Memory
directed by Martin Campbell
directed by Martin Campbell
This was an intermittently entertaining thriller which ultimately only demonstrated to me that some of my favorite actors and actresses are finally getting a little too long in the tooth to be believable in certain roles. I don't mean that as any sort of nasty or sarcastic criticism.
We all get older if we're lucky. It's just that with actors or actresses who have ascended to icon status it can be jarring to see them age out of the character types with whom I have long associated them. I disliked that though this film was set in America, specifically El Paso, Texas, none of the actors sounded Texan.
While to my ears the typical El Paso accent and cadence is not as distinctive or as thick as some Texan or Southern accents, it is still noticeable to me. So it was a little weird that just about all of the lead speaking roles were filled by non-Texans and non-Americans--Northern Irish, English, Australians, Germans, and Italians. Some did better hiding their actual native accent than others. When an actor doesn't sound anything like their character should it takes me out of the movie. Again, just something I noticed from time to time.
Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) is an elderly contract killer who is suffering the physical and mental effects of aging-in his case this means Alzheimer's and dementia, afflictions from which his brother is already suffering. Alex's ready to retire. Alex forgets things more often and has taken to writing down important notes on papers or his arms.
Alex is taking medications. But there's no movie unless there's one last job. Alex's agent points out that certain people know where his brother lives. So retirement isn't a viable option. Suitably motivated, Alex prepares to do what he does.
FBI Agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce) is in the field performing undercover work against child sex traffickers who are backed by Mexican cartels. One notably vile low level member pimps his own daughter, Beatriz. Vincent is forced to kill this trafficker in front of Beatriz, who is then sent to Child Protective Services. Vincent's boss (Ray Fearon) isn't happy because now the investigation has no one to try to turn. Vincent's co-worker Linda (Taj Atwal) and Mexican liaison Hugo (Harold Torres) are more sympathetic.
Alex has eliminated his target and taken some surveillance evidence. He's ready to go home. But there's no sleep for the wicked. Alex's client wants him to also eliminate Beatriz. However, Alex has a "no kids" rule which he will not break even at the cost of his life or threats to his brother's life.
When Beatriz is found dead anyway, Alex is worried that he did it and forgot about it. But once he's verified otherwise, Alex gets VERY angry. He does some detective work to figure out who the original client is and why this person wanted Beatriz dead. Alex also starts methodically eliminating people involved in the child trafficking ring as well as other assassins sent to remove him. Even as an older forgetful man with growing limitations, Alex is still a very dangerous killer.
This brings Alex into an enemy mine situation with Vincent, who finds that corruption and class bias are preventing him from looking into the motivations and interests of Davana Sealman (Monica Bellucci), a billionaire investor and real estate mogul.
There's a fair amount of violence. For the most part I didn't really care about many of the characters and I doubt that you will either.
