The Liam Neeson Cinematic Machine

Liam Neeson is the star of a new movie, The Marksman, which is described like this:

Along the US/Mexico border in Arizona, Jim Hanson a rancher and Vietnam war vet, is going through a tough time. His beloved wife just passed away from cancer and the bank is about to foreclose on his vast property.

I have, as it happens, been on something of a Liam Neeson streaming kick of late, having watched all or parts of the three Taken films, Honest Thief, and, last night, part of The Next Three Days. I feel like that description of The Marksman, with small variations, could be used to describe any of those films.

Neeson plays troubled character (veteran, retired CIA operative, retired bank robber, prison escape expert, etc.) with unusual moral clarity; he is either divorced or widowed, and is possibly in love with his ex- or late-wife.

People are after him.

Action.

I wonder if he loves the roles, or simply has very expensive tastes.

Upcoming roles:

• The Ice Road: After a remote Canadian diamond mine collapses, an ice driver leads an impossible rescue mission to save the lives of trapped miners despite thawing waters.
• Blacklight: Troubled repairman off the FBI books is tasked with pulling undercover agents out of dangerous situations.
• Memory: Liam Neeson will play an expert assassin with a reputation for discreet precision.

These sound about right.