Agent Meyers is one of the senior agents that passes on the claim, believing it isn’t real, like many of the other claims, he does start to investigate when things start to get out of control. Agent Nivens is assigned to investigate the claim Tom is making, turning into his own opportunity to make money, going too far, on the levels where he will need to make sure he cleans up his own mess. Annie is a divorced woman running a storage operation, looking to rebuild her life, she knows nothing of the former life Tom has, but knows the two can spend their lives together. Additionally, our coverage will provide alternative viewing options whenever they are available.Characters – Tom is a former marine turned famous solo thief, with 9 years of robberies under his belt, he has left the game though, looking to come clean for his actions, to start a new life with Annie, but when the FBI don’t play as fair as he imagined, he must prove he is only a robber not a murderer. We encourage readers to follow the safety precautions provided by CDC and health authorities. Open Road Films will release “Honest Thief” in select theaters on Friday, October 16.Īs new movies open in theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, IndieWire will continue to review them whenever possible. “Honest Thief” may have missed its moment, but at least it captures the appeal of Neeson’s action stardom, and provides a welcome excuse to return to better examples.
#HONEST THIEF MOVIE#
These days, however, that concept alone can’t salvage a movie far beneath his talents. On paper, that pitch may have sounded appealing 10 years ago, when Neeson was in the throes of his new chapter as escapist centerpiece. Think “Occupy Wall Street” by way of “Robin Hood” - the ultimate warrior-for-the-little-guy plot. Frustrated with the one-percent, Tom decided to steal from it. An apparent Vietnam veteran who returned to a broken home, Tom explains his sob story as the result of his father losing his job over corporate embezzlement. The movie has an indistinctive lo-fi look, and unfolds against the rather tired milieu of a gritty city overwhelmed by corruption.Īt least the backstory has some modern-day resonance. There have been better versions of this scenario throughout film history - think Jules Dassin’s 1949 noir “Thieves’ Highway” - and “Honest Thief” can’t seem to escape their shadow. But he’s still quite the efficient killer, and when the movie lets him loose, it can be fun to watch him unleash his rage.īut only to a point. Neeson is certainly persistent, and it’s obvious that he is uncomfortable with the violence he inflicts on others. (Then again, he’s so good at spinning his path to redemption that of course she falls for it.) It’s a wonder she doesn’t flee when she learns that that man she loves has been lying to her about his past.
If one actor can define a franchise, this one has peaked.Įven so, Neeson outshines much of the mediocrity around him, including Walsh’s underdeveloped Annie, whose half-hearted performance makes it hard to invest in the developing stakes. At times, Neeson’s investment in the role hints at something meatier around the corner, and he brings a notable gravitas to a part that keeps the movie watchable even during its most contrived twists.īy now, however, this itself has become something of a routine: another opportunity to watch Neeson run-and-gun his way out of a jam, in a humorless scenario devoid of any big reveals. There’s little to distinguish the ensuing conflict from scores of other B-grade action-thrillers, except that this one stars Neeson as a former marine and demolitions expert, which is a solid selling point given his track record for elevating this kind of pulpy material. It all seems to be going to according to plan - until he’s double-crossed by a pair of corrupt FBI agents (Jai Courtney and Anthony Ramos) who frame him for murder. Instead of simply returning the millions he stole, Tom contacts the FBI, offering to turn himself in and give back the stash he stole over the years, in return for what he hopes will be a lighter sentence. He doesn’t particularly like the nickname, but after he falls in love with the vivacious Annie (Kate Walsh), he decides to make a fresh start by coming clean to her. Dubbed the “In and Out Bandit,” Neeson’s Tom is a meticulous Boston thief who has stolen millions from banks while managing to keep his identity a secret.
While “Honest Thief” starts out as the story of a bad guy looking to do good, it eventually shrugs off that premise for a more typical man-on-the-lam setup. When Liam Neeson Looks Back at His Career, He Has a Few (but Not Many) Regrets
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