An Focal
21st February 2012
17
Film
Irish hunk of Hollywood Roisin Burke
HOLLYWOOD and Ireland are worlds apart, but bridging the gap is our very own Liam Neeson; An Irish hunk of Hollywood. Acting was not his first career choice, professional soccer; amateur boxing, teaching and working for Guinness all trumped his eventual stardom. But over many years our Irish hunk has starred in a wide range of quality films Shindlers list was one of his first memorable performances as a German businessman who saved almost a thousand refugees during the Holocaust. It is a passionately proud period piece that is loved by all ages. It holds an emotional tenacity that touches even the most impenetrable of hearts. Neeson displayed talented acting as the Irish patriot Michael Collins in a historic biopic written by Neil Jordan. This film proved extremely popular and is an all-time favourite for Irish people and anyone with interest in the events that formed the Irish nation. Revealing a more romantic side in the film ‘Love actually’, Liam plays a widowed husband struggling to rear a young boy and dealing with the loneliness of single parenthood. Fiction films also proved successful for the Irish actor
such as Star wars, Batman begins and The Chronicles of Narnia. His versatile acting also saw him take a role in the independent film Breakfast on Pluto starring alongside Cillian Murphy. He has also acted in several action films such as Taken and the A team. His latest acting stint is The Grey, a dark tale about survival against all odds. In this American thriller Neeson is stranded in Alaska with a group of men following a plane crash. Their survival is not only threatened by the uncertainty of food supplies, location, and lack of communication with civilisation, their odds of survival are further reduced by a pack of hunting wolves. Liam Neeson has had a long, varied career since entering the world of Hollywood yet has never managed to grasp an Oscar or Golden Globe award. His efforts and talents are constantly preceded and surpassed by other actors of equal ability. Although he has not managed to achieve trophy success his versatility as an actor is transparent in his film choices. His achievement is his ability to pick films and characters that will be loved, adored and watched forever. His acting and career will never be forgotten because his work is timelessly enjoyable and that is approval that cannot be captured in shiny metal. Not only is Liam Neeson bridging the gap between Hollywood and Ireland, he is solidifying his name in the stars.
Liam Neesons latest acting stint is The Grey, a dark tale about survival against all odds.