The Eisenhower suite at the Aldon Hotel

Rating: 7/10 (12 June 2011)

A briefcase felt on a luggage cart at the airport, is the cause of setting this thriller in motion. Dr. Martin Harris and his wife, arriving in Berlin for a biochemical convention, are staying at the famous Adlon Hotel in the city. As Martin notices the missing piece of luggage, he takes a taxi back to the airport to claim it, without even having the chance to tell Mrs. Harris he is going back. On the way, the taxi, trying to avoid a falling object, plunges into the river, but miraculously saved by the woman taxi driver.
Martin Harris' troubles begin right away. Taken to a hospital in a coma, he shows signs of suffering from temporary memory loss on the fourth day, when he awakens. Unknown to him, there are people that are interested in getting to him before he can get to the famous convention. A big chase for Martin Harris begins all over Berlin. To his amazement, Dr. Harris, going back to the Adlon, finds out there is another Martin Harris that has an interest in derailing the convention in a daring move that the real Martin helped set up months earlier.
Jaume Collet-Serra, the director, gives the audience an entertaining and fast moving thriller, even though it might not make complete sense, but it is a non stopping ride, at that. The film is based on a French novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert, which was released as "Out of My Head". The adaptation is by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell. On the plus side, the excitement of the various chases through the streets of Berlin are well staged. The final sequence at the Adlon is an amazing achievement. Mr. Collet-Serra shows a visual style for this genre, even though the screenplay reminds us of other films that came before this one.
Liam Neeson has found himself a new persona as an action hero at this point of his career, no doubt because of his good work in "Taken". As a hero, he shows vulnerability instead of muscle. Diane Kruger appears as the Bosnian taxi driver who has her own problems, living illegally in Germany. One of the best things in the film is the casting of the supporting roles. The great Bruno Ganz turns as a former member of the hated East German Stasi, now working as a private investigator. Frank Langella does a wonderful appearance as the man who trains people to be assassins. January Jones has a small part as the wife of Martin. Sebastian Koch also shows as Prof. Bressler, the man holding something the bad guys want.
Flavio Labiano's photographs Berlin in autumn colors, even snow, taking the viewer to see some famous landmarks. The musical score is by John Ottman and Alexander Rudd.