Liam Neeson’s 2014 action thriller is trending on Paramount+, but audiences are better off reading the book it’s based on instead. Many of Neeson’s films as a leading man place the actor in a wide range of genres, but it’s the release of Taken that helped establish him as a solid action star.
Although the general critical response to the Taken franchise was never exceedingly positive, audiences were always more welcoming of the films. After Taken, Neeson went on to lead a string of action thrillers, each varying in their success.
Some movies, like The Grey, are seen as a career high for Neeson, while movies like Wrath of the Titans are better off forgotten. Neeson’s trending action thriller lands somewhere in between. Throughout his career, Neeson has proven to be a compelling action hero, but his talent within the genre can only do so much for a film.
Liam Neeson’s A Walk Among The Tombstones Is Okay, But The Original Book Is Better
Written and directed by Scott Frank, A Walk Among the Tombstones is based on Lawrence Block’s crime thriller of the same name. A Walk Among the Tombstones follows private detective Matthew Scudder (Neeson) as he helps a drug dealer find those responsible for the kidnapping and murder of his wife.
Matthew Scudder was first brought to life on the big screen in the poorly received 8 Million Ways to Die. Jeff Bridges portrayed Matthew Scudder in the film, and though Neeson’s performance has earned a far more positive response, A Walk Among the Tombstones isn’t without its faults.
Frank’s film captures the gritty tone of Block’s writing well, but sacrifices the complexity of Neeson’s character, including key romantic and platonic relationships, in exchange for an increase in action. The added set pieces throughout the film make A Walk Among the Tombstones an entertaining thriller, but dilute the narrative overall.
Block’s novel remains the superior version of A Walk Among the Tombstones, even though Neeson’s prowess as an action star is a better fit for the character of Matthew Scudder than Bridges. Frank’s film is a fine action thriller, but it doesn’t fully encapsulate the suspense or personality within Block’s writing, and it ultimately doesn’t compare well to the novel.
A Walk Among The Tombstones Had Enough Source Material For Multiple Sequels
Eight Million Ways to Die and A Walk Among the Tombstones are only two of the countless Matthew Scudder novels written by Block. Had Frank’s adaptation performed better at the box office, there would have been more than enough source material to return to for multiple sequels.
In the past, Neeson had stated that he and Frank were both willing to do a sequel. Such sequels would have provided the necessary opportunity to make up for A Walk Among the Tombstones’ missteps, giving more than enough room to explore Matthew Scudder’s morality and personal life in greater depth.
