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Film Review: Non-Stop
/ March 5, 2014
Release Date: February 27th, 2014
Rating: M
When you by a ticket to a movie like Non Stop, knowing that the action takes place entirely on a plane, you’re sure hoping that the reveal in the final 15 minutes is worth the 90 of tension before it.
In this mid-air action-thriller Liam Neeson plays burned out Air Marshal Bill Marks, wearied by a job of limitless travel, fast loosing perspective of the life-saving nature of his role.
We meet him on a transatlantic flight from New York to London like no other. A series of text messages instruct him to transfer $150 million to a secret account, or a passenger will die every 20 minutes. Here begins the action, and a mental rabbit trail led by racial stereotypes, as we attempt to spot the terrorist.
Neeson holds the script together well, delivering on the physical intimidation his fans have come to expect, but more than that, his character Bill gives us space to think about largely un-discussed topics.
Hundreds of passengers are coming to grips with the reality of death, exposing their unresolved issues and fears, and we too have to think about where our eternal destiny’s lie.
Trust placed in worldly systems of protection is assessed, and the stature given to Government, media, and military seems suddenly irrelevant and misdirected. It’s even suggested “‘Security’ is [America’s] biggest lie.”
While the film doesn’t offer any direct alternatives to these systems, what Non-Stop does do, is leave the viewer questioning who and what we put our faith in. Some audiences may see it as a bitter ‘anti ‘The Man’ statement, but what I saw was a worthwhile reminder that our ultimate eternal security isn’t found in earthly institutions.
6/10
