Who could have predicted after 2008’s “Taken” that Liam Neeson would overtake the likes of Bruce Willis and Jason Statham as Hollywood’s favorite action hero? As the Irish actor approaches 70, he shows no signs of slowing down his penchant for hard-hitting movies either.
Since 2018’s “The Commuter,” Neeson has been on another tear of action thrillers: 2019’s “Cold Pursuit, last year’s “Honest Thief,” and “The Marksman,” which opened this January. Now, Neeson returns on-screen in yet another white-knuckle thrill ride, “The Ice Road.” In the film, Neeson plays a Canadian driving specialist who leads a rescue mission to save miners trapped in a diamond mine.
Here’s the official synopsis:
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After a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, an ice driver leads an implausible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the lives of trapped miners despite thawing waters and a threat they never see coming.
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Laurence Fishburne (‘John Wick 3: Parabellum‘), Ray McKinnon (‘Ford v. Ferrari’), Marcus Thomas (‘Kill The Irishman‘), and Benjamin Walker (‘Jessica Jones‘) are along for the ride with Neeson on “The Ice Road.” Joining them are Amber Midthunder (‘The Marksman’), Holt McCallany (‘Wrath Of Man’), Matt McCoy (‘Jack Ryan‘), and Martin Sensmeier (‘Yellowstone‘).
Jonathan Hensleigh writes and directs “The Ice Road,” his first film doing both since 2011’s “Kill The Irishman.” Hensleigh has some serious action movie credentials, with writing credits on “Die Hard With A Vengeance” and “Armageddon” and uncredited writing on “The Rock” and “Con Air.”
“The Ice Road” shot in Winnipeg and more remote parts of Manitoba, Canada, in February 2020, right before COVID-19 shut down the world. Neeson has remained busy during the pandemic, with his next film, “Blacklight,” already in post-production; unsurprisingly, it’s another action film.
Given the genre pedigree that Neeson and Hensleigh bring to the table, “The Ice Road” could have the makings of an action classic. Will its path to winning over audiences be as treacherous as its title infers? Find out on June 25, when the movie hits Netflix. Check out the trailer below.
