One of the worst movies ... EVER

Rating: Null/10 (3 March 2014)

The good news? At 62 Neeson is likely the oldest Hollywood action hero who has not retired at least once and then made a comeback. And in spite of the mess that has come to be known as Taken 2, Neeson is astonishingly still basking in the glow of Taken 1 (which was an exceptionally well-done film and -- spoiler -- if you have not seen it, don't even bother finishing this review, go get a copy and see for yourself what it looks like when Neeson is at his best). As for NON-STOP, it is very likely one of the worst films of all time, and an embarrassment to both the actors and the audience. First, it is immediately obvious that his production was greenlighted on the basis of being "hi concept, low cost" which (most viewers don't know this) is really the Holy Grail of Tinseltown film making. The "packager" who put this deal together no doubt punched up the idea of a "Hitchcock style" thriller where the Air Marshall on an overseas red-eye doesn't know who is texting him with threats, or how they are so successfully "manipulating" his actions. That same packager (trust me) also emphasized how cheap the film would be to make, once you covered the two (and only) recognizable stars. "Hey Wally, like the whole thing takes place inside a plane. Once we create the main set, which is a one-time cost, we can shoot the rest of the film in a parking lot behind a Wal-Mart, and save a bundle on production costs. We'll be into profit on the pre-sales alone." And they probably were. But that does not help or provide solace to the hapless viewers who are going to be expecting some actual entertainment from this production and will instead discover a monotonous, boring, claustrophobic, lifeless film with no character development, no audience connection, no sympathetic characters, no suspense that is not either awkward or forced, -- and no relief from any of the above until the plane lands or the film ends, whichever comes first.
** A final note on the relationship between film and social gestalt -- to even consider making a film like this at a time when society's love affair with plane travel has plainly reversed into a near-phobia, shows an astonishing lack of empathy (and common sense) by the producers. Seriously. This film should come with an airsickness bag.