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Non-Stop sees real-life action man, Liam Neeson, back on the big screen for yet another edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Neeson takes on the role of Bill, a US air marshal who recieves a series of threatening texts during a transatlantic flight. The anonymous terrorist vows to kill somebody on board the plane every 20 minutes unless the airline transfers $150 million into his account. However, as Bill attempts to find the culprit he realises that others believe that he is in fact the terrorist.
From the film's opening scenes every single passenger as painted as a potential suspect. As much as you would like to think you can scoff that you would be able to figure it out, you really can't - and that puts you on edge from the get-go because you don't know who to trust.
The majority of the film is set on the airplane, and this makes for claustrophobic viewing, which only adds to the tension. By the time the film ends you feel like you were on that plane journey yourself and it is a relief to be walking out of the cinema all in one piece! The audience receive information and clues at the same time as Bill, and you're constantly trying to guess who the culprit is, but red herrings are often thrown into the mix to put you off the scent in very clever directorial decisions.
Liam Neeson plays the troubled air marshal with ease and although his character is the typical tough guy you come to expect from this genre, he isn't without his depth and layers that make him a much more likable watch. Bill's dedication to saving his fellow passengers is nothing short of admirable and even when the pilots, ground control and passengers turn against him, he doesn't give up.
Julianne Moore is also strong as Jen, a fellow passenger in the seat next to Bill, who you quickly discover is one of he few people on the plane that you can trust. When everybody turns against Bill, Jen and air hostess Nancy (Michelle Dockery) stand by him, which makes it much less of a frustrating watch. It is impossible to not get angry when Bill's plans to save the plane are hindered due to almost everyone's complete lack of faith in him and the fact that there are two solid characters throughout who aren't pointing the finger and throwing around accusations makes it much less stressful viewing than if absolutely everybody was against our leading man.
The best thing about Non-Stop is that you get so involved in trying to work out who the suspect is that the viewing time flies by. I am a serial clock-watcher, even if I am really enjoying the film I am prone to occasionally glancing down at my watch throughout a film but with this I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout. The mystery alone makes it compelling, but the clever cinematography of text messages coming up on the screen, the array of different characters that add layers of realism to the otherwise unrelatable situation, and Neeson's strong and emotive performance makes the film an enjoyable roller-coaster from start to finish.
The downside of Non-Stop is the incredibly underwhelming revelation of who is behind the terrorism. Although not entirely implausible it simply doesn't match the high standards set by the rest of the film. It just doesn't feel as shocking as i should be and there were other options that could have been explored for maximum impact. The reasons given for the hijack aren't particularly strong and there are many questions that are left unanswered as the story quickly shifts from a mystery thriller to full-blown action as gun shots and explosions lead to an epic slow-motion battle that we have come to expect from Neeson's films.
Despite this slight hiccup in the narrative, the real crux of the film is the mystery and although the reveal doesn't quite hit the mark it doesn't take away from the 90 minutes of expertly-played intrigue and tension. Although not without its flaws, the climax of the film is so dramatic and intense that you step out of the cinema with a pounding heart, bated breath, and a minor fear of flying. The revelation of who was behind the murders soon becomes irrelevant and that's what makes it one of the biggest must-see action films of the year!
★★★★☆
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