Written by Jennifer
March 31, 2009
If they don't know who they are, and we don't know who they are, then why do we care what happens to them?
Remember the first time you saw Memento? It was kind of exciting and novel watching the story unfold in reverse, never knowing any more than Guy Pearce, and it was probably the first time any of us had seen a movie like that. Unknown tries to tap into this same novelty, but falls short on all fronts. The movie has its merits, but it always feels like a knock-off.
It all begins when Jim Caviezel wakes up in an abandoned industrial facility. Bewildered and confused, he stumbles around, trying to get his bearings. Joe Pantoliano is tied to a chair, Jeremy Sisto is handcuffed to a railing, and eventually Greg Kinnear emerges with a broken nose, along with Barry Pepper who seems relatively unscathed. None of the men remember who they are or how they got there, so right off the bat we have five times as much memory loss as we did in Memento AND the always delightful Joey Pants is back to boot. Is this a recipe for thrills, or what?
With the help of an old newspaper and a few foggy memories, the men realize they have been kidnapped. Unfortunately, they don't know why, and they still don't know who is who. They do know that they've been inhaling some sort of gas, and they suspect that one of the kidnappers is still among them. Jim Caviezel has already taken charge, but the other boys are wary. He already answered the phone once, and whoever was calling recognized his voice. How do they know he's not behind the whole thing? Shoot, how does he know he's not behind the whole thing?
On the outside, police are scrambling to find the men, kidnappers are collecting ransom, and poor, greasy Bridget Moynahan is bereft. Her husband is one of the victims, and apparently she hasn't washed her hair since the whole thing started. Ick.
As the movie progresses, the men make various attempts to escape and/or signal help. Their efforts prove futile, however, and the fact that they can't stop squabbling is no boon to their situation. At one point, Joe Pantoliano even calls Jim Caviezel a "fat f*ck". Hee hee! I hope Mel Gibson doesn't find out!
Unknown is certainly watchable, and you do get caught up in some of the tension, but it's hard to invest in characters who don't even know their own names. If they don't know who they are, and we don't know who they are, then why do we care what happens to them? Even worse, their lack of identity translates to a major lack of personality, and all of the men are virtually interchangeable. When the big twist is finally revealed, it evokes a half-hearted, "Huh. Okay." After that, the film slips from the memory faster than you can say "toxic gas".
