Ever since Taken debuted in 2008 with flying colors, Liam Neeson has been transformed from the quiet, methodical actor of films like Schindler’s List (1993) into Hollywood’s premier action star—not bad for a man now in his 70s. Yes, the gritty Irish actor had his career redefined almost overnight with the late 2000s thriller, and has since starred in such action hits as The Grey (2011) and Non-Stop (2014). However, Neeson’s best film in recent memory, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, departs from his much-parodied tough-guy persona in favor of a role far more complex, understated, and quiet.
Set in Ireland in the 1970s, In the Land of Saints and Sinners—which has found success on streaming in recent months, over a year after its release—follows Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson), an aging hitman who finds himself in a bloody conflict with members of the IRA in the small coastal village of Glencolmcille. In addition to breaking Neeson’s four-year streak of “Rotten” reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, In the Land of Saints and Sinners provides audiences with a slow-burning crime thriller that sees Neeson at his best as the quiet, endearing Murphy.
In The Land Of Saints & Sinners Reminded Everyone Why Liam Neeson Became An Unlikely Action Thriller Star In 2008
Murphy Is Driven By Regret, Not Vengeance
The main driver of In the Land of Saints and Sinners is Murphy’s conflict with a group of IRA members hiding out in Glencolmcille after killing six people with a car bomb in Belfast. The retired ᴀssᴀssin learns of the group’s whereabouts after discovering bruises on the neck of a local girl named Moya (Michelle Gleeson), whereafter he, with the help of fellow hitman Kevin Lynch (Jack Gleeson), takes out the IRA member responsible for the abuse and inadvertently sets off a war with the remaining terrorists.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners was filmed only three hours away from Liam Neeson’s hometown.
The resulting campaign against Murphy is led by Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon), the sister of slain IRA member Curtis June (Desmond Eastwood). Condon delivers a dynamite performance as McCann, whose anger and ferocity in this clip perfectly illustrates her rivalry with Neeson. That pᴀssionate wrath stands in stark contrast to the reluctant, almost pᴀssive Murphy, whose apprehension toward violence stems from his brutal decades as a hitman for the local crime boss, Robert McQue (Colm Meaney).
The emotional weight Murphy carries not only makes him the perfect protagonist to face off against McCann: it also reminds us of what made Neeson such a compelling action star in the first place, since his greatest characters are most often vulnerable and driven by pain and sacrifice over ego.
In The Land Of Saints & Sinners Is Liam Neeson’s Best Action Thriller To Date
Liam Neeson Was Born For The Role Of Finbar Murphy
It’s no understatement to say that Liam Neeson has kept busy in the 16 years since Taken. The 72-year-old is one of Hollywood’s most prolific action stars, headlining films like Run All Night (2015), The Commuter (2018), and The Marksman (2021) over the past decade. However, a common thread across all these pictures is that they lack the emotional gravitas necessary to truly elevate a film to a state of greatness—one truly worthy of Neeson’s talents.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners fills that gap with the role of Finbar Murphy, a swan song performance that remolds the Irish actor’s action star persona through the quiet lens of a grim, aging ᴀssᴀssin yearning for peace—better yet, an old, violent dog desperate to learn some new tricks in the last stage of his life. It’s anathema even to consider another actor in this role besides Neeson: His grit endears us in a way that’s failed to be repeated, and hear this: his performance as the haunted Finbar Murphy will go down as one of his greatest.
