Review: Unknown (2011)

Liam Neeson plays an American scientist and university professor arriving in Berlin to attend a biotech summit. About to meet with his wife (January Jones), Neeson realises he left his bag at the airport and takes a ride in a taxi driven by illegal immigrant Diane Kruger (!). Unfortunately, they get into an accident, and Neeson wakes up in a hospital after having been in a coma. After a bit of recovery, he discovers a man (Aidan Quinn) claiming to be him, and even Jones claims to not recognise Neeson as her husband. And then someone tries to rub Neeson out! Just what in the hell is a-goin’ on here? Bruno Ganz plays an ex-Stasi officer who now does detective work of-sorts, Sebastian Koch plays the keynote speaker at the summit, and Frank Langella plays Neeson’s boss back home.

 

With lots of Hitchcockian touches, this Jaume Collet-Serra (“Orphan”, an ordinary film with one of the best and most unpredictable twists you’ll ever see) thriller from 2011 is the kind of film you either pick apart all of the illogical elements and silliness (a scene between Neeson and Jones in an art gallery, for instance, makes no sense by the end of the film), or you simply go along for the ride and enjoy what is just a good yarn. I was mostly in the latter category, though even I realised that one of the film’s big twists relies on one accepting that amnesia does some pretty damn amazing things to a person. **** SPOILER ALERT **** Apparently, amnesia can turn an assassin into a nice guy who no longer wants to kill for a living and instead develops a conscience. I can’t say I really bought it, but by then I had already had enough fun that it didn’t much matter to me. **** END SPOILER ****

 

I must further chastise the director (and/or cinematographer) for employing way too many fancy lighting techniques, filters, and other obscuring techniques that get in the way of an otherwise good yarn. I also flat-out called bullshit at Diane Kruger being a cab driver and being able to singlehandedly drag Liam Neeson’s fat, unconscious arse out of the water. I take cabs all the time, ain’t no Helen of Troy found behind the wheel of a cab, let me tell you. I reckon the only reason why her character isn’t turning tricks for a living is because the film needs a few car chases. Those scenes are fun, and certainly moreso than the hand-to-hand combat scenes, which unfortunately have a bit of the Jason Bourne shaky-cam about them. The funny thing is, at one point, Neeson ends up driving. She’s a passenger in her own taxi! Why, because she’s a woman?

 

Still, this is pretty irresistible stuff, even if it’s the kind of thing you’ve seen before (Hitchcock films such as “North By Northwest”, “Foreign Correspondent”, “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (both versions), and “The Wrong Man” all spring to mind). Despite Kruger’s miscasting, this is an otherwise persuasively acted film. Neeson may not seem to be in action hero shape, but he’s otherwise perfectly cast and certainly sympathetic on screen. There’s a certain decency and reliability about him that might not even be acting. January Jones makes for an intriguing Hitchcock blonde, though I’m still not going to watch a single episode of “Mad Men” anytime soon. Good small role for Bruno Ganz too. I do have to question the casting of one actor, I won’t name them, but as soon as they appear, you know the deal with them. I’m not sure if it’s merely the casting or a combination of casting and performance, but it’s a definite red flag.

 

This isn’t anything brilliant, and it does have its flaws, no doubt about it. It’s unattractive and irritating, for instance. And if you take away the twist, this film’s actually fairly straightforward and not especially original. But all things considered, it’s a fun ride and certainly never boring. I found it a pleasant surprise, and pretty lively at the very least. Based on a French novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert, the screenplay is by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell.

 

Rating: B-