Improbability at its very best

Rating: 9/10 (31 October 2008)

"*Taken* lacks probability", I read in numerous comments. Well, it does, indeed. But what's the fuss? Did I miss something? Was it supposed to be a documentary...? A movie, in my opinion, especially an action movie, is to entertain. To provide a safety valve through which the teeming emotions triggered by the everyday drudgery can be released. And they should serve the cause unharnessed by the constraints of the reality. "Ambitious movies", as my girlfriend labels the ones that convey some "profound message" and "mirror reality", are actually not that far from the remaining ones. In fact, they lack probability as well, the only difference being their producers who try to convince the public they are showing them life the way it really is. But then, if that was true, who the hell would spend their money to see that...?
Thus, action movies lack probability as much as they lack hypocrisy, bluntly stating they are mainly to entertain. "Taken" fits the profile perfectly. Still, it's nowhere near as rough as, let's say, "Total Recall", "Eraser" or any Arnie stuff. Its major strength is Liam Neeson and quite meticulous development of his character, Bryan. As he elbows his way through the assignment as the story unfolds, one can actually feel the bond with him and understand the reasons behind his going on a killing spree; It's a violent movie, but again, a whole lot more sophisticated than the usual Schwarzenegger kick-assery (nice term I spotted somewhere on the forums), basing on the longer spells of building the tension interwoven with the short, intense and action-packed combat scenes - an effect which only contributes to keeping the viewer on the edge of his seat. And last, but not least, Neeson's numerous one-liners, adding some black humor to the otherwise grim, Bourne-like atmosphere, are exceptional. Don't miss his cellphone monologue as he addresses the villain - that's the essence of the movie and the genre as a whole.
It's nine out of ten to me, and it would have been ten, wasn't it for the movie's length - it's only 93 minutes. I'm sure they could've come up with a few more improbable scenes should they wished.