Unknown (PG-13)

The suspense aplenty in “Unknown,” the 2011 action/thriller that stars the action/thriller king, Liam Neeson.

We have a great setting, gripping suspense, car chases, and of course, Neeson himself, carrying the otherwise lackluster and ordinary movie in a way that only he can. If you’re looking for a simple and exciting thriller on a lazy Friday night, “Unknown” may be right for you.

Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) awakens in a hospital bed after 4 days in a coma, the result of  a terrifying and perfectly filmed car accident. Circumstances have brought Dr. Harris to Berlin to be the keynote speaker for a biotech summit, due to announce a major breakthrough – so we have a plot that offers depth and mystery potential.

While we the viewer can assume something is amiss right from the start, exactly what it is will remain unrevealed until the final minutes of the movie. We do know that Dr. Harris awakens in a foreign city with no identification, no money, and a lost passport. When he manages to find his wife (January Jones) she claims not to recognize him. Whats more troubling is that she is accompanied by another man (Aidan Quinn) who is claiming to be the real Dr. Martin Harris.

“Unknown” has a great setting – the snowy streets and alleyways of Berlin. The car crash scene at the beginning and subsequent chases through subway tunnels and gritty streets meandering about give the city a life of its own. Berlin is not often used as the setting for a movie (outside of WW2 documentaries) so its nice to see it in a more positive light.

Liam Neeson is one of my all time favorite actors; he could order toast in a diner and it would be compelling. Like his recent role in “The Commuter,” here he plays a seemingly ordinary guy in lieu of a militant, but still manages to pull off the excitement and fervor. While Dr. Harris’ story sounds crazy to those he tells, various images, such as a watch his wife gifted him, trigger flashbacks. We are left in suspense as to why his wife is aloof to his presence – is something nefarious going on or is it all just the effects of the car crash.

January Jones is mesmerizing on screen, and while only a secondary character, plays her role well. As Dr. Harris’ seductive young wife, we see a woman who may or may not be holding something back. She pulls off all degrees of range that the character is given. Accompanying Dr. Harris on his adventure is a cab driver named Gina (Diane Kruger) who is equally impressive playing alongside the clear star of the film, Neeson.

While “Unknown” is a solid action/thriller, its been done before. I like the ultimate plot concept, which you’ll have to watch in its entirety to discover. Its a fun movie but nothing that stands out. Maybe that’s just what you are looking for.

by – Matt DeCristo