As he works on the case, he finds out things are not what they seem.

It is nice to see Neeson in a different role than in “Taken.” While “Taken” was a terrific action film, it had its downfalls.

Many great actors find themselves type-casted after hitting it big. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. and even Alec Baldwin have all faced this problem. Neeson is only a recent addition to this list.

After seeing Neeson play the weathered action hero role over and over again, it was a breath of fresh air to see him go outside those limitations.

While this film is no “Schindler’s List,” Neeson brings a signature flavor to this film. He plays a complex character straddling the line between likeable and unlikeable.

He is haunted by a past incident, and trying to make amends. This is a staple of detective fiction, yet this film makes it interesting. While trying to make amends and be a better person, he is still a harsh and uncaring man somewhere deep inside.

For every scene of Neeson helping a young homeless teenager, there is a scene of him threating to kill a man with no remorse.

Advertisement*

Neeson plays this character so well. It is almost like he has played it before. The character feels developed like true mystery novel character after two or three books. There is still a lot more we can learn about him, but it never feels like his first time around.

Dynamic characters make this film. Neeson finds himself helping criminals who are just as likely to hurt him in some way shape or form, people who are hard to have empathy for.

Yet, by adding an even more reprehensible villain, interesting, creative dialogue and backstory, and an attack on innocence, we find ourselves enjoying these characters throughout the film.

Characters like James Loogan, played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, come to mind as an example. Loogan, in any other movie would be used to give the audience expository dialogue and nothing more.

In this script, we learn his character is not only an aspiring author, but also a bird handler. His intelligence is shown in his ability to see through Scudder’s initial tricks. He plays a supporting role, but is treated like a main character.

“A Walk Among Tombstones” has problems. However, dynamic characters and acting elevate this film. If you love detective films or just want some entertainment in life, this movie is worth seeing.

Jacob Pierce can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter @JacobPierce1_DE or at 536-3311 ext. 273