Today we kick off a new series on Fantha Tracks that has been sparked by some recent cinema trips with my partner as we experienced the Star Wars franchise back on the big screen. She commented on the great casting of the roles, and we laughed all over again at Harrison Ford’s wry delivery of Han Solo in Empire and the gravitas that Hamill and Fisher brought to the Skywalker twins throughout.
Kristina asked what other projects featuring Star Wars actors we could enjoy on our nights in together as winter nights loom on the horizon, so with that in mind over the coming weeks we’ll take a closer look at the careers of some of the biggest stars from the galaxy far, far away and some films andshows that you may have missed. There are some hidden gems that really should be on your bucket list.
In honour of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace we begin the series with the legendary Liam Neeson.
Bio
Liam Neeson was born June 7th 1952 in Ballymena, Northen Ireland. Raised in a working-class family, Neeson was the son of a school caretaker (his father) and a cook (his mother). Neeson was raised as a Catholic in a predominantly Protestant area and came of age during The Troubles that engulfed Northen Ireland at the time. In his youth, Neeson was a skilled boxer and went to university to study computer science and worked as a teacher and in the Guiness factory before finding his true calling as an actor. Neeson was married to the fabulously talented Natasha Richardson before her tragic passing in 2009 and has two sons.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Let’s start with Neeson’s most famous work outside of Star Wars in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning masterpiece. Shot in black and white and filmed on location in Krakow, Poland – the film was place 8th on the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest American Films Ever Made. Neeson gives a truly groundbreaking performance in this film and it’s easy to see why he was nominated for an Academy Award. This film should not only sit on your list of Liam Neeson films to see but it also is one of the most culturally significant films ever made. Though it’s hard to believe, Neeson was still a relatively unknown at the time and many other actors, including Kevin Costner and Warren Beaty, were touted for the role but Spielberg wanted someone who would not overpower the role of Oskar Schinder. In 2004, the film was selected for cultural and historical preservation in the Library of Congress.
The Grey (2012)
If you haven’t seen The Grey yet, I urge you to find it out over the weekend. It stands as one of Neeson’s best in recent years and holds up extremely well in both story and performance. The film tells the story of John Ottway (Neeson) and his fellow oil-rig workers who survive a plane crash in Alaska. The merciless weather conditions, however, prove to be the least of anyone’s troubles as the men are hunted by wolves. The film is not your typical survival thriller as it delves into highly philosophical themes through the character’s eyes as they come to terms with their possibly impending deaths and Neeson’s performance is the emotional core that binds the film together. A nail-biting ending pays off well with high-stakes and tension displayed well throughout.
Love Actually (2003)
Outside of It’s A Wonderful Life, it’s hard to think of any other film that has become so synonymous with the Christmas season than Richard Curtis’ classic comedy. This film is certainly a tradition in our household every year and Neeson’s storyline stands out as one of the best. Neeson plays Daniel, a widower who plays stepfather to his late wife’s son and steps up to the mark as he helps the boy navigate his feelings of teenage love. Neeson displays his usual dramatic depth in scenes where he breaks down over the loss of his wife but also on show here are Neeson’s abilities of natural comic timing. Well, he is Irish after all.
A Monster Calls (2016)
For those with teenagers at home or those who are simply bookworms, you may be familiar with this story. Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, the film tells the story of a young boy who is desperately struggling to come to terms with his mother’s terminal illness. As he struggles to process the situation the boy is visited in dreams and nightmares by a monster, a monster that happens to be the yew tree outside the boy’s window. Neeson plays the monster thanks to motion-capture and CGI work and here, it’s Neeson distinctive voice that pulls you in as it feels like it carries all the emotional weight of a generation. Fellow Star Wars alumnus, Felicity Jones, plays the dying mother. It’s a tough watch but emotionally worth it as it tackles the theme that none of us want to deal with; that of the loss of the loved one so dear.
Batman Begins (2005)
Arriving in cinemas just two months after Revenge of the Sith, Batman Begins became nothing short of a phenomenon. The superhero genre had long since been declared dead and the Batman films of the 90s had tapered into ridiculousness. (George Clooney’s nipples anyone?) What writer/director Christopher Nolan did, though, was bring new life to the series with a dramatic and realistic telling of the origin of the Caped Crusader. The film spurred the ‘reboot’ movement that we’ve become so accustomed to these days and it surpassed all expectations on release and would go on to have two sequels. The boasted an all-star ensemble cast including Christan Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphey and Liam Neeson. If you haven’t seen the film, then no spoilers here. If you have, then it’s the perfect time to revisit. All the actors, Neeson especially, are on fine form. Fine form indeed.
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
After the stratospheric success of Taken, Neeson found himself catapulted once again to A-List status. No one was more prolific than he during the next ten years and rode the wave of action star extremely well. This film stands out among the others for its heavy drama and neo-noir thriller vibe. Neeson delivers one of his finest performances as a recovering alcoholic private investigator who tracks down the disappearance of woman, only to be led into a seedy world of child trafficking. The final act is superbly shot and Neeson shows that he’s more than just an action star, he’s a performer of deep complexities and is able to touch upon our shared humanity.
Run All Night (2015)
This one is my favourite of the era when Neeson owned the action genre. It features a quality supporting cast and a brilliant story that’s not your usual beat-em-up. Neeson plays a former hitman who discovers that his best friend’s son is about to kill his own son. So, Neeson acts first and takes out the would-be-killer first. What follows is a brilliant cat-and-mouse story with high-stakes and genuine tension. The pace moves along a solid speed and the final showdown is brilliantly done. Once again, like with most of Neeson’s ageing action status, it all feels believable as Neeson plays a man his own age.
Taken (2008)
“I don’t know who you are. But I will look for you. I will find you. And I will kill you.”
Need I say more about this now cult-phenomenon that was originally intended to be a straight-to-DVD B-movie? Two sequels followed with Neeson only making the third film on the condition that “no one gets taken.”
Liam Neeson was last seen in this year’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners for Netflix that proved to be a massive hit for the streaming service. He’ll next be seen trying out his comedy chops once more in a reboot of the Leslie Nielson classic spoof – The Naken Gun.
