Unknown (Warner Brothers)
Maybe An Alternate Ending
Perhaps the Liam Neeson thriller Unknown will have an alternate ending when it is released on DVD, and perhaps it will be one that makes sense because the one the movie has now surely doesnt. After a full film that is pretty good in the thriller department along comes a tacky ending that blows the whole thing out of the water.
Heres the premise. Martin Harris is a doctor specializing in bio-chemistry who is on his way to a conference in Berlin. He is accompanied by his wife Elizabeth (January Jones). At the Berlin airport his briefcase is left on the baggage cart and not put in their taxi. Harris doesnt realize this until they are at the hotel to check in. He flags down another cab and races back to the airport, leaving his wife at the hotel not knowing where he is.
The cab he is in is driven by Gina (Diane Kruger). They are involved in an accident and crash thru a bridge railing into the water. Martin suffers a blow to the head but is rescued by Gina. When he comes to he is in a hospital, and has some gaps in his memory. Later he learns his wife does not know him and another man (Aiden Quinn) says he is Martin Harris.
All of this is fine and dandy, even though it does get a little sluggish at times. It is only when you get to the end of the film and the final explanations of what has happened and why are explained, that the movie falls apart. This leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth and a credibility issue with everything in the movie.
Neeson is just as good in this film as he was in Taken. He has the brooding, mystery man down to a science. He is likeable to say the least and is also totally convincing in the physical requirements of the role. In this film the script let him down and not vice versa.
As his wife January Jones is totally bland. She doesnt inject any passion or character into her role. She is a cipher from beginning to end. Kruger shows more emotion but she too never fully makes her character come to life.
Frank Langella is around only long enough for a cameo but he makes an impression, and Bruno Ganz nails his role of a private investigator. Quinn does nothing with his mystery man role.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
If they can come up with a better ending on the DVD version then the movie will not live in infamy. The first two thirds of the film are good, not great but good. A solid explanation as an ending would make it all better. Bring on the DVD!
I scored Unknown an unfamiliar 5 out of 10.
