The Ice Road(2021)

 Liam Neeson could probably read out traffic updates on the radio and still have me gripping my seat. I had to look up all the films he’s starred in so I can watch every single one of it and this was my first pick amongst the ones I haven’t seen yet. ^{could this be obsession?}  In this particular film, he doesn’t really do much of his usual. You know the set of guns and growls. At first glance, the film felt like one of those “dad movies” you stumble upon on a Sunday afternoon, but when you watch on, you’ll find more depth. **Synopsis(no spoilers)**  Neeson plays Mike McCann, a weathered truck driver who, alongside his brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas), signs up for a high-stakes job which is hauling life-saving equipment across an ice road to rescue miners trapped underground. And Of course, it wouldn’t be a Liam Neeson movie without betrayal lurking nearby. In this case, it is courtesy of a shady corporate guy (Benjamin Walker) who clearly didn’t get the memo about teamwork. ****  Now, where this movie really earns its keep is in the bond between Mike and Gurty. Gurty, is a war veteran that’s living with aphasia, and he really brings vulnerability into the role. One you don’t often get to see in action flicks, and Mike’s protective nature toward him also gives the film its heart. Forget explosions, watching their quiet moments together made me feel like I was intruding on something real. Neeson’s best roles as I mentioned in my previous review(s) always sneak in emotion underneath the grit, and this one is no different.  Cinematography-wise, it falls towards harsh whites and endless blues, which gives off bleak but effective. You can practically feel the frostbite through the screen. The action in this one isn’t about wild stunts but the simple terror of ice groaning under a 40-ton truck. Honestly, the sound of those cracking ice had me more tense than any gunfight I’ve watched.  As for pacing, it stumbles here and there, plus it seemed some of the dialogue might have been borrowed from the Action Movie 101 handbook. Also, at one point, I found myself wondering if Neeson’s truck-driving skills should qualify him as an honorary Avenger because this man does everything except fly.  Anyway here’s the kicker, I enjoyed it. The sacrifices and loyalty on display, every bit of it. Watching men fight not just against nature but for family, for strangers and redemption? That’s the stuff that sticks. Rating? A 7.5/10 isn’t bad. Oh, I absolutely do recommend.