Run All Night Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Run All Night Blu-ray Movie Review

"I won't let you take him."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 16, 2015

Yet another misfire in an extended mag of generic geriatric action flicks starring the always irresistible Liam Neeson (who hasn't really killed it since The Grey), Jaume Collet-Serra's Run All Night is best approached with the lowest of expectations. The requisite shootouts, burning buildings, explosions, hitman showdowns, sneering mob bosses, redemption arcs and valiant last stands are present and accounted for, but it all feels so tired, so familiar, so rehashed that it hardly registers. Only the film's cast -- Neeson and scene-chewing co-stars Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Common and Bruce McGill -- make it as Redboxable as it is. Without Neeson and company it wouldn't have made it off the studio lot, and we'd be talking about a mildly successful direct-to-video shoulder shrug rather than a $26 million box office bomb. Are Neeson's once loyal fans, jaded after two subpar Taken sequels and a rash of poorly received actioners, deserting the man they crowned a grizzled action god in 2008? Or is this just a temporary slump? Perhaps choosing better scripts is the first step to recovery...

Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon (Neeson), once known as The Gravedigger, has seen better days. Longtime best friend of mob boss Shawn Maguire (Harris), Jimmy, now 55, is haunted by the sins of his past, as well as a dogged police detective (D'Onofrio) who's been one step behind Jimmy for 30 years. Lately, it seems Jimmy's only solace can be found at the bottom of a whiskey glass. But when Jimmy's estranged son, Mike (Kinnaman), becomes a target after witnessing Shawn's son, Danny (Boyd Holbrook), commit murder, Jimmy must make a choice between the crime family he chose and the real family he abandoned long ago. With Mike on the run, Jimmy's only penance for his past mistakes may be to save his son from the same fate Jimmy is certain he'll face himself… at the wrong end of a gun. Now, with nowhere to turn, Jimmy has one night to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie and to see if he can finally make things right.

If you don't think too hard, there's a chance you might enjoy Run All Night for the mindless, rickety revenge thriller it is. If you're sensitive to plot holes or baffling character decisions, though, brace yourself. Scratch that. You should probably save yourself the trouble and steer clear of this one. Just one example? Shawn is determined to answer his son's death by killing Jimmy (the man who actually put a bullet in Danny) but only after he kills Jimmy's son. Shawn, face to face with Jimmy, promises:

"When it's done, and it will be done, you and I are gonna meet back here at this restaurant, at this same table that I used to share with my boy, and I'm gonna look you in the eyes just like you're lookin' me in the eyes right now. And I'm gonna see how empty they are without your son in the world. Same thing I saw in my wife's eyes; same thing you're seein' in my eyes. And when I see that... then I'll let you die."

I get it. An eye for an eye. It's cold, but I get it. But why not capture and detain Jimmy -- on the spot -- holding him until Mike is found? Lock up the ex-assassin so he can't race around town saving his son, shooting Shawn's every last henchie, and slowly gaining the upper hand? Or here's a thought. Why not lie? Tell Jimmy Mike's safe, then strike. Or... I could go on and on and on, and just with this one plot point. But you get the idea. There's a kneejerk senselessness to writer Brad Ingelsby's story and Collet-Serra's handling of key encounters, and it completely undermines what might otherwise be a series of compelling, even powerful dramatic beats between Jimmy, a scorned father, Mike, his estranged son, and Shawn, Jimmy's lifelong friend turned bitter enemy.

The forced action antics and pitfall plotting become even more irritating upon realizing the entire film takes place over the course of a single night, with Mike and Jimmy -- proverbial needles in a citywide haystack -- being found within minutes, no matter where they hide. Other story developments fall flat (Jimmy's ongoing attempts to prevent Mike from pulling a trigger for one), dialogue is iffy throughout, and the film's bloated double ending heaps climax atop climax, only to close with anticlimactic flourish. (There's also the little matter of the skeletons in Jimmy's closet, which are about as contrived as they come.) Some of the chase sequences are entertaining enough, and Jimmy's storming of a mob compound will leave action junkies grinning from ear to ear. But, save a few solid performances, there isn't much to left to say about Run All Night except meh.

Run All Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is quite good. Instances of moderate to severe black crush do put a damper on the impact of the image, but there aren't any other significant issues to mention. The usual action-movie teals and oranges are out in force, yes. Yet skintones are nicely saturated, stronger colors pop, and shadows are deep and absorbing. Detail impresses too, even though darker shots are prone to digital noise and reduced clarity. All of it traces back to the film's photography -- no red flags there -- and edges are crisp and clean, textures are refined, and close-ups are striking. Macroblocking and banding are nowhere to be found as well, making for a solid encode that isn't mired by many distractions.

Run All Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release of Run All Night features a terrific DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track that does a fine job handling both the film's action beats and quieter moments of reflection and resolve. Dialogue is intelligible and believably grounded in the mix, gunshots and punches pierce the soundscape nicely, and prioritization is spot on. LFE output is suitably weighty and assertive too, and rear speaker activity is aggressive and enveloping, with deadeye directionality and slick pans. All told, Warner's AV presentation doesn't disappoint.

Run All Night Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Shoot All Night (HD, 10 minutes): The cast and crew discuss director Jaume Collet-Serra's style and approach to the material, the production's 50-day shoot and the challenges of filming primarily at night.
• Liam Neeson: Action All Night (HD, 6 minutes): Neeson talks about his attraction to films about families in crisis, while his fellow actors and filmmakers comment on the joys of working with the action star.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 16 minutes): Six deleted scenes round out the package: "Flashback," "Price at Strip Club," "Magic Trick," "Eddie," "Hospital" and "Shawn Basement."

Run All Night Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Run All Night runs out of steam long before it reaches its destination, struggling to be as gritty, realistic and original as Collet-Serra is convinced it is. The cast delivers, but the rest of the film shudders under the weight of a lot of Big Dumb Fun, minus a good deal of fun. Fortunately, Warner's Blu-ray release is more satisfying, with a strong video presentation and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. More substantial special features would have been a welcome addition, but Redboxers will feel their rental fee has been well spent. You may just want to hold off on a purchase until you've seen the film.