Director Jaume Collet-Serra showcases Berlin in all its glory and gore in this paranoia-beset caper. Dr. Martin Harris and his wife,Liz,arrive in Berlin for a bio-tech conference. When Harris has to go back to the airport to retrieve his forgotten briefcase,his taxi skids off the road and plunges into a river and he wakes up days later in a hospital with severe memory loss. After some confusion,he makes it back to the hotel,where he finds that another man has taken his identity. Liz claims not to recognise him at all. As he runs through Berlin,Harris crosses paths with the cab driver from the crash,Gina,and a retired Stasi officer,Jurgen,both of whom help him uncover the truth amid a slew of red herrings. Keeping the action almost entirely glued to Harris,director Jaume Collet-Serra provides a steady flow of suspense and a feeling of paranoia. Additionally,Collet-Serra and cinematographer Flavio Labiano give the Berlin exteriors a lively and menacing texture,hopping between the citys rougher locales and the five-star hotel where the conference takes place. Liam Neeson proves he can play brawny with certain stateliness. Here he gives Harris the right combination of punch and pathos. Diane Kruger is solid,though not too credible as a Bosnian immigrant. Bruno Ganz as Jurgen,a retired Stasi officer,provides the movies most genial supporting role as a crafty Cold War survivor. A few short but impactful appearances include those of Frank Langella and Sebastian Koch,which help round out the film. Unknown isnt as action-packed as say Taken,also starring Liam Neeson; though theres a memorable car-chase through Berlins crowded downtown. Yet it ends up being a taut and tidy ride of thrills. RATING: *** One star each for direction,performances and cinematography.
