Review: Taken
Filed under: Action, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews
For the past several years, there has been a tug-of-war in the world of action films. Some, like the Jason Bourne and recent James Bond movies, have sought to establish moodier, more introspective heroes who face realistic dilemmas in the midst of the usual shooting and car chases. Others, like Shoot 'em Up, Crank, and The Transporter, have gone the other way, decreasing characterization to almost nothing and focusing entirely on over-the-top action. Both philosophies are viable; the only problem is when a film tries to have it both ways, like Quantum of Solace and Transporter 3 did.
It's very pleasing, then, that after playing nearly everywhere else in the world, the French-produced (but English-language) Taken has finally come to American shores, where it is welcome as a delightfully dizzying balm to soothe the pain inflicted by recent action films that have failed to deliver. It subscribes to the less-talk-more-rock school of thought, intentionally free of nuance but overbrimming with relentless, efficient, energetic mayhem. It plays out like a season of 24, crammed into 90 minutes.
Our Jack Bauer is named Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson -- and yes, they found a way to make Oskar Schindler into an action hero. Mills used to be a CIA operative, but he quit and moved to Los Angeles to be closer to his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), who lives there with her mother (Famke Janssen) and filthy-rich stepfather (Xander Berkeley). Mills regrets letting his work ruin his family life, and he wants to make up for lost time.
Just after turning 17, Kim and her best friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) take a trip to Paris, where bad things happen to them at the hands of a ring of Albanian flesh-traders. (Did they learn nothing from Hostel?) Mills must rush to France to save the day, having been helpfully informed by his CIA contacts that he probably has just 96 hours before Kim and Amanda are gone forever. There's nothing like a deadline to light a fire under a guy -- just ask Jack Bauer. (Coincidentally, Jack's daughter is also named Kim, and Xander Berkeley appeared in the first two seasons of 24. Hmm.)
Mills is resourceful, clever, and utterly ruthless. He's a master of hand-to-hand combat and can easily anticipate his opponents' next several moves. If he has qualms about employing brutal tactics to extract information from villains, he does not voice them. Besides, he isn't acting on behalf of the government anymore -- he's acting as a man trying to save his daughter's life. Under those circumstances, who among us wouldn't non-fatally shoot an innocent woman as a means of making her husband cooperate? (Wait, didn't Jack Bauer do that once, too?!)
Directed by Pierre Morel, who made the similarly giddy District B13, and written by Transporter duo Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, Taken sets up a dire situation, establishes that the butt-kicking hero is more than capable of resolving it, then lets us thrill at seeing this accomplished. That our reactions are somewhat Pavlovian -- hero says cool things; audience cheers -- is the sort of thing that would only be pointed out by a killjoy. These are matters of black-and-white, with clearly defined heroes and villains, and there's nothing wrong with seeing the good guys win every now and then.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-01-2009 @ 5:44AM
chuck said...
This is a crappy remake of Frantic. Not mentioning it probably shows your competence in the business. Ford was believable, Neesson isn't. Ford's character was a non-pro and we rooted for him. Neeson's is a ruthless killer and raises disgust. Ford's was an underdog and sympathenic. Neeson's is a monster. Your strongest association - 24 - never came to mind (i'm a huge fan, own all six seasons + redemption on DVD, watched some seasons 2-3 times). All in all, this is a shitty review of a crappy movie. Avoid!
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2-01-2009 @ 10:45AM
cw said...
Sorry. Disagree.
Pimping uber-fandom of 24 while striking such an elitist posture problematic: if this character is a monster, mr bauer must therefore be as well.
2-02-2009 @ 6:57AM
chuck said...
just tell me - have you seen Frantic? go rent it if you haven't, then we'll talk.
2-01-2009 @ 7:57AM
GL said...
I must be a killjoy.
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2-01-2009 @ 8:08AM
Dan said...
When did you stop wanting to see the good guy kick ass? The reviewer puts it out there when he says Taken is black and white. This is not a nuanced universe filled with bleeding heart gray. All you have to do is put yourself in Neeson's shoes and you'll feel every decision.
See this film! Nothing else like it in a great while.
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2-01-2009 @ 8:10AM
BruceM said...
How could anyone come to the conclusion that Neeson's character is a "monster" and "ruthless killer" in this movie? He's a killer, but ruthless implies the killing was unwarranted, unnecessary, improper, and without purpose. That's certainly not the case.
Remember, he's not working for nor representing any government, he's a private citizen trying to rescue his stupid, annoying, spoiled-brat whiny daughter. He shouldn't use all the force available at his disposal? The fact that he has training doesn't affect his morality, it merely affects his luck.
They could have made a movie that raises moral questions - say, if the "bad guy" merely sold her some drugs, because he needed the money to feed his children, and she willingly purchased them, etc. That's not the plot of this movie. The bad guys are kidnappers, rapists, slaver-traders, and murders. There was no question about what happened, and what was going to happen to his daughter.
I think the review is pretty spot on... not a great movie, but entertaining, simple, and Neeson is pretty good as the lead character. Nothing groundbreaking about the film, either. It's all been done before. But it was entertaining.
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2-01-2009 @ 11:12AM
section545ster said...
Well well well I lovvved the movie and saw it twice, but things that really get me in movies are coup d'etats and revenge, and this movie has the best successful revenge I've seen lately. When Liam ***SPOILER???* finds the person who he originally talked to on the phone and told him who he was, I just felt giddy. Plus I find the action quite amazing and Liam quite ruthless which makes the movie even more amazing in my eyes. This is no drama, don't expect something deep, but a simple amazing revenge flick that is not boring and definitely worth seeing
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2-01-2009 @ 12:53PM
Andy said...
I agree. I think the movie was very well done and miles better than what I thought it would be. It was surprisingly good and believable, in my opinion. The action was good and I sympathized with the characters. By the end of the movie, I was very satisfied with what I had seen. It was worth the price of admission and entertaining. It's probably not rewatchable, though, and thus, I won't be buying it on DVD.
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2-01-2009 @ 1:57PM
chuck said...
I really enjoyed it. For my money much more satisfying that the Bourne films because Neeson plays a fully developed and likeable character that the audience can connect with. Very much like Charles Bronson in the original Death Wish. A terrific genre film.
http://blog.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/
chuck
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2-03-2009 @ 2:05PM
The Colonel said...
Some films that didn't get mentioned in the comparisons above: 'Man on Fire' and the little seen but still very respectable 'Spartan'. Both these films have striking similarities to 'Taken' (especially 'Spartan') but the great thing about this film is that it takes it up a notch. This is about family. I think we can all relate to the feeling of powerlessness that comes when you can't help someone you care about who is in trouble. Just like Neeson's character says in the trailer (and film), he's a nightmare for people like the kidnappers. He has the power to burn them down in the way that so many others haven't (but probably desperately wanted to). They've been playing the odds for a long time and getting away with it; gambling that the people that they abduct don't have anyone connected to them that can bring down the kind of hellfire that Neeson does. Now they've pushed their luck too far and stepped in the shit... and there are going to be consequences. What gets me worked up and on-board with a movie like this is that this stuff actually happens in real life (if you don't believe me, check out www.humantrafficking.org). These aren't some fantastical supervillans. These are very realistically portrayed enemies. Men who, just like in real life, have totally disconnected their morals and are arrogant enough to assume they will never be held responsible for their actions. Neeson's character turns the tables on them and the only tragedy is that he doesn't have more time to torture them. I just wish that the events of this film would actually happen in real life, so that the global community might finally pay attention to and act to fight this multi-billion (yes, that's Billion, with a B) dollar illegal industry.
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2-06-2009 @ 10:46AM
anthony said...
The action and the buildup to action was well done and enjoyable. However, this actually is a morality tale - in the sense that it's a cautionary tale. The moral of the story is: do not leave America, it's dangerous out there. The shrewish mother and obviously irresponsible daughter are caricatures who are unable to see the obvious - if a 17-year-old girl goes to Europe with her friends she will be abducted and raped. But because papa worked for the CIA (protector of truth and freedom, right?) he knows how evil the non-american world is. **SPOILER** The French cops are corrupt, working with the abductors. Even dad's old pal is willing to trade fancy wine and a better loaf of crusty bread for the enslavement of his buddy's daughter. This was written by the French? Wow. They must have a low opinion of American audiences, to play so strongly on their xenophobia and at French expense. The best is when everyone is feeling good, rescued and safe and we see the "Los Angeles" airport sign as a reassurance. Really? I think your odds of rape and abduction in LA are about the same as in Paris.
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2-17-2009 @ 11:18AM
brandon said...
what a crap movie. the action bits were ok (don't ever show Neeson running or jumping) but the dialogue was horrible. I think they wrote it in French and then ran the script through google translator. Oh by the way if I ever go to France I will wear a throat protector. EVERY close combat fight ended with a throat chop. Hahahaha. So be warned the throat chop is the new kick to the balls.
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4-19-2009 @ 2:23PM
llyod Thaxton said...
I'm Naked!
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4-29-2009 @ 10:38AM
Dante Amorratti said...
Wow chuck I think your views completely some up what is wrong with our country right now. Smells like a democrat to me! The move was exactly what it was supposed to be and a very good one at that. I loved it. It represents exactly what I IS MOVIE
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