Summary
7 tech score
“Cold Pursuit” (Summit)
Ten minutes into Liam Neeson’s latest film “Cold Pursuit” I was pretty much pleased with what I was watching. Sure, it was pretty standard Neeson action and storyline. He usually makes one of these movies a year and they all do pretty good at the box office. They always hold my interest even if they don’t tax my brain or really start my adrenalin. But a few more moments into this movie and my funny bone began to be triggered. That is when I knew “Cold Pursuit” was anything but standard Neesom fare.
“COLD PURSUIT” IS A COMEDY!!!!! It is a dark, dark comedy that doesn’t always hit the mark but many, many times it does. After the first murder and the disposal of the body you are stunned. After the next two or three you are beginning to snicker to yourself. Especially when the victims’ names are slapped up on the screen along with their nicknames. This is not a movie to be taken seriously even though serious things do occur in the film.
Once you have had the initial segment which features Nels Coxman’s (Neesom) family member being killed and him going all “Death Wish” on the perpetrators, you move on to the story of a drug boss having problems with his kid being bullied at school. The drug boss Trevor Calcote (Tom Batemen) is also in a custody battle with his wife (Julia Jones). She is not a woman to be trifled with in any way.
But wait, there is another story about a killer named “The Eskimo” (Arnold Pinnock) that Nels hires to do some of his killing for him. How “the Eskimo” spends his time in Denver, Colorado and its suburb of Kehoe makes for another interesting part of the movie. Also this segment plays into a segment focusing on a battle for power between Calcote and an Indian group headed up by White Bull (Tom Jackson).
It all takes place in in Colorado where the snow is shown to be deeper than small buildings. Nels’ job is clearing the roads and he really earns his money. It even qualifies him to be “Citizen of the Year” in Kehoe. If I had to drive those roads I would have voted for him.
The movie just plays from one crazy scenario to the next, and as you abandon any thoughts of real drama and give yourself over to the silliness and humor, the movie gets better and better. At least that was my reaction. The more I think about it in my mind the better it gets. I just wasn’t prepared for it to be what it is. Now I am going to have to go back and see it again.
The film is rated R for profanity and violence.
Believe it or not folks, this is one of Neesom’s best movies in ages. He spoofs himself in a way that is totally “Fargo-esque” and quite intentionally so. If you don’t believe me, just wait for that final scene.
I first scored “Cold Pursuit” a Far-gotcha 6 out of 10, but on reflection I am moving that up to a 7.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
