Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by
Absolution is a 2024 Action, Crime, and Thriller Movie directed by Hans Petter Molandand and written by Tony Gayton. The film stars Liam Neeson, Ron Perlman, and Frankie Shaw, with a runtime of 1 hour 52 minutes, theatre released on November 1, 2024.
In the past few years, Liam Neeson has been in many action flicks but they are far from being remarkable. However, this year he opted to play a more intriguing part in ‘In the Land of the Saints and Sinners’, an Irish film. In that movie, he played a complex character: a conflicted assassin. It was one of his best performances in a long time because it was an opportunity to express hard emotions rather than a mere action hero who gets to shoot guns and battle villains. Now, he returns to challenge himself with “Absolution”, the film where he works again with the director of “Cold Pursuit”, Hans Petter Moland.
In “Absolution,” Neeson plays Thug, a former hired muscle in his fifties working for a crime boss, Charlie, portrayed by Ron Perlman. Thug has been with Charlie for 30 years, and now he is associated with Charlie’s reckless son, Kyle played by Daniel Diemer. Thug is also an ex-jock having been part of the boxing club, but he also has a problem with alcoholism that is affecting his life. As the plot of the film advances, we understand that due to his earlier activities as a boxer, he suffers from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which leads to the development of amnesia and confusion. This movie is not only full of fighting scenes but also reveals the story of Thug’s internal conflicts and his efforts to change his life for the better.
While Thug battles his various ailments, he also spends time trying to mend a strained relationship with Daisy (Frankie Shaw). He once abandoned her and now he wishes to reconcile. He even has an encounter with his grandson, Dre, played by Terrence Pulliam, with the intention of mending a familial bond. These personal dilemmas give Thug’s life a more complex layer as he battles with remorse and the consequences of his work within the criminal network.
The movie depicts the journey of Thug and his challenging life in the new world of crime. For instance, he has to take the role of guiding Kyle who is youthful and a risk-taker. Thug possesses business knowledge, while Kyle is reckless and tends to make mistakes that endanger him. Thug’s character is rather fascinating because, despite being violent and aggressive, he is also shown to have a sensitive side. For instance, when he comes across Woman – a benevolent soul who has fallen for him – portrayed by Yolanda Ross, the audience gets to experience a different facet of him. He even confronted her abusive boyfriend with an affirmation of his boxing background reminiscent of his youth.
The movie immediately establishes a dark and somber atmosphere, exploring Thug’s inability to remember and his sickness. In addition, he has several dreams taking him back to times when he spent with his strict father, which is obvious that he still has some unresolved issues with him. Thug is a man who has been through the jungle and known violence, yet he rises from the past and wants to be a better man; we get to see him struggle with these thoughts.
“Absolution” is not just about doing it it is more about what is going on in Thug’s mind. It can be viewed as a story of fatherhood, regret, and redemption or possibly forgiveness since the father tries to make amends for his previous wrongs. Nevertheless, there are several action scenes and criminal affairs depicted in the movie; they are not the primary focus and may be regarded as distractions from the events unfolding on the screen. There is also another side story of human trafficking to attempt adding more layers to Thug’s character but it does not feel quite natural when incorporated into the film.
However, “Absolution” attracts one’s attention since it is centered around Thug who searches for his identity. The actor whose performance is outstanding in my opinion is Liam Neeson; He is very believable as a scared man yet is too proud to show how scared he is and hence very easy to relate to. There is no clear triumph for the protagonists; the film doesn’t provide audiences with clear solutions or happy endings. However, it offers a realistic portrayal of a man facing his past, his actions, and even his death.
In conclusion, one cannot say that “Absolution” is an action film, for it does not put the viewer through the expected action-packed scenes. However, if you are in for a complex narrative with a focus on the transformation of the protagonist and his sins, you are welcome to watch this movie. Neeson portrays a layered character of a man who wants to find some solace in a world of brutality and remorse.
Absolution 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Absolution is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for violence, language throughout, some sexual content/nudity and drug use
Violence and Gore: Being a crime drama featuring contract killers and collectors, the film has lots of elements of violence, with shootouts, fight scenes, and other instances of physical violence throughout the plot. blood and visible injuries are shown, especially when characters are being beaten during fight scenes. Thug, a former boxer, has transition sequences presented as flashbacks/dreams showing physical abuse from fights.
The scene I am referring to is one in which Thug accosts a man who is aggressive towards a woman and ends up fighting him on behalf of the lady. It is also important to note that this scene is rather dramatic and can be shocking at times. Characters are shot on-camera, sometimes in an extremely violent manner. Thug is chased by killers, and this results in several scenes of revenge and shootings, leading to the death of some of the characters. These moments are realistic and the show does not shy away from depicting these moments at times they may seem quite disturbing. While it is not graphic, the movie interprets various forms of violence against women and domestic violence in particular.
Alcohol and Drug Use: The character of Thug experiences alcohol dependence throughout the entire movie, and he is seen binge drinking in several instances. This dependency is present in the story and can be disturbing because it is associated with his state of mind as the movie progresses. Some of the situations depicted include drinking in different scenes where it seems like a normal activity. Thug and other characters are presented as regularly drinking alcohol in different contexts, both singly and together, stressing their outcast and the detrimental impact of alcoholism.
Language: the movie contains the f-word and other forms of expletives. This language is used informally by characters when speaking to one another, especially during periods of stress or conflict. Because the story is set in the crime world, the language used is rough and crude which is in agreement with their surrounding.
Sexual Content: Thug becomes friends with Woman; however, the show does not depict the characters having sex. The implications of their romantic relationship are given but very few of them are depicted on screen. Paid/Free Scene 2 There are some tender moments when Thug and Woman embrace and touch each other as well as break kissing, however, no sexually explicit material was captured during the shooting of this scene. These instances are less dramatic than other aspects of the film. Although not depicted explicitly, the movie has hints of breakups and how Thug is trying to renew communication with his family – his daughter in particular. These are emotional issues represented in a very mature way implying complex and realistic aspects of adulthood such as accountability for one’s actions.
