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Our memories play an important part in our everyday lives—whether it’s remembering what we needed to pick up at the grocery story or reminiscing about a fun day with a friend. But when memories start to fade, it changes everything—and for the hitman in Memory, it proves dangerous.
Memory stars Liam Neeson as contract killer Alex Lewis. Throughout his career, Alex has prided himself on his professionalism and efficiency. He knows his job, and he does it well. But now his once-sharp memory is fading, and he’s forced to rely on notes written inside his arm. Though he knows it’s time to retire, Alex takes one more job in his old hometown of El Paso—but he soon learns that it goes against his personal code. And when everything goes wrong, he connects with weary FBI agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce) to try to make things right.
Adapted from the 2003 Belgian thriller The Memory of a Killer, the film follows two different storylines: Alex’s quest to get revenge on the people who hired him, despite his memory loss, and Vincent’s quest to bring down a human trafficking ring, despite pushback from his superiors. Both men are fighting their own personal battles—though, really, much of the character development feels more like an afterthought than an important part of the story. But even without some solid development, these two stars—Neeson especially—are able to make their characters likeable.
Since Neeson has spent more than a decade appearing in action movies, you might have forgotten that he had a noteworthy (and lengthy) dramatic career first. But there are moments in this film that will remind you of his strong acting abilities—because while this may be the story of a killer who’s out for revenge, it’s also the story of a man who’s struggling to hold on to his memories as his condition worsens. And Neeson’s performance brings all of his character’s emotions to the surface.
Still, the story here feels a little messy. Despite its noteworthy cast and some strong performances, the plot feels like it’s missing something. It feels like it should be more powerful than it is. But instead of a movingly dramatic crime thriller, it’s mostly a brainless action movie with just a hint of promise of something more.
Really, when it comes to thrillers, you can’t really go wrong with something starring Liam Neeson. This undeniably charming hero brings grit and heart to every role. But while Memory is a serviceable film, it feels like there’s just something missing here.
You can find Memory in theaters starting on April 27, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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