UNKNOWN Review (3 out of 5 stars)

Would this qualify as one of Rumsfeld's known unknowns?

UNKNOWN is a lively and competent thriller despite its well-trafficked mistaken identity mini-genre. That sub-category of films includes everything from Hitchcock classics THE 39 STEPS, THE WRONG MAN and NORTH BY NORTHWEST to more modern offerings such as the 90s cult classic THE BIG LEBOWSKI and last year’s (not so classic) DATE NIGHT. Yet an unexpected twist in the film's second half steers an already suspenseful storyline in a fresh new direction, and even the twist itself avoids cliche despite its use as an essential plot element in a trio of popular spy films. Simply put, the mystery of whether it's Harris' addled brain or those he's surrounded by that are playing tricks on him stays alive and well throughout the bulk of the film. At least until director Jaume Collet-Serra lets you in on the secret...

Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) and his striking wife (January Jones) are on a trip to Berlin when Harris becomes involved in a bad accident, waking up in a hospital bed four days later. His memory is spotty, so he's not sure what to think when his wife doesn’t recognize him and another man (Aiden Quinn) claims to be the real Dr. Martin. He enlists the help of his cab driver from the accident (Diane Kruger), as in the mean time attempts are being made on his life.

There are awesome car chases and fight scenes, and a number of characters perish, contributing to a consistently high level of suspense. Any concerns I also had beforehand that UNKNOWN would too closely resemble Neeson's smash 2008 action flick TAKEN faded away as the mystery of Harris's identity deepened, unlike TAKEN's protagonist's craze to find his daughter and blood lust felt for her captors. So while both films zoom along in a frenzy of danger and desperation, UNKNOWN's focus is on intrigue rather than revenge. And while there aren’t as many action scenes here, nor are they as explosive, it's fun to follow Harris, stumbling from one enigma to the next.

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