REVIEW: Liam Neeson thrills again in new Hitchcock-esque film
The first thing to know about “Unknown” is that it is not a sequel to “Taken.” The second thing to know about “Unknown” is that it is a well-done thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
After a long flight to Berlin, Germany for a biotechnology conference, botanist Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) takes a taxi and becomes separated from his wife (January Jones) in a search for his missing briefcase. A traffic accident occurs, and Harris is knocked unconscious, and wakes up four days later in a hospital.
Yielding to the doctor’s questions, Harris tries to remember the events of the crash and information about who he is. All he can tell anyone at first is that his name is Martin Harris. Following a newscast about the conference, his memories begin to come back to him, so he signs himself out of the hospital and begins searching for his wife.
Looking disheveled and escorted by hotel security, Harris finds his wife at a conference party. She doesn’t recognize him and is accompanied by a man who she introduces as her husband, Martin Harris. Confused and angry, Harris is removed from the building.
Observations made during the accident help Harris track down the taxi cab driver, Gina (Diane Kruger). After thanking her for saving his life, he tells her his situation and she offers to help.
Realizing that there may be more to the situation than meets the eye, Harris and Gina combine resources with Ernst Jürgen (Bruno Ganz) a proud former Stasi member who has a talent for finding people. Thus begins the journey of discovering the identity of Martin Harris.
Identity is the key to this movie. How does someone know who they are? Is it because they know their name or can remember things they’ve done in the past? What if nobody else believes them? How does someone prove who they are based on their memories alone?
Since “Unknown” is based on a book, “Out of My Head” by Didier Van Cauwelaert, some readers may be skeptical, but the movie stuck to the main points of the book rather well. The location of the story for the movie was moved from Paris, France to Berlin, Germany in an attempt to limit confusion with “Taken.”
Between the many conspiracy theories and the rise of identity theft, the basic ideas of the movie may not be as far-fetched as they may first seem.
Enthusiasts of Neeson will enjoy “Unknown.” His character demonstration through his fierce or tender voice is always memorable. He once again proves his worth as an action actor, but his character is still someone people can relate to.
As this is Jones’ first action movie, I can say she did a good job in portraying a character that can’t be easily defined without revealing secrets.
Unflinching and strong, Kruger’s character develops through her interactions with Neeson’s character. Gina is an illegal immigrant who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and she pays the consequences as she chooses to stay with Harris in his quest for identity. Kruger did a fantastic job in bringing balance to the movie.
The character of Jürgen is one of the most helpful in the search for and discovery of Martin Harris. He is the source with the sources to help people find other people. He is flawed but likeable and resourceful.
I enjoyed the music, which was composed by John Ottman and Alexander Rudd. The score to “Unknown” helped shape the mood of the film and the feelings of the characters, and it all blended in with and added value to the film, which seems typical of Ottman.
Fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies will probably enjoy “Unknown”. The confusion of Martin Harris could be felt by the audience, and the thrill of the twists and turns kept everyone in the theater glued to the screen.
“Unknown” will keep you on your toes, and the conclusion of the movie will keep you thinking for hours once you leave the theater.
Leap into the mysteries with “Unknown.”
– spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu