Before anyone sees Liam Neeson’s latest film, Unknown, they should know that it is not the nonstop action romp it is expected to be. Instead, the movie is more of a psychological thriller — one that relies too much on its third-act twist to get by.
Unknown, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, was released Feb. 18.
The film opens with Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) and his wife, Elizabeth Harris (January Jones), arriving in Berlin for a business trip. After the couple arrives at the hotel, Martin discovers that he had left his luggage at the airport.
He then takes a taxi to head back and ends up getting in a car crash. Left unconscious as the cab sinks into a river, he is saved by his cab driver, Gina (Diane Kruger), who takes him to a hospital.
After four days, Harris wakes up from a coma to discover that his wife has no idea who he is. Things are further complicated when he discovers that another man, Martin B. (Aidan Quinn), is impersonating him.
Although it is enjoyable to watch the plot unravel, the story line of Unknown feels slightly bland. It seems that the filmmakers were trying to create a movie in the style of Alfred Hitchcock without ever having seen a Hitchcock film.
One of the film’s biggest problems is the rate at which it reveals information. As opposed to slowly filling the audience in bit by bit, the movie withholds all of the details until the last 15 minutes, at which point Unknown dumps every single plot point on its viewers.
This makes the film’s denouement a spectacular piece of sensory overload. Not only does the movie explain most of its plot at that point, but it also utilizes its best action scenes and attempts to deliver nail-biting tension. This left me more exhausted than satisfied.
However, what little action the film has is generally well-done. The fight scenes are well-choreographed, although they become difficult to understand due to shaky camera work and rapid camera shot switches. I particularly enjoyed a car chase in the middle of the movie. Though implausible, the scene was still very exciting.
The acting in Unknown was generally nondescript. Neeson’s one-note acting isn’t so much his fault as it is the screenwriters’. Kruger, who is at least decent in most films, is annoying in this one. Her mediocre Bosnian accent grates on viewers well before the film’s end.
One small detail that annoyed me is the age difference between Neeson and Jones, who play husband and wife in the film. Movies have a tendency to pair older actors with young actresses, but the 25-year age difference between the two in this film was distracting, if not a little disturbing.
However, these criticisms are not to say that I hated the film. The screenwriting, as trite as it is, was very good at keeping me on my toes, producing an end-of-the-movie twist that was quite effective.
In addition, the movie should be complimented for its visuals. Unknown had a refreshing realism to it. Instead of showing the more pristine, beautiful scenery that is often used when filming in a foreign country, this movie portrayed the grimier side of Berlin.
Altogether, I enjoyed the film more than I didn’t, but that’s not enough to keep it from being a forgettable mystery movie.
Running at 113 minutes, Unknown is rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action and brief sexual content. It is currently playing at most local theaters. For tickets and showtimes, visit Fandango.
For more movie reviews, read the Feb. 2 article, ‘Waste Land’ documents ‘rags to riches’ tale.
Mark Bennett is a freshman who is involved in the Video Productions class.