Dim Despite Star Power: 'A Walk Among the Tombstones' and 'This Is Where I Leave You'

Private investigator Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) is on the trail of a murderer in "A Walk Among the Tombstones." Photo courtesy of Universal Studios.

A private detective is in search of a killer, while an eccentric family mourns the death of its patriarch. Two films with high-wattage star power – middling efforts, both – open in U.S. theaters day.

“A Walk Among the Tombsones,” is based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Block. The crime drama stars Liam Neeson as an NYPD policeman-turned-private detective. Matthew Scudder is in search of the killer of a woman. Not any woman, but the wife of drug dealer Kenny Kristo (Dan Stevens).(See video below).

“A Walk Among the Tombstones,” directed by Scott Frank, who also wrote the screenplay, doesn't really offer any surprises. It is a typical big screen crime film. Here is a troubled man doing his usual good job with some usual roadblocks, challenges, nonsense and mendactiy. What sets it apart, however, is the casting of LN. In fact author LB likes the actor in this role.

“Readers often ask who'd be my ideal Matt Scudder, and I usually change the subject,” said LB who producers (a long list, including Danny DeVito) invited to the “A Walk Among the Tombstones” set. “But now it's safe to tell you that, ever since I saw him in “Michael Collins,” Neeson has been up at the top of my personal Scudder wish list.

Of course, this is no “Michael Collins,” but the presence of LN raises the material above the merely pedestrian. For his part, LN is in one of his best roles in a spell; certainly, a couple of rungs above that “Taken” series.

Alas, the presence of Jane Fonda, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman and Tom Olyphant namely, do not raise “This Is Where I Leave You.”

Much is afoot when the Altman siblings return to the family seat to sit Shiva `– in the Jewish tradition, a week of mourning following the burial during which the main family receives visitors and generally comports itself solemnly – at the request of their father before he passed. But none of it is particularly interesting. (See video below).

In fact, the goings-on `– much ado (adults behaving atrociously) about nothing`–- are puerile, bordering on vapid. TF's Wendy character punching a man is not funny. Similarly, using the boob job of 70-something mom, Hillary (JF), as part of the punchline misses the mark.

The problem in “This Is Where I Leave You” is not the acting. Neither is it the material, actually. This is the stuff of life after all. Perhaps this film, based on the book of the same name by Jonahan Tropper who also wrote the screenplay, should have remained a book. Another thought is that someone other than JT might have written the screenplay.

In any case, “This Is Where I Leave You” will leave viewers wondering why they bothered to watch.

“A Walk Among the Tombstones” is rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity; visit http://www.awalkamongthetombstones.net/ to learn more about the film. “This Is Where I Leave You” is rated R for language, sexual content and some drug use; visit http://www.thisiswhereileaveyou.com/ to learn more about the film.

Return to House of Lord Crawley in 'Downton Abbey'

IS Lady Mary Crawley journeying to America to ride out a possible scandal? Or will she remain in Great Britain to marry her cousin, Matthew Crawley, the future Earl of Grantham – the notion of damaged goods be damned?

What of John Bates? Is the former valet to be condemned to serve a life sentence or will the truth of his ex-wife’s demise come to light and with it his release from prison? How long will it take Robert Crawley, current Earl of Grantham, to discover that his new and reluctantly engaged valet, Thomas Barrow, is the swine he really once believed him to be and cast him from “Downton Abbey”?

The above questions and others will be answered this season and possibly tonight when the Emmy-winning series makes its long-awaited Season 3 U.S. debut at 9 p.m. EST on PBS.

There are high hopes for Matthew (Dan Stevens) and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) at Downton Abbey. Photos from PBS.

First-run episodes of “Downton” ended in February 2012. Fans have had to wait almost a year to learn the fate of their favorite characters in this costume drama – a 21st-century “Upstairs Downstairs,” though the latter series has its own 21-century iteration. Set in the runup to World War II, it also has to strongly recommend it beautiful sets and exquisite period costuming.

Among new developments at “Downton” this season is the arrival of Cora’s mother. She is a breath of fresh air or a foul odor, depending on the narrator. Do note that Downton is making its U.S. debut. It has already debuted in the United Kingdom.

Martha Levinson (Shirley MacLaine) and Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) are two women who are accustomed to getting their way. They will also get in the way of each other.

Hopefully, those who don’t want to know any outcomes before they see tonight’s show have carefully avoided certain Web sites and turned blind eyes and ears to spoiler alerts. Even still, knowing is not the same as seeing. (See video above.)

For the Edwardian-period drama is so exquisitely rendered that half the treat is simply drinking in the sumptuousness with the eye.

Visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/ to learn more about “Downton Abbey.