The premise is simple, yet engaging — an ex-CIA agent’s daughter is kidnapped while traveling overseas and the dad goes after the kidnappers in an attempt to rescue his daughter. This is the basic plot behind Taken, the new action movie starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, and Famke Janssen. What the film lacks in plot complexities, it makes up in the sheer thrill of the chase.
When Bryan Mills’ (Neeson) daughter Kim (Grace) goes missing while vacationing in Paris with a friend, Mills vows to go after the kidnappers, kill them, and bring his daughter back. He reveals his plan to the kidnappers while on the phone with them in what has to be one of the most well-written kick a** monologues I’ve heard in a while. Mills only has a window of 96 hours before he loses any chance of seeing his daughter again. So begins a gripping 70-minute chase throughout Paris.
Leads come easy for Mills, and the bad guys drop without much of a fight when Mills unleashes his full potential. At times it seems impossible that anyone could move so quickly through an investigation, but the thrill of this movie is not in the struggle, but in the chase. Normally, suspense is created by giving characters seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but in this case, suspense is created in the “ticking clock.” In other words, vewers are glued to their seats waiting to see if Mills can reach his daughter before it’s too late.
The subject matter of this film is extremely timely and relevant. With real-life missing persons cases like Natalie Holloway hitting newsstands, this kind of film speaks to many people. It feels real. It’s plausible, and so we as viewers buy in to the reality created by the filmmakers.
Some might consider the set up and exposition of the film a bit too lengthy, considering most already know what’s coming, but it does provide nice forshadowing and establishes the family relationships between Mills his daughter, and his ex-wife. Mindless action is the name of the game in Taken, but it will keep you watching until time runs out.
7 out of 10
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