 |
| Liam Neeson in mortal jeopardy on a plane with a gun effectively sells Jaume Collet-Serra's Non-Stop |
Non-Stop is a highly suspenseful airplane action thriller with Liam Neeson (Schindler's List (1993)).
An alcoholic air marshal gets into a severe jam on a Transatlantic flight, as a person on the plane is killing people and demanding 150 mil. $ via texts.
Non-Stop marks the highlight so far in Neeson's improbable rise as an A-list action star over age 50, more or less beginning with his part in Batman Begins (2005). Since, Neeson has starred in nearly a dozen action movies and spun one franchise with the Taken movies (2008; 2012; 2014). Some of the films are good, some are bad, some mediocre, but not until now has Neeson found himself heading a truly great action movie; Non-Stop is the perfect vehicle for him:
First of all, the script is smart and full of clever ploys, written by John W. Richardson and Christopher Roach, who have collaborated in TV such as on Big Brother, and Ryan Engle, who has written a script for a movie based on the 80s video-game Rampage (2014). Non-Stop moves fast and the suspense is, - as the title promises, - non-stop.
The text message terror of the unknown terrorist on-board is weaved visually into the story very aptly, and the different suspicious characters on the plane are introduced well. We never leave the plane physically for most of the film, which is also a good choice. There is a nerve-wrecking tension of paranoia and prejudice rank in the air of the cabin, which feels very real, and the claustrophobia and anxiety of the aircraft and being crammed in with (hysterical, annoying and crazy) strangers is caught very well in the film.
Although it is no work of art, the score by John Ottman (Valkyrie (2008)) is very simple and effective. The film delivers the nail-biting excitement and thrills that we hope to get from it and gives us something extra due to its fine cast:
Besides Neeson, - who proves himself a real, flawed American hero in the film, - Julianne Moore is a joy as a sassy passenger he works with, and Corey Stoll (Midnight in Paris (2011)) is good as a macho cop passenger. The bit-parts are also well-achieved; the old lady, the girl, the pilots, the doctor, the idiots on-board ... It made me think of the disaster classic Airport (1970), but Non-Stop is essentially better.
Non-Stop is a mirthful concoction on the part of the writers; SPOILER a moment that epitomizes it is when the marshal 'buys' some calm on the plane by promising all the passengers free international flights for a year. Balanced with Neeson's bear-like, patriarchal charm, this piece of cynicism (and others) work as sardonic charm sprinkle on Non-Stop.
SPOILER One plot point that had me doubting its authenticity is when fighter jets follow the plane and threaten to shoot it down, if it changes its altitude, - because it is getting near Iceland, which is far from densely populated. But it works for the suspense and is just one element in the film's almost too suspenseful last half hour, which is also truly terrifying for those of us who are not too keen on flying in the first place.
The film received mixed reviews, but the public ran to see it; it stopped The Lego Movie's strong reign over the US box office and additionally beat the big Jesus movie Son of God (2014) for the #1 spot, as they both opened wide on the same weekend. Great director William Friedkin (Killer Joe (2012)) also agrees with Film Excess and has called Non-Stop "a great action suspense movie. I highly recommend it."
Barcelona-born director Jaume Collet-Serra also sees a career peak with Non-Stop. He has previously directed the entertaining House of Wax (2005), below average actioner Unknown (2011), also with Neeson, and a few other minor movies. His next film, Run All Night (2015) is again an action movie with Liam Neeson. Perhaps Collet-Serra should accept that this relationship has now peaked? Or maybe he will show me wrong.
The worst, - meaning the best, - airborne thriller in many years will leave you not wanting to go flying anytime again soon. - Jaume Collet-Serra's Non-Stop
Budget: 50 mil. $
Box office: 198.7 mil. $
= Big hit
What do you think of Liam Neeson's action movies,
and do you agree that Non-Stop is the best one so far?
No comments:
Post a Comment