HONEST THIEF
US, 2020, 99 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan, Anthony Ramos, Robert Patrick.
Directed by Mark Williams.
An agreeable title. How does a thief become honest? The answer is that, when dealing with the FBI, it is not so easy.
This is a film for 2020 audiences, especially older audiences looking for some kind of easy entertainment in difficult times. So, a thriller which is not too violent (although there are some shootouts and car chases). A thriller which actually has romance built in – romance certainly being a motivation for a thief to be honest.
And, we have Liam Neeson. Neeson has played many serious roles (we remember Schindler’s List, Kinsey, Silence). And for more than 10 years he has built up quite a catalogue of action shows. With his height, his speaking voice, his strong presence, he brings something of gravitas to any character he plays. And, this is especially the case here, with Tom – a former Marine, demolitions expert, family crisis, and a series of bank robberies. But, especially when he encounters divorcee, Annie (Kate Walsh very sympathetic), it is time for honesty.
The trouble is that when he phones the FBI, they have heard all kinds of confessions before, encountered all kinds of hoaxes. They are not particularly enthusiastic. This is the case with the senior agents, played by Robert Patrick and Jeffrey Donovan. They hand on the mission to the younger agents, played by Jai Courtney and Anthony Ramos. They meet with Tom, they go off to recover some of the money. All could go well in furthering their careers.
But, of course, it doesn’t.
In finding some of the money, quite easily, there is a huge temptation to steal it – dishonest thieves. Unfortunately, the brains behind the stealing, Nivens, Jai Courtney, is strong on impulse rather than planning which has dire consequences. But it brings back Tom into serious action, handy with the gun, skilled in making bombs, expert driver.
So, this is where the action comes in – and some emotions because of Nivens attack on Annie (who managed the storage where the money has been kept and has possession of security footage).
The filmmakers keep a fairly good balance between the action and the romance (and, possibly, only one brief instant of swearing, which is a surprise). The comments on the film from your average audience have been very favourable. They enjoyed it. However, the fans of Liam Neeson’s earlier thrillers are begging him to insert much more action – and one of them suggests very earnestly that he cut out much of the romance!
Honest Thief was never intended to be a great cinema experience – but, most older audiences will find interest and entertainment.
1. The title? The background of bank robberies? Motivations? Desire for honesty? The experience of love?
2. The blend of action, thriller, chases, shootouts, betrayals? Romance? An older audience?
3. The credibility of the plot, Tom and his life, the Marines, his skills, his father, the robberies, keeping the money, not spending it, the decision to give himself up? The betrayal by the FBI agents?
4. The city setting, apartments, hotels, FBI offices, storage? Homes, streets? The musical score?
5. Liam Neeson, his action films? Age? Experience? Tom, the visualising of the robberies? The year later? Wanting to store the money, the encounter with Annie, the immediate connection? Tom and his wanting love, Annie, her divorce, new life, response?
6. Tom, phoning the FBI, the reaction of the agents, the many claimants and hoaxes, disregard? Agent Baker, getting Meyers to listen? The young men going to Tom’s apartment? Baker, the phone call, going to the apartment, his being shot?
7. Meyers, his background, the divorce, the dog and the presence of the dog throughout? Sceptical about Tom? His reaction to Baker’s death? Believing the agents? Contacted by Tom, a different perspective? His support of Tom? The confrontation with Nivens? Dealing with agent Halll? The issue of the bomb, Nivens and his fears, the setup and his arrest?
8. Tom, the phone calls, the admission of the truth, not being believed, his waiting for the agents? The young men? The information about the storage? But not all the money? The going to the storage, meeting Annie, finding the boxes, Nivens and his decision, the pressure on Hall? Taking the money, storing it? The return to the apartment, confronting Tom? Confronting Baker, Nevin shooting him? The consequences? The impact on Hall (and the scene with his wife and his guilt feelings)?
9. The shooting, the guns, the fight with Tom, his leaving, the hotel, his tactics, the contact with agent Meyers?
10. Annie, the security footage of their taking the boxes? The attack on Annie, the violence, Tom taking her to the hospital? Surveillance? Tom later taking and hiding her?
11. Tom buying the bomb equipment? Creating the bonds? The phone call to Nivens, the bomb in his house, the explosion? Tom confronting Hall, Nivens arriving, his shooting Hall?
12. The bomb in the car, Tom and his threats, Nivens and his driving, his care, fear, phoning in, the setup, the bomb expert, no fuse, his being arrested?
13. Tom giving Annie y the key, Meyers and the extra storage room, finding all the money? And Tom giving himself up? The future?
