Blacklight — As he sees it, undercover agent Travis Block’s (Liam Neeson) calling is an ability to save the souls of good FBI operatives who have temporarily crossed over to the dark side. After busting up a gang of Johnny Rebs, Block turns his attention to Dusty Crane (Taylor John Smith), a rogue agent about to inform the press of Operation Unity, a top secret government program that involves the murder of innocent civilians. Dusty bemoans the death of bystanders, but doesn’t mind introducing the skull of a security guard to an automotive museum display motor. Mark Williams’ third collaboration as producer and/or director on a Neeson programmer finds all parties concerned locked into their “picking up a paycheck” mode. Block leaves Dusty cuffed inside the car while he picks up his granddaughter from grade school. (The dreadfully upbeat tyke is a procedural-junkie; for her birthday grandpa gifted her with a taser.) The plotting is so obvious that patrons in the adjoining theatre were quick to peg the top cop (Aidan Quinn, entering his William Windom period) as the mastermind behind the sinister project. When Mitchum didn’t care, he at least shrugged with style. When Neeson doesn’t give a shit, it shows. (2022) — Scott Marks
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