With an illustrious and enduring Hollywood career spanning over 40 years and countless cinematic hits to his name,Liam Neesonis undeniably a staple on the silver screen and one of the entertainment industry’s most entertaining leading men. Neeson has flexed his phenomenal acting chops in a slew of knockout films likeSchindler’s List, Love Actually, Batman Begins,andTaken, and has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to him becoming a certified action hero after starring in the aforementioned fan-favorite hit.
In 2022, Neeson tackled the iconic role of private detective Philip Marlowe in the captivating neo-noir crime thrillerMarlowe, sharing the screen with stars like Jessica Lange and Diane Kruger and giving his own dazzling flair and interpretation of the popular literary character. The engrossing period drama impressively marked Neeson’s 100th film in his ever-growing resume and further highlighted his charisma and allure as a movie star. Let’s take a closer look at the thriller and Neeson’s enviable Tinseltown tenure.
A Star-Studded Thriller Featuring a Go-To Cinema Character
Liam Neeson continued proving himself to be one of the silver screen’s most entertaining and enduring performers when he headlined the spellbinding 2022 neo-noircrime thrillerMarlowe, in whichthe seasoned star portrays legendary literary character and cinema P.I. Philip Marlowe. Here, he appeared alongside famous faces like Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. In the engrossing adaptation of the John Banville novelThe Black-Eyed Blonde, the brooding, tough-as-nails private detective Marlowe ashe is hired by the gorgeous heiress Clare Cavendish (Kruger) to track down her missing lover in 1939 Los Angeles.
Marlowe finds himself swept up in the glitz and glamor of Hollywood as he discovers Cavendish’s mother happens to be the famous movie star Dorothy Quincannon (Lange), who is fiercely protective over her daughter and wants to desperately keep her safe from shady men and atone for her own past sins.As the savvy P.I. digs deeper into the perplexing case, he begins to wonder whether Cavendish’s former flame is as innocent as he appears and if there is more to the mystery than meets the eye, while also attracting the unwanted attention of a dangerous drug lord and his ruthless henchman (Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
Marloweis the 11th big-screen version featuring the iconic private detective, who was first introduced to the masses in Raymond Chandler’s first short story,Blackmailers Don’t Shootin 1933, and later in the first official novel,The Big Sleep,in 1939. Some of Tinseltown’s most revered actors have tackled the epic role, most notablyHumphrey Bogart (The Big Sleep), James Garner (Marlowe), and Elliot Gould (The Long Goodbye), and Neeson unsurprisingly gave the unforgettable, down-on-his-luck protagonist his own unique twist in the taut crime thriller.
Best Movies with Private Detective Philip Marlowe, Ranked
Film’s most iconic detective has been played by Humphrey Bogart, Liam Neeson, Robert Mitchum, and more, appearing in a number of classic movies
Neeson’s Illustrious & Downright Enviable Hollywood Career
Marlowemarked a major career milestone for the talented Neeson, as the crime thriller became the beloved leading man’s 100th movie in his ever-growing Hollywood repertoire. Though it ultimately failed to make a major splash with critics and at the box office,Marlowenonetheless showcased Neeson’s dazzling range as a performer and allowed him to winningly capture the private detective’s world-weary attitude and gruff demeanor, further highlighting his undeniable appeal as a silver-screen superstar.
The charismatic Irish actor made his feature film debut in 1978’sPilgrim’s Progress, in which he portrayed the Evangelist, before ultimately going on to appear in ’80s movies likeExcalibur, The Bounty, Suspect, and Sam Raimi’sDarkman. In 1993, Neeson achieved widespread prominence when he portrayed Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s critically-acclaimed HolocaustmasterpieceSchindler’s List,which nabbed him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actorand helped the poignant film also take home the statuette for Best Picture.
The 10 Highest-Grossing Films Starring Liam Neeson
Hollywood legend Liam Neeson has had a solid box office run and these ten films prove it.
Neeson remained a dominating presence on the big screen throughout the ensuing decade, memorably starring in cinema knockouts,includingLove Actually,Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins,andThe Chronicles of Narniatrilogy,before completely reinventing himself and establishing himself as a certified action movie star when he starred in the 2008 blockbuster thrillerTaken.He would cement his status as Hollywood’s go-to butt-kicking hero in subsequent rip-roaring flicks likeThe Grey, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Widows,andIn the Land of Saints and Sinners,keeping his devoted fan base constantly entertained.
Appearing in over 100 films is no easy feat, and it truly is a testament to the fantastic legacy and undeniable skills Neeson has as a celebrated leading man. It certainly seems as thoughNeeson has no plans of slowing down, as the 72-year-old has quite a few projects in the works, such as the upcoming action comedyThe Naked Gun,Cold Storage,andThe Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky,and over forty years into his illustrious career it seems as though his loyal followers can’t wait to see what the gifted actor does next, as the sky is truly the limit.
StreamMarloweonPrime Video.
