A Pleasant Surprise

Rating: 7/10 (28 February 2014)

On entering the movie theater it must be said that I was in the exact same mindset as the other 400 sitting alongside me; "Just another blockbuster - i'm only here cos its got Liam Neeson in it", and while the lead protagonist was the star of the show (giving his best big- screen performance since Taken), the true genius of the film chose not to rely on the star-studded cast (including Oscar-nominee Julianne Moore) but came down to the crafty nature in which the plot was unraveled, utilizing ambiguity and unpredictability to the greatest effect. Leaving no stone unturned, the audience are Neeson's ally for the whole journey, knowing just as much as he does and shitting themselves with panic of much a similar capacity.
No film is without its flaws however and Non-Stop is no exception, with a repetitive screenplay that throws in several cringe-worthy one-liners, it could be argued that the script is the main factor holding the cast back from unleashing their full potential. But they do with it what they can, and once you get over the unrealistic (yet utterly thrilling) action sequences, you might just see the picture for what it really is: a smart, white-knuckled roller coaster ride that keeps audience members hanging off the edge of their seat for the whole of the thrilling experience - Non-Stop Entertainment!