The big draw to Liam Neeson’s latest actioner is his chemistry and comradery with co-star Guy Pearce. The Memento and L.A. Confidential star is a terrific foil for Neeson’s assassin. He has accepted a job, even though he’s slowly but surely losing his facilities, that when it’s in motion, he realizes a line he has never crossed in decades. No children will find themselves in his crosshairs and that is exactly what his longtime boss has tasked him to accomplish.
Perhaps her father is worthy of the bullet from his chamber for forcing his daughter and others into the sex slave trade. But this is an innocent young teenager who doesn’t deserve to meet the same fate as her father. This is where Neeson’s Alex Lewis draws the line and it won’t simply cost him his career, but his life.
Meanwhile, we learn that he is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It is established that his brother is already in the throws of it and he’s deteriorating quickly. Lewis takes medicine, but as the Martin Cambell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) film progresses, it becomes clear that time is the enemy with the hitman as his moments of forgetfulness are starting to exponentially affect his life and work.
Hot on his trail is the agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce), who is following the piling bodies that seem to be left in Lewis’ wake. Of course, they are all not his doing, but the point remains that Serra is determined to bring in Lewis once and for all.
He keenly knows about his memory slipping and develops a sensitivity to his issue and truly wants to help him find a peaceful conclusion to this ever-increasing scorching situation.
Campbell is completely adept at the action genre, all while not forgetting the plot points that drive a compelling narrative. He and Neeson have a great rapport and orchestrate a thriller that will keep you guessing, even if it is insanely formulaic.
Neeson has made a career since Taken of portraying the older action hero and doing it with a panache that is irresistible. Yet there is something about his frailty and Memory that does not quite work for us. I realize that early Alzheimer’s hits all ages, but as Neeson plays it, it doesn’t feel authentic and comes off as a more desperate plea for sympathy for a less than savory character.
He may be getting older, and some may feel his action hero days should be in the past, but he has still got it. Neeson’s believable in the role, it’s just he comes off as a little too young to suffer from what his character experiences with his memory loss and how it hits him and affects his being.
When he swings into action, it’s like a day hasn’t passed since 2008’s Taken and there’s something about his screen presence in that role that simply works for Neeson. It’s simply how he approaches the frailness of his character’s existence that doesn’t quite fly.
Memory is an interesting study in our memory and what it means to have it and more importantly lose it. It is something I believe we all take for granted, and it is stories such as Neeson’s latest actioner that will bring that point home and hopefully make a difference in people treasuring what they possess right now. That is because in an instant, it can all disappear—along with every memory we have ever had.
Grade: B