CinemaNerdz

Movie Review: The Commuter

Scott Davis

Liam Neeson’s filmography hasn’t been all that interesting for the past ten years. Ever since Taken was an out of nowhere hit in 2008, Neeson has been seen in almost every action thriller imaginable. From cop thrillers (Run All Night in 2015), to mistaken identity thrillers (Unknown in 2011), airplane thrillers (Non-Stop in 2014, which was also directed by the same guy who does The Commuter), and two more Taken sequels (2012, 2014), Neeson has found his niche and he’s sticking to it. The only mode of transportation he hasn’t seemed to tackle is a train, which he knocks off his bucket list with The Commuter. While Neeson isn’t the problem with his other thrillers, most of them are completely forgettable. The Commuter doesn’t break that trend in tremendous fashion, but with a break neck pace, an intriguing premise, some fine direction from Jaume Collet-Serra, and a committed Liam Neeson, the experience is an entertaining ride.

Michael MacCauley (Neeson) is an ex-cop working at an insurance firm who takes the train to and from work every day. Usually his ride is mundane and unmemorable, but when he is approached by a mysterious woman named Joanna (Vera Farmiga) asking him to find a specific passenger or else, his ride becomes a little more exciting. The plot evolves and twists from there, but this basic set-up is something akin to Neeson’s most recent outings. What makes The Commuter stand out from that unremarkable crowd is the fact that it never takes itself too seriously. The movie moves quickly from one plot beat to the next while not slowing down too often to needlessly explain things. This works most of the time, but there is a scene about two-thirds of the way through that is off the rails (literally) crazy and is too ridiculous to forgive. Luckily, the film locks back into place and ends with a wallop that should leave the audience feeling satisfied.

As mentioned before, Jaume Collet-Serra proves to be a steady hand behind the camera and directs some fun action moments. Collet-Serra was responsible for one Neeson’s forgettable action thrillers, Non-Stop, but he bounced back with a fun Jaws-like thriller in The Shallows (2016). He showed off some intriguing directorial techniques to keep a story about Blake Lively hanging out on a rock while a shark circles her interesting, and he continues that here. While the movie only features a couple of full-blown action scenes, they are nonetheless impressive. There is one in particular that is presented as one long tracking shot that is both fun and exhilarating. He is able to keep his one location setting constantly engaging, something that 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express failed miserably at. In fact, while it may not be an apples-to-apples comparison, The Commuter is everything Murder on the Orient Express should have been. The Commuter was certainly conceived as more of action movie than Murder on the Orient Express was, but it justifies its existence and doesn’t feel like a useless exercise in showing off your A-list cast.

Just because The Commuter’s cast isn’t as prestigious as Murder on the Orient Express’ doesn’t mean they aren’t impressive. Neeson is workmanlike in the main role as he sells the mystery throughout the whole runtime. The audience can relate to him partially because we have seen him in this role so many times. As for the other actors, they just kind of bounce off Neeson’s character as he pieces together the mystery. The aforementioned Vera Farmiga is a standout in a small role, while others like Patrick Wilson, Sam Neill, and Jonathan Banks are fine for the handful of minutes they are on the screen. Ultimately, this is Neeson’s ride and he is an experienced conductor of thrillers so the audience always feels they’re in good hands.

Liam Neeson and Vera Farmiga in “The Commuter.”

The Commuter continues Neeson’s trend of mostly forgettable thrillers, but what makes this movie standout from his other attempts is the entertainment factor. The movie is always moving, almost too fast, but by the end the audience should feel exhilarated. The mystery is engaging enough to keep you guessing, and while some of your guesses will come true, the ride is entertaining enough to earn a pass. It’ll probably be forgotten about two days after you see it, but not all train rides have to be memorable. With Liam Neeson wearing his thriller conductor hat with pride, you’ll most likely enjoy this ride.

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Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a recent graduate of Oakland University where he earned a degree in journalism. He worked for the student newspaper on campus, The Oakland Post, where he became the paper's managing editor. He also earned a minor in Cinema Studies at OU. Scott enjoys all things film and TV related, especially the blockbuster kind. He might be the biggest Christopher Nolan fan you know.
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