"A Walk Among The Tombstones" Review

I feel like it's been ages since I've last typed away on this familiar screen. To try and excuse my absence, I thought I'd update you all on some events:

1) I got admitted into the University of North Texas for journalism. To put it blunt, I'm both excited and busy as hell. Five classes tend to beat all notion of free time out of oneself.

2) I got an internship writing for scifibloggers.com! This blog is supposed to be practice for other writing opportunities and because of my previous work on here, I got in! It's all exciting and I can't wait to see where it all takes me.

Despite writing for another site now, I wish not to abandon my first love. September 9th marked the anniversary of "The Man Without a Plan", and out of a desire to keep on keeping on, I type away now, writing another review. So what's on the docket this time? "A Walk Among The Tombstones."

The trailer showcases stylish use of shadow and cinematography that blends film noir with elements of a gritty 70's thriller. Toss in a straightforward mystery about a private investigator's search for the murderers of a drug trafficker's wife, put Liam Neeson in the starring role, and this looks like a winner, a strong entry into this year's fall lineup. Let me tell you, disappointment hurts.

The movie drudges along, packed with so many characters, it's difficult to keep track of all of them. As a result, I thought the movie had established enough to finish at the hour mark. Needless to say, I wasn't happy when I realized there was yet another hour to go. The script is so full, the movie requires three climaxes to finish tying up its loose ends. After the first time, most of the tension dissipates, and I just look at my watch, waiting for it all to be over.

Now, this doesn't mean the movie's unable to keep interest. Director Scott Frank (screenwriter for "Minority Report" and "The Wolverine"), along with the help of cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr. (The Master), creates a New York that's gloomy, yet intimate, reflecting whatever mood the main characters feel. Through a dynamic use of shadows, angles, and transition, Frank manages (for the most part) to capture a dark atmosphere and keep tension going throughout.

However, there are some moments where the tone and visuals clash. A scene shows the two murderers (David Harbour and Adam Davis Thompson) scoping out the house of their next victim. As they're about to abandon their search (the current situation interferes with their "ethics", I suppose), a young girl comes into view, wearing a bright red coat, walking her dog. The scene moves in slow-motion, and as she waves to them, an upbeat pop song plays. I think Frank's use of irony is supposed to accent how disturbed the killers' psyches are, but the scene comes out of nowhere, and is played over-the-top to the point where I found myself laughing at its goofiness..

Speaking of confused tone, do you remember how people reacted (and still react) to Jar Jar Binks in "Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace"? Whenever he was on screen, he stopped the plot in its tracks and annoyed the audience every chance he could get. As a six-year-old in 1999, I didn't think much of it, but in 2014, let me tell you, I've found my Jar Jar. Brian "Astro" Bradley (Earth to Echo) plays T.J., an abandoned teenager whom Neeson's character befriends and grows to care for. He's a stereotype: the tough kid with a heart of gold. Scrappy Doo is at least cute; T.J. starts irritating and gets to the point where I want him gone, by any means necessary. He desires to be a famous private investigator; we're supposed to find him cute and brave as he gets himself in harm's way. Oh, gag me. If this was a kid's film, a more lighthearted piece, I'd be fine, but in a movie full of rape, murder, and bodily dismemberment, does no one see wise-cracking, "adorable" comic relief as out-of-place?

It's all these little details that stack the odds against "A Walk Among The Tombstones", but no one can deny its stylish ability to create a gloomy atmosphere. Fans of Liam Neeson get what they expect: a gruff exterior, dry, dark humor, lots of fights, and another master class in how to threaten someone over the phone. His performance is tough, yet approachable: one of Neeson's better performances in recent years. It's an overly slow burn, but if you want to see Liam Neeson do what he does best, I won't fault you. However, it's nothing I'd recommend a theater trip for.