IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS movie poster | ©2024 Samuel Goldwyn Films

Rating: R
Stars: Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Sarah Greene, Desmond Eastwood, Niamh Cusack, Conor MacNeill, Seamus O’Hara, Colm Meaney, Ciarán Hinds, Michelle Gleeson, Anne Brogan, Mark O’Regan
Writers: Mark Michael McNally & Terry Loane
Director: Robert Lorenz
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release Date: March 29, 2024

Movies set in 1974 now qualify as period pieces. So it is with IN THE LAND OF SAINTS & SINNERS.

The opening titles inform us that we’re in Northern Ireland, where decades of unrest have led to armed conflict. This refers to the sectarian strife between Protestant and Catholic paramilitary groups, which killed at least 2,000 civilians, as well as combatants and police.

We’re in the city of Belfast, where Irish Republican Army operative Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon) and her small crew blow up a car in front of a pub. Although Doireann tries to warn them off, three children are walking down the street and are killed in the blast.

Meanwhile, in the peaceful west coast county of Donegal, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson) lives outside a picturesque village. Finbar is friendly with local police chief O’Shea (Ciaran Hinds), checks in on across-the-way neighbor Rita (Niamh Cusack), is a regular at the local pub, kind to single mom bartender Sinead (Sarah Greene), protective of Sinead’s little daughter Moya (Michelle Gleeson), and good to his pet cat. They all believe Finbar is a book dealer.

Finbar is in fact a professional hitman, well-regarded in the trade. However, the last words of his most recent victim (Mark O’Regan) cause Finbar to reflect so much that he decides to retire. His primary employer, Robert McQue (Colm Meaney), regretfully accepts Finbar’s resignation. Up-and-coming hitman Kevin Lynch (Jack Gleeson) takes this as good news – more work for him.

However, something close to home inspires Finbar to use his particular set of skills one last time, in furtherance of what is arguably a good cause. Alas, Finbar has no idea of the unintended consequences his action will unleash.

IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS is mainly a gangster film/one-last-job story. As scripted by Mark Michael McNally & Terry Loane, it’s full of little twists and riffs that make us sit forward time and again. Despite the opening information about the Troubles, the IRA seems to be invoked mainly to explain Doireann’s hard-headed self-righteousness and general menace, rather because there’s any political point being made by the movie.

The screenplay sometimes provides little eddies of dialogue that exist for their own sake. Since the cast is such an extraordinary collection of top Irish actors, we’re more than happy to hear them banter and ponder. Everyone is in perfect sync with one another and with the material. It’s startling to realize that the defiantly working-class Kevin is portrayed by Gleeson, erstwhile best-known as the villainous King Joffrey in GAME OF THRONES. Here, Gleeson starts out gleefully “rude,” as Finbar observes, but proves to have boyish vulnerability.

Director Robert Lorenz sets a deliberate pace, but holds our attention. He takes full advantage of the beauty of coastal Ireland, as well as the juxtaposition of the peaceful-looking surroundings and the increasingly non-peaceful action. We also get the benefit of a lovely score, by Diego Baldenweg, with co-composers Lionel Baldenweg and Nora Baldenweg, that’s performed by a full orchestra.

IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS is for those who like their crime thrillers medium-gritty yet scenic, and for fans of Neeson and the rest of the terrific actors.

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