Honest Thief (2020) Movie Review

Liam Neeson is back in action in "Honest Thief," portraying a man with a unique set of abilities that include safecracking and bomb-making. This movie is a simple, no-frills, action-packed adventure that has become a hallmark of Neeson's career in his later years. While these films can be thrilling and gripping, they can also be flimsy and weak. "Honest Thief" falls somewhere in between, providing an average performance with limited opportunities for the supporting cast to showcase their abilities beyond car chases and superficial characterizations. Nonetheless, Neeson's solid and reliable performance at the center, along with a few intriguing details, make the film somewhat satisfying.

The director and co-writer, Mark Williams, who co-created the "Ozark" series, offers an intriguing premise in "Honest Thief." Neeson stars as Tom Carter, a notorious bank robber known as the "In and Out Bandit," who has stolen $9 million from 12 banks across seven states over several years. However, when he steps into a Boston storage center to stash his loot, he meets the intelligent and attractive woman behind the counter, Annie, played by Kate Walsh, who works there to pay for grad school. A year later, they're in love, and Tom is so taken by Annie that he decides to turn himself in and give all the stolen money to the FBI. Tom hopes that by cooperating, he'll receive a reduced sentence, as he's eager to move on from his past. However, the old-school agents he contacts (Jeffrey Donovan and Robert Patrick) are skeptical and don't believe his confession. So, they send their underlings, Agent Nivens played by Jai Courtney and Agent Hall by Anthony Ramos, to verify his claims. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned, and Tom finds himself caught up in a violent encounter.

While the characters are complex and enigmatic, the film moves too fast, with too little suspense to make them compelling. The many shady dealings and double-crosses throughout "Honest Thief" fail to leave the impact that they should have. Agent Nivens has no depth beyond his greed, and while Donovan provides some substance as the wisecracking, level-headed agent, there's not enough for him to do to stand out. However, there is an amusing running joke involving Donovan's ex-wife's scruffy dog, which he inherited after their divorce. Much of the screenplay by Williams and Steve Allrich is unoriginal, filled with generic car chases, fistfights, and shootouts, along with an insistent, percussion-heavy score.

Despite the lackluster script, Neeson and Walsh share a decent chemistry, and Annie's character is more than just the typical damsel in distress. However, the beating she suffers later in the game is overly violent and gratuitous. The pieces are present for a more substantial film, but unfortunately, "Honest Thief" fails to deliver. Fans of Neeson's recent work may find it entertaining, but for everyone else, it's just another forgettable action movie.

In conclusion, "Honest Thief" is a serviceable and unremarkable film, falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of Neeson's recent work. While there are a few intriguing details, it fails to deliver the suspense and excitement that the premise suggests. Nonetheless, Neeson's performance is solid and reliable, and he is an incredible physical specimen to watch, even at the age of 68. If you're a fan of Neeson's action movies, you'll likely find "Honest Thief" to be enjoyable, but for everyone else, it's not worth the time. Hopefully, his next project will be a stronger vehicle for his unique set of skills.