LIAM NEESON: “Ice Road: Vengeance.” / “Absolution.” / “The Ice Road.” / “Non-Stop.”

“Ice Road: Vengeance” (2025, Netflix) action thriller, sequel to 2021’s “The Ice Road,” and stars. Liam Neeson. The film follows an ice-road truck driver who travels to the Himalayas to scatter his brother's ashes where he must fend off mercenaries. 

       The director, Jonathan Hensleigh. Although I kind of like his “Kill the Irishman” (2011), there's no way that I'd validate his work (also as writer) of this “Ice Road” farce. Like 2021's part I, Mr Hensleigh seemingly didn't mind the disarming implausibility of his script; all that mattered was the singular action sequence. In Part I, it was the North Dakota to Winnipeg “ice road,” literally. In “Vengeance,” it was the Kathmandu mountain by the cliff or ravine. That's the road although there's no ice.

       Chinese star Fan Bingbing's Dhani Yangchen joins Liam's Mike McCann in this movie. Never mind that you are also wondering how come a sweet travel guide Dhani knew how to battle obvious mercenaries in this movie. This is a Liam Neeson movie and I am fine with whatever. Better than my Facebook Homepage. 🎥💻📽

“Absolution” (2024, Hulu) action thriller. Liam Neeson is a brooding, aging gangster who is torn in a world that he tied himself up in until things get a bit too late for redemption. 

       In case you are expecting the usual “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you” violence-cool, this movie isn't although there's a bit of those. Pace is sluggish and the drama is mawkish but this is a Neeson acting performance, at least the way we knew him before he launched a “just a day on the job / 55 movies a year" contest with Nic Cage. 

       But still predictably boring. Sorry. 🎥💻📽

“The Ice Road” (2021, Netflix) action thriller, the film follows a team of truck drivers on a dangerous mission over frozen lakes and winter roads to deliver a crucial component to save workers trapped in a collapsed diamond mine. Stars Liam Neeson. Yup. My favorite overworked action hero (alongside Nicolas “Nouveau Shamanic” Cage).

       This movie is influenced by the 1953 film “The Wages of Fear” by Henri-Georges Clouzot who based his film on the novel of the same name written by Georges Arnaud. Okay, cool! But it didn't really matter. I watched it as a Liam Neeson movie. Repeat: I am a fan.

       This thriller, highlighted by mammoth trailer trucks dangerously traversing icy snowy roads, is a kind of movie that my father would love to watch. Dad used to drive those gigantic vehicles but not in snow; in the Saudi Arabian desert. 

       Critics agreed that Mr Neeson solidified his hold as a top-tier action hero with this movie, although he didn't do much action here. But critics also lambasted the movie, overall. Says one: “A downhill trundle paved with predictability." Adds another: “The movie is so often inept and heavy-handed that not even the reliable presence of Liam Neeson can rescue it.” Ah. 

       My take? When I click/watch a Liam feature, especially that it is an actioner template, I hold no huge expectation. This is not “Schindler's List.” But I did enjoy the ice road sequences.  And hey, grumpy critics! I will watch more Liam Neeson movies! 🎥💻📽

<>“Non-Stop” (2014, Netflix) action thriller. The story follows an alcoholic ex-NYPD officer turned Federal Air Marshal who must find the killer on an international flight from New York to London after receiving texts saying someone on board will die every 20 minutes until financial demands are met. Although this high-wire joint is replete with holes and cracks (script-wise and direction), the adrenaline rush is a never-miss. And Liam Neeson as Bill Marks, a Federal Air Marshal and former NYPD officer, delivers as expected. A lanky reed traipsing on the plane’s aisle, with that stern gaze and “I will find you and I will kill you” swagger. 

       Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who also gave us Netflix’s uneven but exhilarating “Carry-On” thriller last year, this 106-minutes of airplane shaker kept us asking (as did the other characters) “WTF’s going on?” But never mind, Liam had it all covered. 

       Take note of the kickass cast: Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery, Corey Stoll, Lupita Nyong'o, Jason Butler Harner, Linus Roache, Anson Mount, Corey Hawkins, and a bit of my favorite support guy, Shea Whigham in the end. How can this film lose? This: “Non-Stop” earned $92.1 million in the U.S. and $130.6 million in other territories for a total gross of $222.8 million, against a budget of $50 million.

Part 2 is under planning. Of course. 🎥💻📽