Liam Neeson has had a diverse acting career. He’s a familiar face in the action film genre, having led the Taken franchise as a determined father seeking his kidnapped daughter. His two latest films, Absolution and In the Land of Saints and Sinners, also fall into the action category. Known for bringing intensity to such roles, he’s a natural fit for high-energy action flicks.
However, Neeson has also shone in award-winning movies. He earned an Oscar nomination for his lead role in Schindler’s List, a film often lauded as one of Spielberg’s finest. He was also part of The Dark Knight trilogy, which is regularly considered among the best comic book adaptations ever. Neeson approaches drama with the same passion as action, making him a versatile actor across genres.
Now, one of his acclaimed dramas has been made available to watch for free in an unexpected way. “Michael Collins” is now free to watch on YouTube, courtesy of the studio. This 1996 biographical war drama tells the story of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, who led the Irish National Army during the Irish Civil War and waged a guerilla war against the UK. Written and directed by Neil Jordan, the film stars Neeson in the title role, along with Alan Rickman, Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn, and Ian Hart. It received positive reviews and was nominated for two Oscars.
According to the Warner Bros. YouTube channel, “Michael Collins” has been posted for free viewing. But the description doesn’t clarify why it’s been made available or how long it will remain free. Interestingly, a link in the film’s description leads to a playlist called “Full Movies”. Currently, “Michael Collins” is the only movie on it, though the existence of the playlist hints that more titles could be added in the future.
“Michael Collins” being made free is an unusual strategy. Usually, full movies on YouTube are only there if illegally leaked, which is copyright infringement and gets removed by YouTube. It’s quite rare for a major studio to offer a movie for free, especially one featuring a big-name actor like Neeson. If Warner Bros. expands this “Full Movies” playlist, it’ll be exciting to see what other titles join “Michael Collins”.
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