Neeson stars as Dr. Martin Harris, a biologist who has travelled to Berlin with his wife Elizabeth (January Jones, Mad Men) to give a presentation at an important biotechnology conference. After the couple arrive at their hotel Martin realises he’s left his briefcase at the airport. Jumping into a taxi manned by Gina (Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds) he rushes to retrieve it, only to be waylaid by a freak accident that leaves him in a coma for days. After waking Martin finds another man (Aidan Quinn, Sarah’s Key) has taken over his life and that his wife has no recollection of him. Has his memory been confused by the accident, is he going mad, or is something more sinister going on?
Elizabeth Harris (January Jones)
Unknown is blessed with a good cast, including some fantastic German actors. Kruger is obviously completely miscast as a taxi-driver, but she doesn’t let this put her off delivering a strong performance. Bruno Ganz (The Reader, Downfall) as Ernst Jürgen, an ex-Stasi private investigator brings a nuanced performance that deserves to be in a far better film. His scene opposite Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) contains the best dialogue in a film centred on strong action sequences.
Martin Harris (Liam Neeson), Gina (Diane Kruger) and Ernst (Bruno Ganz)
Neeson is obviously the driving force in the film and while it isn’t clear when he became a thinking man’s action hero, here he is yet again in high-speed car chases and fighting off would-be assassins. If you enjoyed Neeson’s recent turn in Taken (2008), you are probably going to enjoy this film as well.
Unknown doesn’t pull off its climax despite building momentum and sadly the ending sees the film crumple in a heap. Certainly if you thought too hard about the plot and its many gaping holes your head might explode, but this really is a film with no pretences of being art or breaking new ground, it is a paint-by-numbers thriller. Very light on substance Unknown is probably best relished on DVD or as part of the in-flight entertainment it is sure to become.
Images 1,2,3,4
First published on Trespass
