In a remote Irish town, a newly retired assassin finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. A film by Robert Lorenz, starring Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, and Ciarán Hinds.
In the Land of SAINTS and SINNERS
Robert Lorenz
(2024)
Northern Ireland 1974, during the conflict in Northern Ireland, four members of the IRA (Irish Republican Army), Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon), Curtis June (Desmond Eastwood), Conan McGrath (Conor MacNeill), and Séamus McKenna (Seamus O’Hara), plant a bomb in a car they park in front of Swan’s Bar in Belfast to assassinate their target.
The Troubles (Na Trioblóidí), known as Northern Ireland conflict, were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Although the Troubles mostly took place in Northern Ireland, at times violence spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.
However, something they didn’t anticipate happens. As a woman and three children walk by the car, two boys scuffling, drop their notebooks. Doireann decides to get out of the car to warn them, but they don’t understand what Doireann is trying to say. Two pedestrians notice Doireann yelling. The bomb detonates, killing their two targets in the bar along with a woman and her three children.
The group flees the scene. They stop to ditch their burned-out car and switch to a new one, destroying evidence. The group then heads to a small town, Gleann Cholm Cille, on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, to lay low for a while. Their speedy car loses control on a curve in the road, and crushes the Gleann Cholm Cille wood sign into pieces.
On the hill of Gleann Cholm Cille, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson), a man with a mysterious past, and his local officer friend Vincent O’Shea (Ciarán Hinds), are betting on shooting cans. Vincent loses the bet. On their way back, Vincent investigates the town’s destroyed wooden sign and notices a maroon color latched onto a piece of the sign, suggesting it must be paint from the car that crushed the sign. Vincent is determined to find out who is responsible for the damage.
The film reveals Finbar’s real profession as a contract killer. His latest target, Bart McGuiness (Mark O’Regan), gives him advice as his last words, making him contemplate his past actions as a killer. Finbar decides to quit his job, telling his boss Robert McQue (Colm Meaney) to give all the new assignments to Kevin Lynch (Jack Gleeson), a young contract killer who Robert has just hired instead.
Finbar learns that his local bar manager, Sinéad Dougan (Sarah Greene), has allowed her brother-in-law Curtis, to stay at her home. He also discovers that Curtis frequently beats Sinéad’s daughter Moya (Michelle Gleeson). Upon finding Moya with a bullet, he inquires where she got it. Moya is too afraid to tell him anything. Finbar takes the bullet to discuss with Robert. But Robert refuses to get involved, suggesting Curtis might be a member of the IRA. Finbar decides to take the matter in his own hands. He lures Curtis into his car in order to kill him.
However, Finbar underestimates Curtis, and his plan backfires spectacularly. But intervention comes from an unexpected source. Kevin, whom Robert had assigned to watch Finbar, steps in and kills Curtis, saving Finbar’s life. Finbar’s actions land him in a deeper conflict when Doireann realizes Curtis is missing. Learning Curtis is likely dead, she embarks on a vengeful quest to avenge her brother.
Directed by American filmmaker Robert Lorenz, In the Land of Saints and Sinners suffers from a clichéd plot. The film offers little in terms of originality or thought-provoking themes. Despite an explosive opening, the story quickly falls into predictable territory, that unfortunately dials down to the point where almost nothing interesting happens in this Irish coastal town of Gleann Cholm Cille.
Liam Neeson delivers a decent performance, as we all can expect from him. But he alone can’t save the movie. Kerry Condon’s performance is amazing as a memorable main antagonist. Her character is ruthless and brutal, yet not quite as smart as one might hope, since she’s no match for a seasoned assassin.
Jack Gleeson is incredible as Kevin Lynch, a new assassin brought in to replace Finbar Murphy. I like the quirkiness in his character, making him a perfect sidekick for Neeson’s. Though I can’t seem to recall watching anything he’s done since Game of Thrones, I wish he gets more recognition for his performance in this film.
In the Land of SAINTS and SINNERS premiered at Biennale di Venezia on 6 September 2023. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 29 March 2024.
