Let me get this straight – here’s a man with a Memory so screwed up, he takes notes on his body to help him remember and despite the handicap, he’s making life and death decisions. Is that right? Tell me, does this star Guy Pearce? I think I know this film.
Turns out, this isn’t Memento, which is a shame because Memento is a classic and Memory is not. And I believe with this admission of frailty, Liam Neeson has officially become an old man. Now his films will be seen less as tools of vengeance and payback and more as Boomer stroke material. Liam Neeson has entered the Robert DeNiro phase of tough guy with the pretense that old men can still get it done physically even when they punch with the speed of a DMV teller during rush hour.
Alex Lewis (Neeson) is a hitman in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Hey buddy; it’s not important that you belong in a hospital; what is important is that you keep killing people. This is a fairly ugly reflection on American life, no? I suppose we all expect assassins to die before they get to old age, but shouldn’t they get to retire at some point? Well of course not; no health plan. And how about the idea of being lethally righteous even when you’ve lost your Memory? That sounds straight out of the MAGA playbook, no? “I don’t know the facts and I don’t remember why I’m angry; what I do know is YOU ARE MY ENEMY and I need to do something about it!” That sounds like the theme to every episode of Tucker Carlson.
Fresh off a hit in Mexico, Alex returns to El Paso for another contract only to discover it involves a kid. That’s messed up. On the law side, FBI agent Guy Pearce is picking up the scraps, dealing with the political fallout, and realizing this potential hit has deeper connection. Could the assassin and the law be on the same side? Is there an even bigger cliché we can explore? No? Fine; roll with that, then.
Oh wait, there is – the assassin with the heart of gold. It’s like the male version of the hooker
with a heart of gold. Say, don’t you people follow? Most high profile movie assassins are female these days. Shouldn’t it now be the gigolo with the heart of gold?
Truth be told, I liked this film for while. While it’s clear that Liam has slowed considerably, he’s not yet at DeNiro-level sloth. And, heck, we still believe he can shoot a gun, right? And who isn’t a sucker for “you don’t kill children?” But the film did lose me somewhere between the Alzheimer’s admission and the cop killing. I just can’t help thinking: “Why? Why can’t you deal with your Memory and let this be somebody else’s problem? What is so important that there needs to be collateral damage? This makes no sense.”
Boomer endorsements aside, Liam Neeson is clearly nearing the end of his career as an action star. Ending now could be beneficial … or at least a great deal better than the fate of Bruce Willis. Liam, if I have your ear, I implore you not to take the Willis route; hang up the holster while your dignity remains intact.
An assassin with skills that can chill
Has Alzheimer’s now, yet still
He could even the score
And do so much more
If only he could remember whom to kill
Rated R, 114 Minutes
Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Dario Scardapane
Genre: Old man killer
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Your grandfather
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Real life assassins, I imagine+
