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.
Unknown" obviously knows its limitations, and it doesn't bother to rise above them. It just keeps throwing the punches the audience wants and expects. It won't cure world hunger, but chances are it will sell a lot of popcorn.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
18 Feb 2011
fresh:
Neeson's comforting intelligence (and a marvelous turn by Bruno Ganz as an ailing former member of the East German secret police), are not enough to prevent the film from choking on obviousness and directorial fumbling.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
NPR,
18 Feb 2011
rotten:
For about an hour or so, "Unknown" is intriguing.
– David Denby,
New Yorker,
1 Mar 2011
fresh:
The movie rather crumbles when it eventually has to deliver its secrets.
– Trevor Johnston,
Time Out,
2 Mar 2011
fresh:
May eventually surrender to convention and implausibility in equal measure, but until then, Collet-Serra grounds the conspiracy with a proper sense of mystery and mood.