Review: Liam Neeson takes down the 'Memory Lane'

Or the one before? Who took that one in? These films have been difficult to distinguish from each other for years, but they keep coming. Key & Peele’s decision to make the actor’s name plural seems even more prophetic. “Liam Neesons” is correct. He kills and contains multitudes.

“Memory”, which opens in theaters Friday night, doesn’t change the formula much but offers a dark and disturbing take on the Liam Neeson theme. The film is a darker, interwoven noir tapestry that takes place in the Texas borderlands. It stars Guy Pearce and Monica Bellucci as well as Ray Stevenson. You may come to “Memory” expecting Neeson to growl “Comit THAT to Memory!” or “If Memory serves me correctly, I’m toast!” It might surprise you to discover a film that is less interested in such action-star heroisms and more focused on something darker and more cynical.

Is that good enough? It doesn’t. Martin Campbell, a British director of thrillers both gritty (“Casino Royale”), makes the film look slick. However, it lacks the sense of place and texture that would have made “Memory”, much of which was shot in Bulgaria, more than a mere throwaway. However, the actors — particularly Pearce and Neeson — aren’t allowed to phone in anything.

Neeson portrays Alex Lewis, an El Paso, Texas assassin who is more inclined toward the bad guys than most actors’ protagonists. However, Alex is a strong moral person who won’t tolerate certain behaviors. For his rude behavior towards a prostitute, he smashes another man’s head against a bar. He won’t even kill children. Alex refuses to murder Mia Sanchez, a 13-year old girl. A crime syndicate looking to cover up child trafficking rings comes after him. Alex begins to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s. This, however, does not affect his mission to save the girl or bring down the syndicate. However, it does make Alex more determined; his life is slowly fading away.

Vincent Serra, an FBI agent (Pearce), is also trying to take down the ring. He is watching the same teenager girl but his superiors keep pushing him towards other cases. Pearce’s presence in a memory loss thriller is a nod towards “Memento.” One scene sees Neeson writing clues on his forearm to help him remember. You half expect Pearce will grab the pen and give him some pointers. The familiar elements of “Memory,” a remake of 2003 Belgian thriller “Memory of a Killer”, are all there.

As two men who try to execute one act of justice in an area without it, Vincent and Alex form a loose partnership. It’s fitting that Neeson, in the Liam Neeson thriller, is portrayed as a globe-trotting vigilante who defends justice in a fallen universe. He should therefore make his way to Mexico’s U.S.-Mexican frontier. For bringing out anger about the situation of young Mexican immigrants at the border, credit “Memory”.

Pearce is sweaty and grungy as he controls “Memory”. It’s as much his film as Neeson. They seem more like actors than they are in this movie, which is often populated largely with stock and half-formed characters. Bellucci’s ridiculous millionaire, an El Paso businessman, pulls strings to support her son. It’s hard to imagine a better and more memorable version of “Memory”.

The Motion Picture Association of America has rated “Memory” an Open Road release as R for violence, bloody images, and language. Running time: 114 mins. Two stars out four.