Movie Review: Unknown
Biochemist Dr. Martin Harris and his wife arrive in Berlin for a conference where he is a featured speaker. The conference is featuring a startling scientific breakthrough that is to be announced, funded by a controversial Arab figure. Dr. Harris inadvertently leaves his briefcase with his passport and wallet behind at the airport and races back only to be involved in a horrific auto accident that leaves him in a coma for four days. When the doctor awakes he has memory loss until he remembers his wife at the hotel. When Dr. Harris arrives at the conference hotel no one, not even his wife, recognizes him. Dr. Harris strives to prove his true identity while avoiding assassination attempts on his life.
I enjoy Liam Neeson’s acting style and will watch him in most of his movies. He has acted in a number of action flicks so I rented this one simply because he was in it. Unknown is a fairly average action/thriller story-wise. Neeson is always good but sometimes the material just doesn’t live up to his skills and this is one of those films. Unfortunately January Jones as the doctor’s wife seems ill cast across from powerhouse actor Neeson. Diane Kruger does good work here and creates an interesting character that plays well off Neeson’s Dr. Harris. Frank Langella is always a pleasure to watch and here he makes the most of his role.
The screenplay could be much stronger than it is since much of the story is implausible or at times doesn’t make sense, but all in all this is a watchable film for action fans. If you like Liam Neeson and action/thriller flicks you should enjoy this film.
2011. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz, Sebastian Koch, and Frank Langella.
Rating: 
