Unknown

I can never understand why people are so surprised when Liam Neeson movies do well. Schindler’s List came out 18 years ago. That should have been the end of any speculation. Unknown is not even close to the same level as Schindler, but Neeson is still strong. The film follows a man abroad who, after suffering amnesia in a car accident, tries to piece back his memories. Though things are complicated when his wife won’t acknowledge him and another man claims to be the same person. As the process continues, the character realizes there is a bigger conspiracy happening. And as would be expected, he is forced to become violent and cause a lot of property damage.

In order to build the tension, the movie begins at a crawling pace, providing no answers and very little character development. That’s to be expected, but this particular mystery changes its story a few too many times. Instead of twists and turns there are new characters and a whole new story arch every half hour or so. But these second half developments are welcome after the slow start. While Unknown has been compared heavily to Neesons’s recent hit, Taken, there are profound differences. This one is much more psychological and relies more on acting than punches to the throat and one-liners. The presence of dreary poverty-ridden Europe is a common denominator though.

In regard to the unnecessary supporting actors, they all are respectable. January Jones is as one dimensional as can be. Luckily her role doesn’t require anything more than that. Diane Kruger helps her résumé with another quality supporting role. But this is Liam Neeson’s show through and through. And he never has a weak moment, even when the script calls from him to repeat himself for the first 40 minutes. He has the best angry voice in all of Hollywood. (7.5 out of 10)