A Walk Among the Tombstones

Name: A Walk Among the Tombstones
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 19, 2014
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Astro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, Liam Neeson

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 196 Ratings

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 196 Ratings

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A Walk Among The Tombstones

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: September 19, 2014 | R

Starring: Astro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, Liam Neeson

Summary: Ex-NYPD cop Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) now works as an unlicensed private investigator operating just outside the law. When Scudder reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hunt down the men who kidnapped and then brutally murdered his wife, the PI learns that this is not the first time these men have committed thisEx-NYPD cop Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) now works as an unlicensed private investigator operating just outside the law. When Scudder reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hunt down the men who kidnapped and then brutally murdered his wife, the PI learns that this is not the first time these men have committed this sort of twisted crime…nor will it be the last. Blurring the lines between right and wrong, Scudder races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.… Expand

Director: Scott Frank

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Sep 19, 2014

A dynamite thriller. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Sep 18, 2014

For a good, straight-ahead noirish crime thriller, you could do a lot worse than A Walk Among the Tombstones. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Sep 20, 2014

The white hats are stained dark gray as if by ashes and soot. The villains are twisted, cruel, and vile. The heroes aren't much better. Read full review

Matt Glasby

Sep 15, 2014

Exciting, in places, though a stranger to subtlety, it ticks all the genre boxes, but there’s something about its knowing noirisms that feels superficial rather than soaked-in. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Sep 18, 2014

With the combo of Neeson’s natural solemnity and his action chops, “Tombstones” treads compellingly amongst lesser thrillers. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Sep 18, 2014

The look, style and smarts of A Walk Among the Tombstones seem like such a refreshingly toned-down departure from the outlandishness of Neeson’s “Taken” franchise that it’s all the more dismaying when the film shifts radically into a sadistic tableau of blood and gore. Read full review

Chris Cabin

Sep 16, 2014

All of Scott Frank's thematic concerns are little more than window dressing for a run-of-the-mill detective story in line with '90s thrillers like The Bone Collector. Read full review

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Sep 21, 2014

A Walk Among The Tombstones is a taut, gritty and overall stylish thriller, that is a rare brilliance in book to film adaptations. Liam Neeson plays a detective who gets a case to find out the killers of the client's wife, but slowly gets tangled with much more than he expected. The film isA Walk Among The Tombstones is a taut, gritty and overall stylish thriller, that is a rare brilliance in book to film adaptations. Liam Neeson plays a detective who gets a case to find out the killers of the client's wife, but slowly gets tangled with much more than he expected. The film is very well directed and written, Director Scott Frank did an awesome job with this feature and I want to see it 20 times more. AWATT is a gritty, awesome and excellent thriller that deserves a watch, even if it's for Liam Neeson.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

tdigilio

Sep 19, 2014

This movie is really good and just like taken I loved it and im excited about hopefully seeing a sequel soon because it seriously was sick. Liam neeson is my favorite actor.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

GinaK

Sep 21, 2014

I enjoyed this very well-made thriller, thanks to Liam Neeson, an excellent supporting cast, a very good, complex script (a real mystery), and also very good, clear direction. Complex and convincing, the film moved along without being overly brutal and sadistic. There was just enough of theI enjoyed this very well-made thriller, thanks to Liam Neeson, an excellent supporting cast, a very good, complex script (a real mystery), and also very good, clear direction. Complex and convincing, the film moved along without being overly brutal and sadistic. There was just enough of the murders in close-up and mainly shown not in body parts but through frightened eyes that made this film work and raised it a cut (no pun intended) above the others in this genre. This is a thriller that gives a real feeling of horror, without being too graphic, along with a genuine feeling of sadness and sympathy for Scudder, the main character, but also for the victims..… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

BrianMcCritic

Sep 19, 2014

A solid investigative thriller that while it may be slow it keeps you interested throughout. Those expecting Taken might be disappointed, this is not that kind of movie. Overall while unspectacular it's still worth your time. B

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

HotelCentral

Oct 23, 2015

Liam Neeson is a really good actor. But he isn't a New York City guy. He doesn't look like a New York City guy and he doesn't sound like one either. And, OK, the NYPD is probably the most diverse organization to be found anywhere on Earth, but if you're showing me a NYC cop--active dutyLiam Neeson is a really good actor. But he isn't a New York City guy. He doesn't look like a New York City guy and he doesn't sound like one either. And, OK, the NYPD is probably the most diverse organization to be found anywhere on Earth, but if you're showing me a NYC cop--active duty or not--he probably looks more like Chris Noth than Liam Neeson.

Problem #2: the teenage computer whiz sidekick. Maybe this worked in novels published in 1992 but in movies made in 2014, movies that appear styled like they're supposed to be hardboiled or hardcore & gritty, the whiz kid sidekick just seems silly.

Problem #3: this is one of those movies in which from time to time a character announces something and I'm left wondering how the hell did he figure that out. But maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention when the microfilm was flashed on the screen. Maybe I'm an idiot. Or maybe the screenwriter and/or director decided to take a short cut.

Problem #4: For some reason I've got this idea like Russian gangsters and big-time drug traffickers are really hard dudes. You know, like, you kidnap his wife or his kid and he will kill everybody in New York City who comes between himself and retribution. You call him on the phone to tell him where to deliver the ransom money and he'll spend the entire phone call telling you about all the horrible ways he's going to torture you before he finally kills you with his own bare hands. Because he's not going to pay you. He doesn't care who you kidnap or who you murder. He's going to get you and he won't stop until he does. What he isn't going to do is get on the phone and say, "Please don't kill my wife."

So, all in all, the best I could say is that this film is tolerably OK.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jun 11, 2019

Liam Neeson qui semble remplacer ici et là Jason Statham à ses heures perdues dans quelques bessonneries connaît une fin de carrière étonnante (et encore loin d'être finie apparemment !) : il a trouvé son créneau et il l'assure ma foi avec une décontraction et un brio non moins étonnants.Liam Neeson qui semble remplacer ici et là Jason Statham à ses heures perdues dans quelques bessonneries connaît une fin de carrière étonnante (et encore loin d'être finie apparemment !) : il a trouvé son créneau et il l'assure ma foi avec une décontraction et un brio non moins étonnants. Bref, j'aime bien le grand Liam nonobstant les daubes commerciales qu'il enchaîne comme à la parade !

Ici cependant, il se révèle plutôt mesuré et globalement assez calme (il ne tue que le minimum syndical...) dans le rôle du l'ancien flic alcoolique reconverti en détective privé. Il en vient à aider de "drôles" de personnes (c'est là l'originalité du film ma foi) victimes de deux affreux psychopathes...

Fin limier, il remonte la piste obstinément jusqu'aux salopards, via les témoignages d'une enquête assez bien menée qui occasionne des retours en arrière sur les évènements. En nuances de gris, l'ambiance de ce polar sait se montrer glauque à souhait mais penche également dangereusement vers un misérabilisme social fort malvenu avec le jeune black, un abruti de traîne-savate. Sans compter le "petit" frère du gars Kenny, caricature ambulante du toxicomane.

Par ailleurs, la toute fin sombre dans le rebondissement foireux de dernière minute, aussi peu crédible que bien ridicule et le personnage de Liam transpire une bigoterie rédemptrice assez lourdingue. Dommage, car le film se laisse voir sans déplaisir et sa mise en scène est très correcte.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Napalmenema

Nov 16, 2018

Dull.
Character development ? Non existent.
Violence sequences? None memorable. Overuse of tropes? Hell yeah!beat those tropes ,beat them to death. Memorable soundtracks? There was a soundtrack? Memorable characters? Err the kid ? Wassisname? The one with the redeeming talent. Scenery,Dull.
Character development ? Non existent.
Violence sequences? None memorable.
Overuse of tropes? Hell yeah!beat those tropes ,beat them to death.
Memorable soundtracks? There was a soundtrack?
Memorable characters? Err the kid ? Wassisname? The one with the redeeming talent.
Scenery, settings? Duller than a wardrobe of beige.
Romance? Ahahahahaha.
Main protagonists effort in role? I’m pretty sure Liam died somewhere along the way but the crew just pushed him onto set regardless.
Redeeming features? It ended.
Waste of life levels? Better off head butting a wall, save electricity people.
ANYTHING good about this film? I guess it didn’t glorify drugs so that was a good thing I guess. Although the addict was remarkably healthy looking for a long term junkie. (Ex military of course. Can’t miss those tropes)

So to conclude, if you want to see Liam sleepwalking through a graveyard in which the tombstones our act him this film is GREAT! If ,however, you want something with anything remotely interesting, exciting or challenging? Avoid.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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