The career of Liam Neeson is fascinating and likely marks one of the most gradual yet severe career declines since Charles Bronson joined Cannon Films. Much like his predecessor, who starred in masterpieces like “The Great Escape” and “Once Upon A Time In The West,” Neeson’s career began with his star-making role in “Schindler’s List” and is now mostly recognized for starring in dozens of low-budget action movies.
Neeson has cultivated a reputation as one of Hollywood’s best grizzled old men, being an actor capable of genuinely emotive performances and convincing masculine violence. His career has spanned from prestige films like “Gangs of New York,” “Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” and “Widows” to blockbusters like “The Phantom Menace,” “Chronicles of Narnia,” “A-Team,” “Batman Begins,” and “Clash of the Titans” (in addition to his early work in “Dark Man” and “Excalibur”).
But for whatever reason, his popular role in “Taken” has fundamentally shifted him into an actor best suited for action thrillers. Starting around 2014, his persona leaned into the image of his action hero characters in “Taken” and “Unknown,” even parodying it in movies like “Ted 2” and “The LEGO Movie” and producing upwards of 16 action flicks in the past decade.
This effort has already hit diminishing returns. As Hollywood In Toto points out, his last four action movies — “The Marksmen,” “Blacklight,” “Memory,” and “Retribution” — all grossed less than $15 million at the box office, and his efforts have begun shifting toward Netflix exclusivity. His newest film, “In
