Liam Stop!

Rating: 5/10 (4 May 2015)

Non-Stop (2014): Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra / Cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Lupita Nyong'o, Scoot McNairy: Action farce with a lot of potential and a whole lot of nonsense. Liam Neeson plays a federal air marshal whose drinking is the result of the death of his daughter. During this particular flight he receives threatening texts that warn of a death every twenty minutes until a large sum of money is sent to an account that is actually in Neeson's name. Naturally he struggles to find the culprit but the passengers become increasingly anxious as he trots about with a gun zip tying suspected passengers. Starts out with a bang with a structure that builds around everyone whether it be passengers, flight attendants or even Neeson himself looking guilty. Unfortunately the third act collapses with ridiculous action scenes particularly when the plane is plummeting and Neeson in slow motion manages to grab a gun in the air. Director Jaume Collet-Serra is skilled with the action but his screenwriter is hardly skilled at creating characters beyond the surface. Neeson isn't elevating his range yet he displays a boldness over a thick vulnerability especially when the media peg him as a hijacker. Julianne Moore does her best in a somewhat limited role as a passenger seated next to him. Michelle Dockery and Lupita Nyong'o play the typical flight attendants that are meant to be suspicious. Everyone else basically sit around looking suspicious and wasting screen time. Action fans may enjoy the non-stop hijinks while others may wish to leave this plane to land to superior entertainment. Score: 5 Â½ / 10