Liam Neeson, action man!
Liam Neeson, action hero?
Yes, the Irish actor brings all his intensity, and some sensitivity, to the role of an ex-CIA agent whose daughter is kidnapped on holidays in Paris in Taken.
Neeson’s character, Bryan Mills, discovers 17-year-old Kim (Maggie Grace) has been abducted by Albanian criminals who plan to sell her into prostitution.
He figures he has 96 hours to find her. While there’s not a shadow of a doubt he’ll track her down, the manhunt through Paris is an exhilarating and violent ride. Possessed of James Bond and Jason Bourne-type invincibility, Mills lays waste to dozens of bad guys with nary a scratch.
It’s a totally amoral tale but well executed, and Neeson brings a cold-eyed machismo to the role. It’s co-written and produced by Luc Besson, who directed The Professional and scripted The Fifth Element and the Transporter movies, so he knows how to press all the right buttons.
Famke Janssen gives solid support as his former wife, Olivier Rabourdin is effective as a French intelligence chief, and Aussie Holly Valance plays a pop star whom Mills is hired to protect. The villains need a shave and snarl a lot, which is par for the course in this genre.
Taken opens on August 14.
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