Unknown
Starring: Diane Kruger, Frank Langella, January Jones, Liam Neeson
Details: US/TBC TBC
Neeson is a doctor in biotechnology who travels to Berlin with his beautiful young wife (Jones) for an important conference. But after leaving one of his bags at the airport, he is rushing back from the hotel when the cab he's travelling in is involved in an accident. Four days later he wakes up from a coma, looking for his wife - but she's not by his bedside. Returning to the hotel he finds her with another man claiming to be him; convinced he is who he says he is, Neeson's doctor sets about finding out who's ruined his life, and why spectacled Germans are trying to kill him.
Generally well put-together, and reminiscent of other puzzle-thrillers such as The Game and Frantic, there is enough here to keep the undemanding cinema goer on the edge of their seat for the most part. Neeson plays "what the f**k" extremely well, and has knack of delivering cheesy dialogue in a way that makes it buyable. But there's too much happening around him in too long-winded a manner to engage with his character or what he's going through. His lines become increasingly repetitive as the film moves on - which was fine in Taken because they were broken up by him handing half of Paris its arse.
It's twisty-turny stuff to say the least, but when the reveal finally does happen you probably won't care because you've spent so long waiting for Neeson to chin someone. When a film is marketed in a similar way to Taken - with a similar setting - folks are bound to be disappointed when the content continually hints at a something kick ass, but instead keeps leading them around a maze. On its own merit regardless, Unknown doesn't work particularly well.
Far from awful, but pretty average. Action junkies may be disappointed, but thrill seekers should find enough to distract them for a couple of hours.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
LINDA BARRETT
I Loved this film... possibly because Liam Neeson was in it as I do think he can carry off any part he is given to the best of his ability. The pace of the film is very fast. I wondered at the sanity of the character Neeson portrayed through most of the film until the near end when all is explained. The explanation was not as I expected at all..however in saying that, it was a plausible explanation for cinema standards and I found myself at odds with my feelings towards Neeson's charactor knowing the 'Why' ... Mike Sheridan stated that the film "keeps leading them (the audience) around a maze"... I didn't find this at all. It was similar to a jigsaw which had to be put together and as the final 'piece' is omitted, you can see the full picture and go "Ah! so that's what it is ..."
Posted 14/03/2011 13:35:23
Paulie
I'm an action junkie, Mike, and the car chase alone in this movie was worth my tenner. Far from average and works better than ice in summer, cracking movie, i loved every minute of it. Liam Neeson is our greatest and Unknown shows why. As for waiting for him to chin someone, we also waited in Taken. There's no harm in waiting when the pay-off is worth it.
Posted 19/03/2011 15:34:07
Ash
a good action flick that has an inventive twist but a lack of crediability in plot . good acting but there are too many elements in this film .
Posted 25/03/2011 00:56:17
grayam
Yeah have to say this film is great, keeps your attention, clever twist. 3.5/5
Posted 16/04/2011 21:19:02
chell3
great movie....... ('',) worth the watch, but the endin was mad !!!
Posted 04/05/2011 20:17:54
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