MOVIE REVIEW - A Walk Among The Tombstones

This was a big book, and now it's a movie. Liam Neeson stars in A Walk Among The Tombstones.

This is the story of a retired, down and out cop, Matt (Neeson).  He was involved in a horrible shooting where he killed 2 robbery suspects, and severely wounded another in 1991.  Trouble is, he did it while drunk.  So he leaves the force, and becomes an "off the books" of unlicensed private detective in New York City.

Flash forward to 1999.   Matt is hired by a small time drug trafficker to try to find two men who abducted and killed his wife.  Matt reluctantly takes the job, and in short order finds out that he is dealing with really horrible men, who are targeting small time drug operators wives.  These men abduct, then torture, and do simply unspeakable things to these women before they kill them.  Of course they are doing it for money, but they have no intention of returning the women even if the ransom is made.

Matt finds that these men have some ties to the DEA, but doesn't really now how.  As he closes in on the suspects, he starts to battle his own demons from the past.  Matt has no real fear of much of anything, even dying. Will this be a plus as he pursues these insane men, who are obsessed with killing and death?  How does the DEA fit in?  And can these killers be caught -alive? 

This is one of those stories that might actually read better than be watched.   I can see how this could be a very compelling read as some of this may play out better in your minds eye, than in your two actual  eyes.  This is not for everyone.  This features some really gruesome stuff, and features death, dismemberment, and torture.  The story is intense, and isn't for the faint of heart.

Neesom leads a no-name cast, and that was a good decision.  You need Neesom to sell tickets and to play this large role.  But the fact that you really don't know the rest of this cast, gives this a total sense of real.  This is filmed in natural, gritty, and ugly parts of New York and that is a great decision too, as it gives this the sense of grime this story requires.  There are a few slow spots in this, and Neeson has been razzed as he basically plays the same character he does in the Taken (not related) series, but neither one is a deal breaker.  This is not a great movie, but it is a typical decent early fall release. 

A Walk Among The Tombstones.   Tough stuff.  Goer beware.