Blu-ray Review

Mania Grade: B-

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Info:

Blu-ray: Unknown
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Aidan Quinn, January Jones, Frank Langella
Written By: Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornwell
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Distributor: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Original Year of Release: 2011
Extras: See Below
Series:

Unknown Blu-Ray Review

Liam Neeson needs answers in Unknown

By Tim Janson June 16, 2011

Liam Neeson in Unknown
© Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

If it seems like Unknown is familiar territory you’re right. Its plot is largely derivative of Roman Polanski’s 1988 thriller “Frantic” that starred Harrison Ford. If you live with the Director Jaume Collet-Serra’s unoriginal film, or better yet, did not see the superior “Frantic” then Unknown will provide a couple of hours of solid if unforgettable entertainment. Liam Neeson is Dr. Martin Harris who arrives in Berlin with his wife Liz (January Jones) to attend a scientific conference. As they arrive at their hotel, Harris discovers he left his briefcase at the airport. On the way back to the airport, the cab he’s riding in crashes into a river. Harris wakes up from a coma four days later but is surprised that his wife has not come looking for him.

He returns to the hotel to find his wife only to have her tell security she doesn’t know him and presents another man as the “real” Dr. Harris (Aidan Quinn). The second Martin provides family photos of he and Liz together and even the university he works for has this new man’s image up on their website. The Neeson Martin begins to doubt his sanity and his doctor thinks he’s suffering from the effects of the accident. He tracks down the cab driver (Kruger) to see what she remembers. At first she’s reluctant to help but when two men break into her apartment intent on killing her and Martin, she has little choice.

Unknown is a film you know is going to give you a swerve, it’s just a case of when and where and Jaume Collet-Serra pulls it off in surprising fashion. It’s one of those moments that makes you go, “Ohhhh…that makes sense!” The ride getting to the finale can be murky with plot elements which include former East German Secret Police, an assassination attempt against a Saudi Prince, and the discovery of a new strain of corn that could solve all the world’s hunger problems. The mix isn’t always perfect but Neeson is the bond that holds it all together.

He plays his role with equal parts panic, confusion, and bravado, keeping you guessing as whether he really IS Martin Harris or a man tumbling off the edge of sanity. Neeson lends credibility to any role he plays, no matter how outlandish and Unknown dives into the deep end of the outlandish pool. Kruger plays much the same role as she did in National Treasure as the woman reluctantly caught up in a far-reaching conspiracy. Frank Langella casts his sinister shadow over the proceedings with a small but memorable role. If Langella’s part of the mix, you know trouble is coming. Quinn and Jones round out the cast although Jones’ role is little more than providing eye candy.

Director Collet-Serra doesn’t have quite the chops or confidence to rely on the simple thriller elements the way Polanski did with Frantic and falls back on routine fight scenes and car chases but he at least keeps things moving along at a speedy pace. The one thing we can take out of these two films is that if you lose a bag in Europe, make sure you stick together to go and find it…or better yet, just stay out of Europe.

Blu-Ray Extras

Disappointing to say the least, consisting only of a couple of very short featurettes. No commentary, no deleted scenes.

Liam Neeson: Known Action Hero (4:33) - This feature takes a look at Liam Neeson as Dr. Martin Harris; consisting of interviews from the actors, director and producer. This clip allows the viewer to get a quick glimpse at Liam and some behind the scenes action. Neeson and Quinn are good friends and enjoyed the chance to get to work together. Neeson talks about his amateur boxing days in Ireland .

Unknown: What Is Known? (4:24sec) – This feature is an overall look at the plot and characters of the film. Consisting of short interviews from the actors, director, and producers

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