Liam Neeson became widely known as an action hero after the release of Taken in 2008, transforming his public persona from a dramatic character actor into the gritty leading man we know him as today. However, one of Neeson's best action thrillers to date came a whole 15 years after Taken, and it focuses on an older, more guilt-ridden lead—one whose life has been defined by death, regret, and organized crime. In the Land of Saints and Sinners sees the Schindler's List actor take on the role of Finbar Murphy, an aging Irish assassin who's offered a chance at redemption after saving a young girl from an abusive IRA member.

Murphy differs from Neeson's other action leads through his introspection, soft-spokenness, and a deep regret for his killings. Such a role was bound to garner success, and it's no wonder that the film broke Neeson's four-year streak of negative scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Instead of merely replicating his Taken tough guy persona, In the Land of Saints and Sinners utilizes Neeson's dramatic background to deliver a heartfelt thriller full of action, guilt, and loss.

In The Land Of Saints & Sinners Is Liam Neeson's Best Action Thriller

The Film Is A Testament To Ireland And Irish Actors

The film begins in '70s Northern Ireland after a group of IRA terrorists accidentally kill a mother and three children with a car bomb in Belfast. On the run from the authorities, the group hides out in the small village of Glencolmcille, where Finbar Murphy resides as a retired hitman living a peaceful life among the townsfolk; Murphy only crosses paths with the terrorists once he discovers the abuse of a local named Moya (Michelle Gleeson). Once he learns that IRA member Curtis June (Desmond Eastwood) was responsible for the young girl's injuries, Murphy kidnaps and kills him, igniting a war with the remaining terrorists that's spearheaded by Curtis' sister, Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon).

In addition to delivering a powerful, haunting narrative, In the Land of Saints and Sinners is also notable for assembling an impressive cast composed of several generations of Irish actors, setting up a potential rivalry between Liam Neeson and Kerry Condon in the near future. Furthermore, Lorenz's film separates itself from other action thrillers through its protagonist's hesitancy toward violence, since Murphy only engages in such when he either deems it necessary or has no other realistic option.

In The Land Of Saints & Sinners Is A Different Type Of Action Thriller Compared To Taken

Finbar Murphy's Violence Isn't Glamorized

Whereas Taken glorifies Neeson's violence in the name of retribution for his daughter, In the Land of Saints and Sinners instead explores the trauma Murphy carries from his past killings as an assassin. Though he continues to carry out hits for his boss, Robert McQue (Colm Meaney), and takes matters into his own hands in the case of Curtis Jane, Murphy isn't resigned to a life of violence—he longs for a simple, peaceful life, and goes above and beyond to provide his victims with solemn dignity in their final moments.

Instead of chasing the IRA in a high-stakes, fast-cut thriller, Murphy broods, reluctantly taking up arms against the terrorists whilst yearning for a better life.

This contrast between each protagonist's attitude toward violence in Taken and In the Land of Saints and Sinners weighs upon viewers of the latter, since we have been conditioned to view Liam Neeson through his action-thriller persona that frequently kills dozens of men in his films.

Instead of chasing the IRA in a high-stakes, fast-cut thriller, Murphy broods, reluctantly taking up arms against the terrorists whilst yearning for a better life. Truthfully, it's no surprise that such a unique Liam Neeson thriller has found massive success on streaming services like Prime Video—I just hope we continue to see these types of roles from him in the future.