6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
A man awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno GanzAction | 100% |
Thriller | 80% |
Mystery | 5% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
All Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks are (448 kbps)
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Unknown is a plot twist wrapped inside of a riddle slathered in complete and utter implausibility. It creeps and stalls, lurches and lunges, shrugging off any and every glaring plot hole that might put another thriller out of its misery. And just when things can't get any more convoluted (or any more reminiscent of Roman Polanski's Frantic), it takes a sharp right at [spoiler], jams its foot on the action-accelerator and never looks back. Come to think of it, Unknown stitches together the remains of at least seven different films, making it as derivative as it is cumbersome and as predictable as it is uneven. Yes, it plays things relatively straight. No aliens, no supernatural mumbo jumbo, no purgatorial dreamscapes... just international intrigue that, frankly, doesn't know when to quit. So why the decent score? For all its flaws, for all its ridiculous twists and turns, for all its chewy genre performances, Unknown held my undivided attention until the madcap end. Oh, it's slow (at least for the better part of seventy minutes). It can be infuriating, I know. It requires tremendous suspension of disbelief, that much is sure. But with Liam Neeson at the helm and a solid supporting cast at his back, director Jaume Collet-Serra's twisty Euro-thriller is actually quite a bit of over-plotted, popcorn-addled fun.
Dr. Martin Harris?
No unevenness here. Unknown's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is a cold-blooded killer, dispensing scene after scene with methodical precision. Detail is exacting down to the last pore or errant hair. Fine textures are clean, distinct and wonderfully resolved, edge definition is sharp enough to draw blood (without any troubling ringing), delineation is remarkably revealing and grain, however mild and unobtrusive it may be, is intact. And it isn't just closeups of Neeson's weary mug or Jones' smooth skin that look fantastic; establishing shots and wider angles are equally impressive and only a few scenes exhibit very little softness. Moreover, Flavio Labiano's wintry, intentionally green-skewed palette is striking and relatively lifelike (even at its bleakest), primaries make their presence known, fleshtones are thoroughly convincing and black levels are deep and satisfying (barring a handful of muted shadows). And I didn't stumble across any significant oddities -- banding, aliasing, smearing and the like -- other than the faintest hint of artifacting in three scenes. (Most won't even notice it, though. I almost missed it, myself.) All in all, Unknown's high definition video presentation is a spectacular one.
Warner's immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is a tasty genre treat as well. Low-end output is reasonably restrained at first, but as soon as Unknown begins injecting car chases and assassins into the mix, the LFE channel leans back, digs in its heels and lets out a mighty yawp. The rear speakers follow suit, creating believable but subdued environments as Dr. Harris searches for the truth, then unleashing hell as his life collapses around him. Directional effects and cross-channels pans are smooth and precise, dynamics are invigorating and fidelity is outstanding. Through it all, dialogue remains crystal clear, perfectly prioritized and realistically grounded in the tone and tenor of Harris' precarious Berlin excursions. No matter what trouble he finds himself in, no matter how chaotic the circumstances become, nary a line or a word fall by the wayside. If anything, John Ottman and Alexander Rudd's driving score is crowded out of the soundscape on a few, largely negligible occasions. That said, any related issues most certainly trace back to the film's original sound design, not Warner's lossless efforts. Unknown didn't quite do it for me, but its AV presentation worked wonders.
The Blu-ray edition of Unknown doesn't offer much, just two brief featurettes. The first, "Liam Neeson: Known Action Hero" (HD, 5 minutes), is little more than a flashy, barebones EPK, while the second, "Unknown: What is Known?" (HD, 4 minutes), is... well, little more than a flashy, barebones EPK.
Unknown isn't the kind of film many people fall in love with. It's fun, twisty and entertaining, sure. But it's also fairly forgettable; another convoluted genre pic bolstered by terrific performances. Sadly, plot holes, leaps in logic and unhinged implausibility prevents it from being much more. Luckily, Warner's Blu-ray release is a different matter altogether. While its supplemental package is a near-barebones bore, its AV presentation is a near-perfect stunner worthy of its thriller roots. Personally, I'd still avoid the risk and start with a rental. That said, those who purchase Unknown will find their money well spent... at least insofar as the film's AV presentation is concerned.
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