LOU

US, 2022, 107 minutes, Colour.

Alison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall Green, Ridley Asher Bateman, Matt Craven.

Directed by Anna Foester

It had to happen. When we look back at the career of Liam Neeson in his late middle age (turned 70 in 2022), we remember that he made a new reputation for himself in starring in action films, on average, it would seem, one every year. The first that made an impact was Taken. And there were several sequels to Taken. So, it is surprising that it is only now that the producers have decided that they needed a female star as a variation on the Liam Neeson tradition.

And it is Alison Janney, who has won many awards over the decades, remembering her in The West Wing and her Oscar for hard mother in I, Tonya. And she is definitely a strong choice. She is a tall woman. She has no trouble in dominating the screen or in dominating other characters.

So, we are a bit surprised at the early part of the film when Lou seems to be in full depression, removing all her savings from the bank, wrapping packages of money, tossing documents into the fire, getting a rifle, ready to kill herself. We have already seen her clash with her neighbour, Hannah (Jurnee Smollett), almost knocking down her daughter with her car. So, where are we going?

Well, of course, what better than the screenplay that taps into familiar memories of action shows, the renegade father with a tough reputation (Green Beret, torturing prisoners, disappearing in an explosion, Logan Marshall Green) turning up and abducting his daughter.

Which means that off we go with Lou and Hannah, trekking through the mountainous and forest terrain of the islands off the Northwest coast of the US, discovering that Lou is not just some retired grandmother, but has a military, espionage background, action in Iran and the revolution, knows how to track, knows her bushcraft, is determined to recover the child. So, action, pursuit, hiding, some accidents… And Hannah rather puzzled at these revelations about Lou.

Not only does the film build up to the expected climax and confrontation, the screenplay surprises us, rather extraordinarily as we think back on it, with quite a dramatic twist.

For audiences who enjoy this kind of action show (usually with the male hero), then Alison Janney certainly impresses. And, despite what seems to happen in the finale, the filmmakers have given themselves an out for Lou 2.

1. The title, the focus on Lou, as a person, her past, mistakes, possibility for atonement?
2. The beautiful settings, the islands of the Northwest American coast, water, mountains, the town, homes? Trekking through the terrain? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Lou, her age, grizzled, putting things in order, withdrawing money from the bank, the clash with Hannah, almost hitting Vee, demands for the rent? Packing the money, burning the documents and photos? Getting the rifle, to kill herself? Flashback indications about I ran, revolution?
4. Hannah, pressures, money, love for her daughter, playing with her? Chris, his visit, memories of the past? His driving, giving them a lift, jovial, the music, Philip suddenly killing him, tying him up? Returning, abducting his daughter?
5. The blackout, Hannah trying to fix it, her daughter’s disappearance, going to Lou, Lou about to kill herself? A reprieve?
6. Introducing the sheriff, friendly, the metal band? Contacted later, the abduction, his contact with the authorities, CIA information?
7. Action adventure, the storm, the dark, the mountains, the paths? The audience seeing Philip with his daughter, hiding, the carriage, the dolls, abandoning it? Their walking, arriving at the cave? The interactions at the K? Moving along to the lighthouse, on the top of the lighthouse, his reassuring her?
8. Lou and Hannah, the tension between them, Hannah and her fears, Lou, the equipment, able to track in the dark, the weapons, the phone? Hannah and her trying to make contact with the sheriff? Discovering the house, the two men, Lou pretending that her dog was lost, hospitality, turning on them, the fights, killing them? Hannah’s reaction?
9. Continuing on, the hardships, the dangers, the good and the footbridge, almost there, falling, losing an hour? Getting to the shore, Philip and the daughter absent? The fire at the lighthouse?
10. Each of the women, their injuries, the first aid kit? Lou sending Hannah with the phone in the opposite direction? Her going to the lighthouse?
11. The twist and the information, Lou and her background, Philip her son, Iran, letting him go, loyalty to the CIA? His own career, resentments, green beret, torturing enemy, his disappearing, presumed dead? Mother and son? His leaving the postcards challenging her? Her relationship to her granddaughter?
12. The confrontation between mother and son, the fight, the axe, her shooting him? The basement, the daughter going to the toilet, hiding, her mother finding her, Lou enabling them to escape?
13. Philip, wounds, pursuit, across the beach, Lou and her blowing up the lighthouse, the hovering helicopter? Eliminating CIA operatives? Mother and son fighting, the machine-gunning?
14. The aftermath, the sheriff and the rescue, Hannah and her daughter, the bequest from Lou, packing to leave? The boat, and Lou watching through the binoculars?