In 'Run All Night,' Liam Neeson plays a hitman trying to protect his son from a vengeful mob boss (Ed Harris) and his thugs. All through the night, we imagine this old warhorse dispensing some fatherly advice about how to man up in a violent, Liam-Neeson-Movie world. Here are five tips he might share with his on-screen son – and with you.
1. When threatening your adversaries, always speak with a husky voice.
You're not scaring anyone with that nasally tenor. Unless you plan to deliver your threats early in the morning, rough up your voice by screaming into a pillow. A few minutes of forceful whispering can also make you sound good and raspy.
2. Master the "something stinks" expression.
Neeson's patented "angry face" is the stuff of legend. When pursuing bad guys, avoid smiling, weeping or puckering your lips. Instead, imagine the smell of an open sewer. Let the thought transform your face, then hold that pose.
3. Take on a classic Irish-American name.
Matt. Bryan. Bill. Solid Neeson characters with no-nonsense monikers. You'll have a harder time convincing strangers of your mettle if your name is Basil, Tinsley or even Liam. (Go with something simple. We do not recommend Ra's Al Ghul or Qui-Gon.)
4. Accept revenge as a fact of life.
'Run All Night' documents the feud between Neeson's Jimmy Conlon and Ed Harris' vindictive Shawn Maguire. Vengeance also fuels the 'Taken' series, 'Non-Stop’ (2014), 'Rob Roy' (1995), 'Darkman' (1990) and so on. When you're a Liam Neeson character, that's just how it is.
5. Learn to love the black leather jacket.
Neeson's go-to street wear not only makes you look sharp, it can also protect you from knife attacks, falling debris and chilly breezes. Of course, as Neeson displays in this clip from 'Taken 2' (2012), you should take the jacket off when the fighting gets hot.
