{"id":4853,"date":"2020-10-14T23:43:47","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T03:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/?p=4853"},"modified":"2020-10-14T23:43:47","modified_gmt":"2020-10-15T03:43:47","slug":"love-makes-an-honest-thief-out-of-liam-neeson-in-new-thriller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/2020\/10\/love-makes-an-honest-thief-out-of-liam-neeson-in-new-thriller.html","title":{"rendered":"Love Makes an ‘Honest Thief’ Out of Liam Neeson in New Thriller"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Liam Neeson travels a rocky road to redemption in the new Open Roads release \u201cThe Honest Thief,\u201d releasing Friday, Oct. 16. After finding love through a chance encounter with Annie (Kate Walsh), Tom Carter (Neeson) decides to start a new life, which means making restitution with a string of high-profile bank robberies. When Carter calls the FBI to turn himself and the money in, he is quickly double-crossed by two agents (Jai Courtney and Anthony Ramos) who frame him for murder and keep the money.<\/p>\n

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FilmsHT_FP_00038Liam Neeson (left) stars as \u2018Tom Carter\u2019 and Kate Walsh (right) stars as \u201cAnnie\u201d and in director Mark Williams\u2019 HONEST THIEF, an Open Road Filmsrelease.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyone who\u2019s ever seen a Liam Neeson film knows the double-cross is a big mistake, bringing down the fire of the reformed criminal in a series of foot chases, explosions, and car crashes. Adding to the mix this time is the love interest, whose love prompts the series of events and drives Carter to press on until he\u2019s vindicated.<\/p>\n

As an action star, Neeson is consistent and steady. Rolling his success from \u201cTaken\u201d into film after film of gun-toting revenge, such as \u201cCold Pursuit,\u201d \u201cRun All Night,\u201d \u201cNon Stop\u201d and \u201cUnknown.\u201d Unlike some of his action predecessors, Neeson hasn\u2019t experienced a career lull, still alternating more character driven projects such as \u201cSilence\u201d and \u201cWidows.\u201d \u201cThe Honest Thief\u201d doesn\u2019t necessarily rank among his best, but it\u2019s hardly a misstep. For her part, Walsh is more than a damsel in distress and actually hangs around longer than other love interests.<\/p>\n

It is also noble to note that Carter is a man wanting to make amends as peacefully as he can. He resorts to violence as a way of clearing his name, but he doesn\u2019t excuse his past or intend to hold onto one stolen dollar. Unlike the two rogue agents, Jeffrey Donovan\u2019s FBI supervisor is sympathetic and fair in wading through the aftermath.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Honest Thief,\u201d written and directed by Mark Williams, is a welcome return to arms for Neeson and a good diversion during the pandemic-created cinematic dry spell. Rated PG-13 for strong violence, crude references and brief strong language, it releases in theaters, on demand, and digital on Friday.<\/p>\n