A disappointment not so much for the acting as for the attempt at political manipulation

Rating: 3/10 (20 February 2011)

I just returned from seeing Unknown and was disappointed enough that I am writing my first movie review ever (outside of an academic setting). I had great expectations going in as I have enjoyed Liam Neeson's movies in the past and his performance here was consistent with past work. I enjoyed the acting, the plot twists, and the action but by the end I felt cheated because this film was a blatant piece of anti-capitalist political propaganda where the good people are political progressives and the bad people are in the service of large corporations which, by extension, makes the corporations evil as well (it is never clear whether the bad folks work for American corporations or for international corporations). The plot would have worked just as well if the script-writers and producers had chosen to not make it political but we all make choices that are meaningful to us.
There has been much discussion as to when various moviegoers have figured out the plot of this film and so I will weigh in with my experience. I figured out the plot (all except who the evil folks were behind it all because there was no basis for inferring culpability until it is stated at the end) about two-thirds or three-quarters through the movie; just before the former Stasi officer finishes fixing himself a special cup of coffee.
Would I recommend that someone else go see the film? Not unless you believe in helping to finance anti-American, anti-capitalistic political propaganda. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that I have become more sensitive to this sort of manipulation.