What we have here is a couple of Irish lads playing at being cowboys and doing a mighty fine job of it too. Pierce Brosnan is an ex-Union officer and Liam Neeson (plus hired guns) is the man on his tail looking for revenge.
It’s been noted elsewhere that this has much in common with Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales but in that film our sympathy is always with Clint, here there are more shades of grey. When we finally discover why Neeson is hunting Brosnan three quarters of the way into the film it becomes impossible to choose sides, you understand both men and there is no right and wrong here.
Brosnan, sporting some impressive facial hair, gives one of his finest performances. Tortured by his past he still fights for survival even with the odds against him and Pierce really shows that. The first twenty minutes he doesn’t even have any dialogue but gives an incredible display of physical acting.
When the film starts Neeson appears to be the villain, he’s obsessed with catching his prey and with the odds so much in his favour we automatically root for Brosnan. Yet as the film progresses the film turns our original expectations on there head. Neeson is a hard, cold bastard for sure but not without reason.
