In the Land of Saints and Sinners

Az inisherini gyilkosok. Meglepően kevéssé ismert ír produkció a vagány Liam Neeson főszereplésével, amely nagyobb örömet szerez, mint néhány legutóbbi gyorsan elkészült hollywoodi filmje. A cselekmény ugyan erősen sematikus és kiszámítható, de a karakterek, akik között minden szikrázik, nem egydimenziósak; a rendezés szemszögéből gondosan elmesélt, szeretettel a western-filmekhez (beleértve a szájharmonikát is), jó színészirányítással, a tengerparti panorámák remek felhasználásával, és sokkal szebb és mélyebb zenével, mint amit egy "Neesonos cowboyos filmtől" várnánk (hallgasd meg a zárófeliratokat). Kerry Condon, mint a fő gonosz női szereplő ultra bitch, Ciarán Hinds és Colm Meaney a mellékszerepekben pedig mindig örömet szereznek. ***1/2 (2024.06.18)

The trajectory of the quality of Liam Neeson's films in recent years has begun to dangerously replicate something that Nicolas Cage experienced some 10 to 15 years ago. Fortunately, here Liam remembers his better days. The genius loci of the Irish coast is unique, the film has a nice and catchy score, and even though the premise with the retired killer is a very stale, the presence of the IRA gives it all an interesting edge. And thanks to the dialogue, which isn't trite, you'll soon realise that this isn't your ordinary disposable consumer product. It's a serious drama of the old-school variety, just the way I like it. I'm not at all surprised at its inclusion in the Venice Film Festival. PS: Jack Gleeson, Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones was excellent here! (2024.03.16)

Liam Neeson returns to his homeland as a hitman determined to shut down his special forest nursery by the heath brook. But, as you know, people plan, and the IRA changes. It has a flashy title, a western plot about evil strangers in town and a mysterious protector of its residents, Donegal’s scenery is absolutely "gorgeous," and other local seasoned veterans (Ciarán Hinds, Colm Meaney) get their moments. Still, something was missing for me to fully engage. Perhaps it needed to be a notch rawer at the expense of sentimentality and didacticism, the action finale in the pub didn’t have to be so dull, or maybe it needed Brendan Gleeson as a priest or grave-digger, I’m not sure. In any case, Kerry Condon as the Banshee of Tipperary steals the show. Her inner fire translated into her roles is fascinating. (2024.01.17)