Liam Neeson's 'Unkown' Is reminiscent Of 'Taken'
If you've seen Taken, where Liam Neeson played a relentless berserker, who terrorized France looking for his kidnapped daughter, then there's something familiar about Unknown. Neeson's character is in Berlin, this time worried about his wife, not his child. It's another story that allows Neeson to lose his temper and take on the world.
STEVE INSKEEP, Host:
Our film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.
KENNETH TURAN: "Unknown" is a nifty international thriller of the what- if variety. What if you and your wife fly to a conference in Berlin and you have a car accident so bad it puts you in a coma? Once you awake, what if everyone you think you know says they've never seen you? Here's what happens when biologist Martin Harris tries to say hello to his wife.
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JANUARY JONES: (as Elizabeth Harris) Oh, you must have me confused with someone else.
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LIAM NEESON: (as Dr. Martin Harris) Elizabeth, it's me, Martin, your husband.
JONES: (as Elizabeth Harris) This is a misunderstanding. I don't know this man. This is my husband.
TURAN: If you've seen "Taken," where Neeson played a relentless berserker who terrorized all of France looking for his kidnapped daughter, there's something definitely familiar about "Unknown." Neeson's character is in Berlin, not Paris. He's worried about his wife, not his child, but this is simply another story that allows Neeson to lose his temper and take on the world.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "UNKNOWN")
NEESON: (as Dr. Martin Harris) Where is he?
DIANE KRUGER: (as Gina) I can't see him.
TURAN: Most of all, the job gets done in typical Liam Neeson fashion, because the big galoot simply won't be denied. As "Taken" also demonstrated, it's a given that the road will be twisty and long, but those who bet against Liam Neeson's characters always live - and sometimes die - to regret it.
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INSKEEP: Ken Turan won't be denied. He reviews movies for MORNING EDITION and the Los Angeles Times.
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