Liam Neeson, he redefined his carrier as an action hero. I loved him in Taken, and I actually liked him in the followup. With roles in Unknown and The Grey he makes himself out as a terrific action go-doer.
Reteaming with his Unknown director Jaume Collet-Serra (director of horror hits House of Wax and Orphan) they bring back the airplane thriller. The last time I saw a movie similar to this was Flightplan with Jodi Foster. I plan on giving a review on that too and comparing films.
With Non-stop we start out with Liam's character Bill getting ready for the flight, while he doesn't feel like boarding the London flight, he does so glumly.
We soon find out of course the reason for him to being on that flight. Thinking of it now even this movie would have made for a better die hard than the recent die hard film.
The casting is excellent here with a lot of well-known actors popping up. Julianne Moore, recently seen in Carrie and next in Mockingjay, plays Jen Summers who becomes friends with Bill during the flight and believes he is innocent once he starts to become framed. Other appearances are Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) as flight attendant Nancy Hoffman. Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong'o also appears as a flight attendant named Gwen. Corey Stoll from Bourne Legacy and the first season of House of Cards plays an NY PD cop who is on the flight to his sister's wedding in London.
Someone that blew me off guard, by way of I had no idea it was him was Anson Mount. He played the other air Marshall Jack Hammond. He most famously played a cowboy on the series Hell on Wheels. I could not recognize him without the beard. Even his accent was different. He was good, I liked him in this, I just realized while writing this who he was.
The film is very entertaining and does keep you on the edge of your seat. But, I found now I am growing a little tired of Liam's aggressive approach. I've seen enough movies and I feel if he was just a bit more calmer and talked to the people better, like he did with the little girl on board (who clearly was holding a paddington bear). His aggressive nature I guess came from the fact he had a troubled past and he was an alcoholic. I have grown tired of the alcoholic hero, they need to come up with a hero with a different addiction, why does it always need to be alcohol. Why not something else, like smoking maybe? Or some kind of drug? Even, dare I say, there sexuality, porn addiction? Then again that gets a little R-rated.
Non-stop is a non-stop thrill ride as it heads into the final act. While there is a moment of implausibility and is never really cleared up there are still some solid twists and turns which climax in an explosive finale with Liam doing a gun battle in mid air (as seen in the trailer).
A thriller with a little implausibility but with a solid cast led by a grounded Liam Neeson, Non-stop is an entertaining time at the movies.
Rating: B
Part 2 on thrillers on a plane, Flightplan starring Jodie Foster, Sean Bean, Peter Sarsgaard, Matt Bomer and Brent Sexton.
