With strong actors goes a long way, the Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra has discovered

With strong actors goes a long way, the Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra has discovered. And especially Liam Neeson appears to be satisfying, because after Unknown and Non-Stop Run All Night marks the third time in a row that he Irish veteran starring an action thriller cast. That choice is understandable. Neeson has in recent years emerged as convincingly fifties with fists, someone with whom you despite his age do not want a fight. But the surprise effect is by now disappeared.

And so it is increasingly important that the action thrillers where Neeson plays a role in other areas than the acting are worthwhile. For example, the recent third part of the Tasks set for the repeating pattern was received lukewarm but knew A Walk Among the Tombstones to rise above the level of a typical thriller by his grim atmosphere. So ?? s distinctive quality has Run All Night hardly. Pity, because a film like this are to be found countless.

Neeson is seen here as the verslonsde former hitman Jimmy. In order to get drink he tries to wheedle money from a shady drug dealer who tells him casually to come out to play Santa Claus. Jimmy agrees and ends up at the Christmas party back in touch with old crooks friend Shawn, now a neat life trying to lead as a businessman. But shortly afterwards come to be two diametrically opposed. Jimmy ?? s son Mike is witnessing a criminal statement by Danny, Shawn treasured endeavor.

And there the trouble begins, because Jimmy sees himself obliged to protect Mike and shoot Danny death. He not only has it the wrath of Shawn on his neck, but he also gives the police a reason to open a manhunt. For main agent Harding trying for years to find a reason to count on Jimmy. For father and son there is nothing to do but flee.

It's not a bad base: Mike and Jimmy are attacked continuously from two fronts, so it is best to pick up some tension. Collet-Serra, however, had to exploit it better. Both Shawn associates as the authorities are substantially simultaneously on the same track, so that in fact they together form the threat, rather than that they are two separate fronts which could have made a dual tension.

More convincing is Run All Night in the tragedy that lies behind the main character, a family man who used to work so deep in trouble that he destroys everything and everyone around him. Besides the role of Liam Neeson goes also for those of Ed Harris, as the grieving former drug lord. And to be honest, with such actors can indeed come a long way.

A spirited teenager gets hopping into the kitchen, Kiss goodbye her grumpy brother and get a plate of food served up by her mother. Father gives some teasing glances and after a number of questions over and over again the family start the meal. It is an everyday scene, but soon discover that this family in which Paula Bélier so dead normal growing up, determined not dead normal. Paula is the only of the Belier family who can hear.

However, that is not a point, it seems. Paula is fluent in sign language and can communicate smoothly. She helps her parents also regularly. On the market, during business negotiations or television interviews: Paula translates. Although she does so with pleasure, responsibilities cause they got to wear the necessary tension. Interpreter is sat Paula, especially after she discovered her own passion: singing.

Of course understand her parents nothing about. "I never could understand hearing people", reveals her mother in a drunken stupor. She tells how she wished Paula was born deaf, like them, so that mother and daughter were on the same wavelength. The statements provide a good dose of family drama - a theme that often recurs in the work of director Eric Lartigau. Paula's mother is not the wonderful soprano who is enjoying her daughter, because she does not hear her. And although this is not entirely incomprehensible - such as the scene in which Lartigau during an important duet slowly turns away the sound, makes clear - it remains painful. Aid to express something intangible is difficult. Her parents are therefore primarily concerned with themselves, who must interpret for them when Paula leaves her singing career to Paris? If Paula decide to go, the family will be very few opportunities remain for communication. Who chooses Paula herself or her family? The farmer constantly changes choice. There seems to be no middle ground.

Although La Famille Bélier is a dramatic story, it leaves plenty of room for humor. More than enough even. So you can see how crazy the family Bélier actually is: not because they are deaf, but because they are nowhere to be embarrassed and somewhat naively go their way. It's pathetic example when her parents with wide grin and hardcore techno Paula in the schoolyard await. They are unaware of the noise they cause - the bass is the only one in which they can feel the rhythm, so that is high. Paula had enough of this kind of nonsense is understandable, but it is more than ever clear how difficult it is to leave such ridiculous and endearing people. She managed to fly without denying its origins? Do they touch so her mother for the first time to understand an actual hearing? In the final come the answers to these and more questions together and we see first how Paula literally really find her own voice.