"Unknown” might be as unfamiliar a title to you as it was to me. Originally released on November 1st, 2006 theatrically, it largely went unnoticed in limited release, but it’s worth a look the next time you’re searching for a DVD rental at your local Blockbuster.
It is a taut psychological thriller about five men who wake up to find themselves locked in a warehouse with no memory of who they are or why they are there. They quickly deduce that at least two of them are innocent kidnap victims–which means that the others would be the hostages. But who is on what team? It soon becomes a race against time to figure out who is a “bad guy” and who is a “good guy” as they work to escape their situation.
Take one part “Memento” (this flick features a supporting performance by Joe Pantoliano), a dash of “Identity” and a touch of “The Usual Suspects” and you have a pretty engrossing tale. Also starring Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”), Barry Pepper (“Saving Private Ryan”), Greg Kinnear (“Little Miss Sunshine”) and Jeremy Sisto (“Six Feet Under”) all giving solid performances–although Caviezel and Pepper stand out as two men not knowing who to trust–but deciding to trust each other, regardless of which team they were originally on. For the most part, the 85 minute long film is tense and gripping. It does have a tendency to drag in some spots–but the audience is working as hard as the characters to figure out who the “bad guys” are. Throw in a couple of neat reversals (and perhaps one plot twist too many) and you have a nifty jigsaw puzzle of a mystery.
I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars–definitely worth renting. Along with an intriguing set-up, solid performances and twisty plot, the movie is a nice tribute to what can be done with a small budget (only $3.7 million) and a smart idea.
Stella Louise
LA Story .
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