Disappointing
Summary
Memory starts off strong with Liam Neeson and Guy Pearce on fine form and it has some brutal moments of action however, it’s let down by a disappointing third act.
Plot: Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) is an expert assassin with a reputation for discreet precision. Caught in a moral quagmire, Alex refuses to complete a job that violates his code and must quickly hunt down and kill the people who hired him before they and FBI agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce) find him first. Alex is built for revenge but, with a memory that is beginning to falter, he is forced to question his every action, blurring the line between right and wrong.
Review: I was very interested in watching Memory considering it had one of my favorite directors attached and the trailer made it look like it might be a fun one.
Well, unfortunately, this was a disappointment, especially considering all who were involved in this, and what is especially frustrating is that for the first two acts of this film, this was shaping up to be Liam Neeson’s best film since The Commuter, but the finale is where it ultimately falters the most.
Neeson as usual is solid in this role as is Guy Pierce who easily steals the film. The rest of the cast are fine with what they have to work with although there is a fun cameo from someone who has delved into the action genre as of late (you’ll know who I’m talking about when you see it).
The story was intriguing, to say the least until it eventually falls apart and becomes anti-climatic during the third act.
Martin Campbell still showcases that he’s a capable director regarding the action (don’t expect a lot though as there’s not much in this) but what’s there is brutal, especially one scene which was a lot of fun.
Overall, Memory was a mixed bag that was well acted, had an interesting story, and had capable direction, but was unfortunately, let down by an ending that made the film look rather pointless.