“A Walk Among the Tombstones”

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity

I am a devoted fan of Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr’s Burglar series of mysteries. Mr. Block has another series (16 novels to date) featuring Matthew Scudder — a recovering alcoholic, ex-detective for the NYPD, and now an unlicensed private investigator.

Of course, he skirts the law but has a solid moral core. He “does favors for friends” (some unsavory chaps) and they “give him gifts.” He spends time in churches, lighting candles, and dwelling on the dead, particularly a little girl he accidently killed when he went after some bad guys (and dispatched them).

The literary version of Matthew Scudder is far more dark, complicated, and sexual than the one portrayed by Liam Neeson in the cinematic version of Mr. Block’s novel of the same name, written in 1992. Some of the characters made it to the screen but several did not; the ones that had something to do with Mr. Scudder’s sex life, most specifically failed to make it. But what survives is Block’s brooding, intellectual style filled with finely crafted dialog and sad and psychotic characters of the underworld.

Note: Lawrence Block’s novel “8 Million Ways to Die” (a Matthew Scudder mystery) was made into a movie in 1986, but it was truly “violated” by moving the Scudder character (portrayed by Jeff Bridges) to southern California and making him a sheriff’s deputy; a sacrilege to be sure. This is like serving, in a dog bowl, a popsicle as an hors d’oeuvre at a formal dinner party honoring royalty. The heart and soul of Scudder is the underbelly of New York. And “A Walk Among the Tombstones” succeeds in respecting both Mr. Block and Mr. Scudder.

Mr. Scudder is hired by a wealthy drug trafficker to track down his wife’s kidnappers, torturers, and killers and that they be “brought to him.” Scudder refuses to take the job but, of course, he changes his mind. The bad kidnappers/torturers/killers, it seems, are doing it again and it seems both business and pleasure, mostly pleasure. Scudder eventually discovers the fellows’ next target is a very young girl. Mr. Scudder is most motivated.

Along the way, Matt befriends a young street hustler named T.J. who is exceptionally bright and eager to be the next Sam Spade … or Sam Spade’s assistant. The boy has sickle cell anemia so this complicates Scudder’s life while, at the same time, triggers his paternal instincts. Nice guy this Scudder. You can’t help but love him. But Mr. Block’s heroes are always likeable and the bad guys are always deliciously contemptible slime balls worthy of being brutally dispatched to hell, hopefully by our man Scudder.

Atmosphere is what makes this movie a pleasure to watch. Attention to the time period (1991 and 1999) makes the story more “authentic.” The shots are clearly well considered and contemplative. Action is minimal in Matthew Scudder’s stories but when there is action it is bloody and effective.

Liam Neeson is pretty good as Scudder. I would like to see him again as our hero. His sad countenance is very Scudder-like.

Lawrence Block is a wonderful writer. And he is usually reluctant to have his books filmed. He often makes his novels too complicated to be made into a movie, and “A Walk Among the Tombstones” was clearly simplified.

I am reluctant to fully endorse this film because we have seen this story many, many times before; much of it stolen from the pen of Lawrence Block. The plot is very similar to Mr. Neeson’s “Taken” film franchise. Adding to my hesitation to recommend, Mr. Block’s Matt Scudder series can be depressing and fans may feel a bit droopy upon leaving the theater. On the other hand, I respect Mr. Block’s work immensely. I relish ever word he writes in his Burglar series. However, his Burglar series is much more wickedly comical than the Matt Scudder series.

Let me settle on this: A Lawrence Block book is a mighty good read, and “A Walk Among the Tombstones” is close to his literary brand as is possible (to date) on the big screen. Mr. Neeson is to be complimented for being the first, nearly authentic Matt Scudder. Too bad the film is marred by the revised and sanitized ending — that is a tragedy. They removed the brutal and most effective twist and replaced it with a sentimental shot that will make Block fans howl with grief. The film lost a bow tie from me for that travesty.

Hollywood: You came so close, why did you blow it? I’m warning you: don’t mess with Matt Scudder or Lawrence Block.

Two and a half bow ties are granted to “A Walk Among the Tombstones.”