Liam Neeson's 2020 action thriller Honest Thief is airing on Film4 tonight at 9pm, and it is perfect for fans who love Taken. The Northern Irish actor has built his career on playing specific roles that viewers have grown to know and love – the ultimate action hero. This film definitely does not stray from that.
Plot and Cast of Honest Thief
Released in 2020, Honest Thief is an American action thriller film directed by Mark Williams, starring Neeson in the lead role as a former bank robber. The story follows Tom Dolan, a former US Marine demolitions expert who decides to use his skills to become a serial bank robber. Except, during one robbery when he was stashing his cash, he was aided by a woman working at the storage facility, with no idea of the crime he had just committed.
That woman, Annie Wilkins, hit it off with him almost immediately, and the pair became inseparable. Although, a year later, he can no longer live with the guilt of his actions and the web of lies he has created, so he decides it is time to confess. He calls the FBI and offers to surrender himself and the money with the hopes of having a more lenient sentence. Except when the money is obtained by two agents, they decide to use it for their own good and plan on killing Dolan in the process.
Alongside Neeson, the film stars Kate Walsh as his love interest, Annie Wilkins, and Jai Courtney as a corrupt FBI agent. Joining them in the cast are Jeffrey Donovan, Anthony Ramos and Robert Patrick, who have collectively received praise from viewers.
Critical Reception and Fan Reviews
Honest Thief received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Neeson's performance but noted the film's at times 'predictable' plotline and familiarity to other projects within the genre. As always, though, it is Neeson's performance that carries the film, and fans of his are quick to point this out.
One person on Rotten Tomatoes shared: "This was actually really good. Great cast, and Liam Neeson did his thing as usual. If you're a Liam fan, you shouldn't miss this one." A review reads: "If you're an unsuspecting person coming to this movie, there's a decent chance you might not be impressed with it. But if you're here for Liam Neeson and all he comes with, it's a great way to kill 99 minutes. Good laughs, purposeful or incidental! And enough hand-fighting action to keep you in."
One fan of the film wrote an honest review which dubbed the film as being "under-rated", and while they acknowledged "familiar plot points", they agreed that it is believable, with good direction, and that the story feels "somewhat fresh". Another positive review states: "Honest Thief delivers another familiar Liam Neeson action thriller, but this one offers a slightly softer edge to his usual tough-guy persona. Neeson gives a solid performance, and while the plot is predictable, he keeps the film engaging enough to follow."
Box Office and Viewing Options
Upon its release, with a big name in Hollywood like Liam Neeson at the forefront, it was a small success, grossing a worldwide total of $32.6 million. Although since, it seemed to be forgotten about, with a low overall rating on the review site at 41%. Neeson fans should strap in ready to watch Honest Thief, set to air on Film4 tonight at 9pm. Alternatively, the film can be rented on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
