Unknown (Review)

When older actors try to be action stars, the results are often depressing, laughable, or both (like Sylvester Stallone’s testosterone-off The Expendables). They seem merely like an actor going through a mid or late-life crisis; trying to capture the magic of their younger, more limber days. The case of Liam Neeson, however, is a strange one. Until recently, he was known more for dramatic roles (Schindler’s List, Michael Collins) than his work in action films. Then came the surprise smash Taken, in which Neeson played a father who traveled to France to kill a lot of people while searching for his kidnapped daughter. Since then, Neeson has appeared in such fare as The A-Team and Clash of the Titans, and with Jaume Collet-Serra’s Unknown, Neeson returns to Europe to wreak havoc with his fists once more.

Neeson is introduced to the audience as Dr. Martin Harris, a scientist who’s attending a biotechnology summit in Berlin with his wife, played by Mad Men’s January Jones. He accidently leaves his briefcase at the airport, so he goes back to pick it up by hitching a ride in a taxi driven by Diane Kruger. On the way the car ends up going off a bridge and into the river, putting Martin in a coma for four days. When he wakes up, his wife doesn’t recognize him and all evidence seems to suggest that he doesn’t exist. Soon he’s running around Berlin trying to figure out who he really is.

Despite what the ads may tell you, Unknown is hardly a sequel to Taken. The locale may be similar, but this film is more interested in the mystery of it all than it is in Neeson capping baddies. Let’s face it; Taken was not a film that had much respect for human life. Meanwhile, the body count in Unknown is noticeably leaner. It isn’t until later in the film that Neeson goes into full butt-kicking mode, and as a result the character is often more confused and vulnerable than he is intimidating.

It’s this more (relatively) understated quality that makes Neeson such an effective lead in most any movie, and he elevates what might be pedestrian material to his level. You put a weaker actor in as Martin Harris and the film could be exposed as the trash that it is. Instead, Neeson comes in and is able to pull off both the dramatic and action scenes while still retaining his dignity. Even when he’s beating up baddies, he does it with dignity. The reason Neeson has become a middle-aged action star of late is because he’s a darn good one.

The rest of the film is just good enough to get by. Supporting performances by Kruger, Jones, Aidan Quinn and Frank Langella are all more than competent, and the work of Orphan director Jaume Collet-Serra is quite solid. It’s a quasi-Hitchcockian thriller that doesn’t aim higher than it needs to, and as a result it’s most always effective.

Of course Unknown is absurd. It grows more insane the further you get away from it. However, in the moment I felt intrigued and excited by every new development. I was also quite forgiving of the final twist, which provided a genuine shock and didn’t feel especially lazy. When was the last time you were watching a movie and you honestly had no idea what would happen next? Unknown is able to accomplish this, and that feat alone is worth a great many points in my book. It may run on a bit too long in the interest of fitting in an action-packed climax, but while it lasts Unknown calls for your attention every step of the way.

Rating:  (out of 4)