Liam Neeson Has an Unusual Getaway Partner
There is a reason to look past Liam Neeson on The Mongoose's poster and check the director. Mark Vanselow has worked as his stunt double and stunt coordinator across more than 30 films, according to the pair's official Adam Carolla Show episode notes. This time, he gets to direct the whole picture.
That makes me curious about a chase I might otherwise have filed away as more of the same. The Mongoose opens in US theaters on October 30. Neeson plays a war hero falsely accused of a crime, fleeing across the country by car. Former comrades help him escape, with a sympathetic public cheering him on.
Someone who knows the moves
A stunt partnership is a good reason to pay attention to an action film. Vanselow knows how Neeson moves and how to make a dangerous moment convincing. I want to see what he does with that knowledge when he controls the scene around it.
A chase loses me when I can't tell where the cars are, or why one driver has suddenly gained on another. Let me understand the road and I will worry about the next turn. Let me see the person behind the wheel thinking and I will care which way he goes.
That is what I would buy a ticket for here. The partnership gives us grounds for interest; whether the finished film makes good on it remains to be seen.
Room for company
The other attraction is a premise that gives Neeson's fugitive people to rely on. The distributor describes former comrades helping with his escape, which leaves room for an action hero to owe somebody a favour. I like that prospect. Someone helping him can have an opinion about how he drives.
Marisa Tomei, Ving Rhames and Michael Chiklis also feature in the cast. Their presence adds to the appeal, although the official synopsis doesn't tell us enough about their parts to judge the relationships.
Put The Mongoose on your October 30 shortlist if you fancy a car chase. The distributor lists it at 96 minutes. A compact chase directed by someone who knows the star this well is enough to get me interested. I want to see what these two can do with a stretch of road.
