Carrying a short running time of just over ninety minutes, Taken quickly progresses through its story, never slowing down for a breath of salty air. The action is quick as Bryan Mills, our lead protagonist, finds himself in an unwanted time crunch, forced to complete his search before his daughter is sold for her body and ethnic background. The journey is daring, but that matters none to Mills; this is his daughter and he will stop at nothing to get her back. His urgency is rarely stated, but felt throughout the theater as he goes through loopholes and over hurdles to accomplish the simplest of tasks. The way his mind works is simply mesmerizing, giving way to an explosive conclusion that is almost too easy of a finish for such a high-powered story and film.
However, even with all its greatness, Taken still has a few flaws that are simply too strong to overlook. One is its story. Tackling the overused story line of sex-trafficking, director Pierre Morel depends on the unique approach of Taken to swoon the audience. Detailing the thought process and persistence of a father in search of his only daughter is not only old-fashioned, but it too has been done before. However, never has a father been so prepared and so intelligent as to outwit both the police force and the drug lords who now lay claim to his daughter's body. The delicate subject matter serves as only a backdrop to the intense moves preformed by Liam Neeson, giving the film an extra emphasis to soar on.
Then there is the whole I'm really 26 but playing a 17-year-old thing with Maggie Grace. Attempting to capture the innocence the exists within an unknowing mind, Grace does the iconic movements of flapping her legs when she runs and showing an uncontrollable amount of excitement when she gets a pony for her Birthday (yes I said it, she gets a pony). The stunts are poorly done and bring the entire film down a notch, preventing it from being the closest thing to perfection thus far this year. Thankfully, the moments are all near the beginning, allowing them all to be a distant memory throughout much of the high-action sequences that follow; thus providing a minimal distraction from the picture as a whole.
Fortunately, Taken has Liam Neeson to lean its head on. Serving as the lead character, Bryan Mills, Neeson fully transcends his personality into that of his character. His mannerisms become rigid as his past service with the government obviously shows an effect on both his personality and his perception of the world around him. His moves resemble that of a novice fighter, creating a much need realistic feel to both the film and its all-important story. His character is the sole constant figure throughout the entire film, making his performance all the more crucial. His deliverance is not only well-received, but detrimental to the overall film. He is the star, and by doing what he does best, he makes the movie damn impressive for a January thriller.
