Movie Review: “Unknown”

Seen on: February 19, 2011

The players: Director: Jaume Collet-Serra, Writers: Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornwell, Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones

Facts of interest: Based on the novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert.

The plot: After waking from a coma, a man realizes someone else has stolen his identity. Even his own wife doesn't recognize him.

Our thoughts: Liam Neeson is definitely not the guy you want to mess with in a fast-paced action thriller, and in Jaume Collet-Serra’s “Unknown,” the actor slips into the role of a man who goes all badass on everybody after he finds out someone out there has stolen his identity. Luckily for us spectators, Neeson’s fight to get his life back in the movie proves to be quite an entertaining ride.

Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, an American scientist who wakes from a four-day coma in Berlin only to realize that someone else has taken his place. His own wife (January Jones) doesn’t recognize him anymore, and no one he talks to believes he is who he claims to be. Determined to put and end to the mystery and retrieve his identity, Martin embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth.

“Unknown” may not be the smartest thriller out there, but the film does a pretty solid job at keeping audiences guessing during its first two thirds. Curiosity remains at a high level throughout, and the fact that a total stranger has assumed Martin’s identity after he wakes from his coma obviously adds a fair dose of suspense to the mix. He doesn’t know what the heck is going on, and neither do we.

Following clues he collects from various events that occurred before his stay at the hospital, Martin teams up with an energetic cab driver (Diane Kruger) and old detective (Bruno Ganz) to figure out why someone would want to steal his life. The level of action in the film skyrockets soon after, and Neeson quickly finds himself battling a bunch of ruthless bad guys trying to take him out once and for all.

Featuring several thrilling pursuits and a handful of intense fighting sequences, “Unknown” carries just the right amount of over-the-top big-screen action to keep us sit tight for 113 minutes. The film is by no means as crazily entertaining as “Taken,” but it sure includes its fair share of cool moments destined to satisfy most action fans.

Things however completely spin out of control in the movie’s third act. The story grows more and more ridiculous as Martin gets closer to the truth, and “Unknown” instantly goes from silly to totally absurd. That said, despite being ludicrous, the twist somewhat works in taking us by surprise, and fortunately enough, the level of action remains at a reasonable level all the way to the end credits.

I don’t need to talk much about Neeson’s performance because the man is a dab hand when it comes to these films and roles. In other words, he’s just perfect at playing hardcore dudes stopping at nothing to get what they want. Jones, Kruger and Ganz make a solid supporting cast, and even Frank Langella excels in a short but crucial role as one of Martin’s friends.

Freaky quote: "I am Martin Harris!!!" - Liam Neeson

The final word: “Unknown” is a thriller you can’t take seriously if you want to enjoy it. It doesn’t qualify as a memorable experience, but it boasts excellent entertainment and will keep you looking for answers longer than most films in this genre. In terms of Neeson action flicks though, I admit I still prefer “Taken” to this one. That said, “Unknown” is still worth a trip to the theater.

On the web: http://unknownmovie.warnerbros.com/

Article by Franck Tabouring