Liam Neeson, since 2008’s Taken, has carved himself out a little business as a later in life than anyone could have expected action star. His extolling a unique brand of justice movie milieu works best when it is deeply personal, i.e. a family member has been caught in the crossfire and Neeson is a man possessed and rightfully so.
Cold Pursuit is definitely in that realm, but it has something else going for it and that is a heaping amount of wicked smarts, pointed points to make about society as we know it and the darkest sense of humor and self-awareness than any of his previous films has possessed. That last part is the most delightful surprise of the entire Cold Pursuit experience.
The superstar portrays Nels Coxman, a Kehoe, Colorado snow plow driver who goes the extra mile throughout the winter to “bring civilization” to a remote citizenry in one of the snowiest parts of the lower 48. When his son Kyle (Micheál Richardson), a bag handler at the local airport, turns up dead in Denver from a heroin overdose, the senior Coxman does not buy it. “My son’s not a junkie,” he tells a detective in the morgue. “All the parents say that,” the cop sadly replies.
When a co-worker of his son’s turns up in Nels’ garage, bloodied and bruised, he confirms Neeson’s theory that his son’s death was anything but drug related. Nels proceeds to do what he can and use any method necessary to find the truth and more importantly, bring justice—as he sees it—for his son.
Don’t want to spoil anything for anyone heading into the theaters this weekend to witness Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland’s solid effort, but let’s just say this… how they mark Nels’ progress in unraveling this mystery is brilliant. It is also increasingly humorous as the film progresses and is firmly indicative of Cold Pursuit’s ever-present dark humor.
Even the nicknames used by all of our drug dealing baddies that are in Nels’ sights will make those smiles permeate throughout. From Speedo (Michael Eklund), Limbo (Bradley Stryker), Mustang (Domenick Lombardozzi, who turns in a performance to treasure) to our kingpin, Viking (Tom Bateman), there is well thought out joy invested into the monikers that viewers are rooting against. Again, a perfect example of how every soul involved in this picture keenly knew the far-reaching tone of Cold Pursuit and played it to a “T.”
Bateman (Murder on the Orient Express) brings a “honor between thieves” mentality to his character that is always rich if used effectively. Viking is also is a family man, one who is struggling with a young son, who is as much of a polar opposite to him as one could be—which makes things complicated since their business is a family business. Viking took over for his father and any hopes of Viking’s boy doing the same left the building a long time ago. Even how screenwriter Frank Baldwin crafted the role of the son is a stroke of genius. His relationship with his father’s henchmen is priceless, as is the lines he is given to deliver which often will result in humor. They also consistently serve the plot, something a role like this doesn’t often do… cheers to all involved!
Sometimes actors can find themselves in a trap after success is delivered portraying a certain type of character in a certain type of film. That has happened to Neeson on occasion since his 2008’s action hero anointment. When the Irish actor read the script for Cold Pursuit, he must have thanked the movie Gods because it is a part that is simultaneously rich, layered and one with faults that can be redeemed. As much as the film is Neeson’s to carry, it is also feels quite the ensemble effort. We know that Nils and Viking are on a collision course and how we get there is delightfully divine and possesses a payoff worthy of the build-up—another rarity in these action movies. Neeson is more than game for the role and appears to be having more fun in an actioner than he’s had since Taken took him to new heights over a decade ago.
If there is a fault to find with the film, it is the role of Nils’ wife. Multiple award winner Laura Dern is Grace and sadly, she’s completely wasted. Now, there is not much required of the part and that is no one’s fault per se. It’s just when one sees Dern’s name on a marquee, we are accustomed to reveling in her cinematic charisma that explodes of the screen. Unfortunately, the role of Grace is an afterthought in Cold Pursuit.
An under appreciated person in many an action film is the cinematographer. Norwegian Philip Øgaard has captured mountains of snow, literally, and in a way that almost elevates the white stuff to a character. It also lies at the heart of Nels’ vocation and is a flippant term used to describe the product that Viking makes his living selling. Øgaard does something extraordinary as the DP. His scope is equally vast as it is intimate. This story doesn’t work if the emotive personal power connection fails between our protagonist and antagonist. The cinematographer shoots each in such a way that even if the film was muted and possessed no sound, how Øgaard shot it would provide all we needed to know about these two gentlemen whose paths are fated to intersect. Then, what he does with the Colorado landscape left me with the feeling that the state needs to be visited ASAP, which is astounding given my lack of love for the cold!
There is also an entire element of the story surrounding Native Americans that is so smartly utilized. One of the nefarious folks who inhabit this world is White Bull (Tom Jackson). He and Viking’s fragile truce is shaken to its core with the justice-wielding of Nels. White Bull has his fellow Native American posse supporting him around every turn.
The sacred nature of their culture is portrayed in such a sensitive manner that is one of the most surprisingly endearing aspects of the entire film (that and the relationship between Nels and Viking’s son). There are even a few moments when White Bull is walking the luxurious hotel in the fictional Kehoe starring at “tributes” to Native culture that are uniquely offensive in their effort to embrace the soul who were here long before Europeans tramped their way across the Rocky Mountains. What kind of action film takes the time to insert moments like that into a movie that is normally trying to keep things moving and never straying too far from the driving part of the plot? I’ll tell you what… a film like Cold Pursuit that is as smart as it is sizzling with action.
Moland’s familiarity with the material could not be more intimate. After all, he helmed the Norwegian film that this flick is based on… In Order of Disappearance. Credit to Summit and Lionsgate for keeping the helmer on board for the American version of his northern European hit. As we’ve seen repeatedly in Hollywood history, someone somewhere decides it is better to go with an American director and the product is pale because of that alteration. Why change something when it worked the first time? Producers and studio execs deserve the rare high-five for knowing that Moland could achieve something truly special turning In Order of Disappearance to Cold Pursuit.
Grade: B+