Taken is an enjoyable simple action film, which is confusing. It is basically just a revenge thriller, with Liam Neeson killing a procession of bad people. It shouldn't be a good film. It sounds like a game. So why is it? It's definitely suspend-your-disbelief time, as one man kills about about a hundred people, but if you do go along with it then you'll accept the fantasy. This isn't enough though, and Taken has one strong point of depth - the bond between father and daughter. There is a good amount of characterisation before the fighting starts. You feel sorry for him and as a result slightly worried for his daughter. You want him to succeed and beat up everyone in Europe to find her. It's a relationship that holds up the entire film, it would probably be terrible without it. This film knows it isn't clever and only wants to be efficient and satisfying. It's a B-movie. It shouldn't be taken too seriously.
I should probably summarise all this: Inside Man thinks it's clever and isn't, Heat thinks it's clever and is, Taken thinks it isn't clever and isn't.
And with that I'm running away for two weeks.
I absolutely adored Maggie Grace on Lost (although I know she is only supporting in Taken). Self-congratulation is not an attractive quality in a film.
ReplyDeleteHave fun, will miss you.