“Unknown” (2011), featuring a juicy cast and gripping suspense, is a compelling rendition of the archetype of one man’s quest to discover his true identity. The film does have some immediately obvious, albeit minor, setbacks, including unnecessarily lengthy scenes and extensive similarities to the movie “Taken” (2008), in which “Unknown” star Liam Neeson also played the lead.
American biology professor Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) flies to Berlin for a conference, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth (January Jones). Upon arrival, he discovers that he left his suitcase at the airport, and rushes back in a cab driven by Gina (Diane Kruger). However, a fateful accident occurs on the road — the cab plunges into the river. Harris survives, but discovers that he has been seamlessly replaced by an imposter — not even his own wife recognizes him anymore. With no one to turn to but Gina, Martin has no choice but to involve her in his dangerous quest to reclaim his identity.
After watching the trailer, viewers are struck by the film’s plethora of unanswered questions. Who is the imposter? Who is pulling the strings backstage — and why? The answers, unfolding over a nail-biting 113 minutes, exceeded my wildest expectations. At first glance, the premise of the film is slightly unconvincing — professional assassins are somehow unable to kill a university professor, and an imposter manages to fool Martin’s own wife — but the second part justifies it all. It’s a conspiracy — and it just might blow your mind.
Even the subplot — a romance between Martin and Gina — is suspenseful. Martin waltzes into Gina’s otherwise ordinary life and pretty much ruins it all for her. The audience is tempted to believe that he is the worst thing to ever happen to her, but is he really? The questionable existence of an unlikely romance contributes to the uncertainty in the film. Would Martin choose his wife, to whom he is fiercely loyal, or would he reciprocate the interests of Gina, the girl who saved his life?
Starring some well-known actors, including Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List”; “The Chronicles of Narnia”), Diane Kruger (“Troy”; “National Treasure”), Bruno Ganz (“Downfall”) and Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon.”), this movie does not want for acting chops. However, what detracts from their strong performances is the dearth of screen time accorded the supporting roles, especially in comparison with Neeson’s character. Just like his previous thriller movie “Taken,” “Unknown” is a one-man show from start to finish.
One last minor flaw is the protracted nature of certain scenes intended to create suspense; for example, it takes much too long for Martin to try to grab a pair of scissors in a scene where he is tied to a bed. This problem may simply be a deficiency in editing; fine-tuning aside, “Unknown” is a movie worth watching.