Maggie Grace

TV Review: ‘The Following’ Pits Kevin Bacon Against a KIller

PatrickMcD — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:22:03 -0500

CHICAGO – The fascination with extreme criminals basically fuels the most popular prime time TV dramas. In “The Following,” it’s a serial killer – in the mold of Hannibal Lecter – that befuddles an FBI agent portrayed by Kevin Bacon. The premiere is on FOX on January 21st, at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

Television Rating: 3.0/5.0

The series is based on an extremely high concept – that an incarcerated multiple victim killer would be able to build an army of “followers” (copycats that will do his bidding) through internet recruiting. The tone of the proceedings are psychological, with the murderer being a former college professor obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe. Kevin Bacon’s FBI agent is flawed as well, having been haunted by the case ever since investigating it years before. The action is tense and gory, with bloody corpses everywhere, and the story line has to jump through too many hoops to keep the conflict believable. This is the type of TV show that wants its evil to be so perfectly organized that the “good guys” will have to do something sensational to stop it every week.

The stylish opening to the pilot immediately establishes the rogue element of convicted serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). He escapes death row from a maximum security Virginia prison, leaving four dead guards. This starts the phone ringing of ex-FBI investigator Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who put Carroll in prison. The bureau needs Hardy’s expertise to recapture Carroll, even though the agent is haunted by the events of the case.

Kevin Bacon (foreground) Anchors the Cast of “The Following”
Photo credit: FOX

The background is that Carroll was an college literature professor, whose teaching of Edgar Allan Poe became the feverish basis for his killing sprees, initially of young co-eds. His incidents are supposedly so high profile, that a cult of followers emerges. They are sharply organized over the internet, ready to take orders on how to exact revenge on the persons who incarcerated their killer hero. Complicating matters is that Agent Ryan had a brief fling with Carroll’s wife Claire (Natalie Zea), so this time the copycat crimes can get personal.

The buy-in for this drama is accepting that law enforcement essentially cannot protect anybody. There are two victims in the first couple episodes that have around the clock watch, but still the superstar killer can infiltrate their guarded perimeters (even Kevin Bacon’s character reacts in frustration to this). Like Hannibal Lecter in “Silence of the Lambs,” the Joe Carroll character is suppose to be brilliant and unstoppable, a veritable god above men. This is the only way to explain how he could get an army of people to give up their lives to follow him.

In the landscape of any new TV series, characters and events have to be initiated at a breakneck speed, thus there are hints of Kevin Bacon’s angst, but on the other hand he has to almost immediately fall into investigator mode, with no backlash on the eight years he has been on leave. Bacon is a good enough actor to maintain a tenuous balance on this, but hopefully the series will exploit his flaws more as the case progresses, because it’s hard to imagine an agent going back to such murderous intensity without some blowback. Also the tie-in to the killer’s ex-wife is very improbable, and even though it is mentioned that their affair lasted only two months, the wife still holds a candle for the guy who put her husband in jail.

There is an edge-of-the-seat quality to this justifiably thriller situation, as many things can go bump in the night when an army of serial killers is cut loose. The background of these followers is odd, meant more to shock – a tattooed woman, a red-headed prison guard/cop, a gay couple – than to be realistic. There is much disbelief to suspend in this series if it is to work, but it does deliver on the shocking (and gory) nature of sociopaths who kill in cold blood because a mastermind has seemingly brainwashed them from far away.

This is the bloodiest non-cable TV crime drama in memory, graphically depicting the results of the killing sprees. Without more motivation that just the murders themselves, the blood might be the only thing the show will be noted for, regardless of being just one degree from Kevin Bacon.

The premiere of ”The Following” is on Monday, January 21st, at 9pm ET/8pm CT on the FOX network. Check local listings for channel location. Featuring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Natalie Zea, Shawn Ashmore, Annie Parisse and Maggie Grace. Created by Kevin Williamson.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: ‘Taken 2’ with Liam Neeson Trades Action For Nonsense

BrianTT — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:02:41 -0400

CHICAGO – Olivier Megaton’s “Taken 2” is utter nonsense, a film that plays like a cross between Seth MacFarlane spoofing the first film on “Family Guy” and “MacGyver” fan fiction (although nowhere NEAR as much fun as that might make it sound). Everything that worked about the action-packed “Taken,” a surprising hit and a solid genre flick, has been corrupted here by jump cuts, horrendous plotting, and a complete lack of anything of interest outside of Neeson’s half-engaged performance. It’s truly awful.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

Perhaps the biggest problem with “Taken 2” on a foundational level is that the first film had a common fear with which to play. One could identify with Kim Mills (Maggie Grace), the girl who ventured outside of her comfort zone and was kidnapped. Anyone who can remember the first time they traveled without their parents as a safety net can relate to that fear of what could happen halfway around the world. By the same token, those who have children could relate to the fear inherent in letting them leave the nest. “Taken” worked because it played off relatable themes and turned them into action fodder.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Taken 2” in our reviews section.

“Taken 2” does none of that. It presumes an interest and concern for Kim, Lenore (Famke Janssen), and Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) that simply isn’t there. You know why? They’re not real characters. They’re ridiculous clichés of the protective father who tracks down her daughter’s boyfriend, the ex-wife who is struggling with her new relationship (because, let’s be honest, there’s no way she can find happiness without Super-Bryan to save her), and the daughter who is so thin on character that she gets to veer broadly from tough chick to damsel in distress as the nauseating screenplay dictates.

In a woefully misguided answer to the “how on Earth do we get these people kidnapped again” question, “Taken 2” is actually a vengeance piece. Its villain is Murad Hoxha (Rade Serbedszija), the father of the main villain from “Taken,” the guy who wanted to sell Kim into the sex trade. He wants revenge on the man who did the world a favor when he killed Murad’s son. Bryan, Kim, and Lenore end up in Istanbul, where Murad conveniently has a cavalry of personality-less goons to woefully attempt his bidding and die at the hands of the most unlikely action hero of the new millennium.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Taken 2” review.

“Taken 2” stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and Rade Serbedszija. It was directed by Olivier Megaton and released on October 5, 2012.

Taken 2
Photo credit: Fox

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to Sequel ‘Taken 2’ With Liam Neeson

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 23:35:22 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated “Taken” sequel “Taken 2,” which stars Liam Neeson!

“Taken 2,” which opens on Oct. 5, 2012 and is rated “PG-13,” also stars Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, D.B. Sweeney, Luke Grimes, Rade Serbedzija, Kevork Malikyan, Alain Figlarz, Frank Alvarez, Ali Yildirim, Ergun Kuyucu, Cengiz Bozkurt and Hakan Karahan from director Olivier Megaton and writers Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.

To win your free passes to “Taken 2” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 at 6 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Taken 2”:

Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills: the retired CIA agent with a “particular set of skills” who stopped at nothing to save his daughter, Kim, from kidnappers. When the father of one of the villains Bryan killed swears revenge – and takes Bryan and his wife hostage in Istanbul – Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape. Bryan then employs his unique tactics to get his family to safety and systematically take out the kidnappers one by one.

The movie poster for “Taken 2” with Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace.
Image credit: 20th Century Fox

The movie trailer for “Taken 2” can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 25 admit-two movie tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Taken 2” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since showings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the showing’s scheduled start time. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace in Annoying, Awful ‘Lockout’

BrianTT — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:04:30 -0400

CHICAGO – The annoying and boring “Lockout” is a pile of aggressive junk masquerading as a good time. Some critics and viewers will pretend that this is a “fun B-movie” just because it has a few over-the-top sequences (that look completely cartoonish), an absolutely ridiculous premise, and a scenery-chewing performance from the great Guy Pearce. Don’t believe them. They’re making excuses for a movie that’s totally bereft of creative storytelling and has a screenplay that most straight-to-video directors would say needs a rewrite.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

“Lockout” starts promisingly in concept and the casting of its leading man. Lest you think I’m some pretentious film critic who can’t get into a well-made B-movie, the idea of an “Escape From New York” in space with the underrated Guy Pearce in the Snake Plissken role seemed like a slam dunk. How do you screw that up? Watch “Lockout” and find out.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Lockout” in our reviews section.

Honestly, “Lockout” never again finds the fun of its opening credits (it’s all downhill), as our tough guy hero Snow (Pearce) is introduced in a clever way – delivering barbs between punches in an interrogation room. Set in a cardboard-looking 2079, Snow has been captured by a slimy government agent named Langral (Peter Stormare) who is interrogating him with the help of another agent named Shaw (Lennie James). It turns out that Snow was just involved in a shootout involving government secrets being transferred in a metal briefcase. Someone was killed, a chase that resembled a video game cut scene ensued, there were a lot of explosions, and the case was hidden thanks to the help of a Snow compatriot named Mace (Tim Plester). Where’s the case? Did Snow kill his contact?

Meanwhile, the President’s daughter, Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) is visiting the landmark space prison M.S. One, a block of crazy convicts floating above Earth. Most of the convicts have been placed in a frozen state and Warnock is convinced that the rumors that they’re being experimented on are true. She goes there on a humanitarian mission. It doesn’t go well. Before you can say, it’s probably not a good idea to house unstable people in such an unstable environment (we later learn that there’s ONE guy on board who can basically keep the thing in orbit), the prisoners have escaped and taken Warnock hostage, led By Alex (Vincent Regan) and his crazy brother Hydell (Joseph Gilgun). For reasons that never really make sense, Snow is chosen as the one who will go to space and save her (and maybe even get the mysterious case since Mace has been quickly shuttled to the prison). Apparently, it’s about as easy to get back and forth to the prison as taking the red line downtown.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Lockout” review.

“Lockout” stars Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Lennie James, Joseph Gilgun, and Vincent Regan. It was directed by James Mather & Stephen St. Leger. It is rated PG-13 and opens on April 13, 2012.

Lockout
Photo credit: Open Road

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Lockout’ With Guy Pearce From ‘Taken’ Producers

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:20:09 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new sci-fi/thriller “Lockout” starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace from the producers of “Taken”! The film opens on April 13, 2012.

“Lockout” also stars Peter Stormare, Vincent Regan, Lennie James, Joseph Gilgun, Jacky Ido, Anne-Solenne Hatte, Bojan Peric, Tim Plester, Yan Dron, Charlie Kranz, Nick Hardin, Patrick Cauderlier and Marko Janjic from writers and directors James Mather and Stephen St. Leger.

To win your free passes to the advance Chicago screening of “Lockout” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our new Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Sunday, April 8, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Lockout”:

Starring Guy Pearce (“Memento,” “Prometheus”) and Maggie Grace (“Taken,” “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1”) and set in the near future, “Lockout” follows a falsely convicted ex-government agent (Pearce) whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the president’s daughter (Grace) from rioting convicts at an outer-space maximum-security prison. “Lockout” was directed by Stephen St. Leger and James Mather from their script, which was co-written with producer Luc Besson. Peter Stormare co-stars.

The movie poster for “Lockout” starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace.
Image credit: FilmDistrict

The movie trailer for “Lockout” can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 40 admit-two tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Lockout” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since advance screenings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the screening’s scheduled start time. Winners are typically e-mailed our advance-screening passes two days before the screening date. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Chicago Passes to ‘Faster’ With Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:08:59 -0500

CHICAGO – In our latest action/thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Faster” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton!

“Faster” also stars Mike Epps, Tom Berenger, Maggie Grace, Jan Hoag, Courtney Gains, Michael Irby, Josh Clark, Carla Gugino, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Sidney S. Liufau from director George Tillman Jr. and writers Tony Gayton and Joe Gayton. The film opens on Nov. 24, 2010.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Faster” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This screening is on Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “Faster” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton.
Image credit: CBS Films

Here is the plot description for “Faster”:

After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus: to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment.

Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission. But he has two men on his trail: a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement and a young, ego-centric hitman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing. The hunter is also the hunted. It’s a do-or-die race to the list’s finish as the mystery surrounding his brother’s murder deepens and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver’s list may be incomplete.

Dwayne Johnson (“Gridiron Gang,” “The Scorpion King,” “The Mummy Returns”), Billy Bob Thornton (“Eagle Eye,” “Monster’s Ball”) and newcomer Oliver Jackson-Cohen star with Carla Gugino (“Watchmen”), Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Moon Bloodgood (“Terminator Salvation”) in “Faster”: a co-production between CBS Films (the film division within CBS Corp.) and TriStar Pictures (a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment).

George Tillman Jr. (“Notorious,” “Men of Honor,” “Soul Food”) directs from a screenplay by Joe Gayton and Tony Gayton. “Faster” wrapped principal photography in April 2010 and will hit U.S. theaters on Nov. 24, 2010. The film is produced by Castle Rock Entertainment’s Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer along with Tony Gayton and State Street Pictures’ Robert Teitel. Joe Gayton and Dara Weintraub are executive producers.

The movie trailer for “Faster” can be watched now below.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this question:

What’s the best way to achieve ultimate revenge?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 25 admit-two tickets randomly via e-mail for our “Faster” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

Tell Your Friends About HollywoodChicago.com on Facebook & Twitter!

Along with entering yourself in this Hookup, tell your friends you’ve found the best source for regular entertainment giveaways by liking HollywoodChicago.com on Facebook and following us on Twitter! The more people who follow us, the better giveaways we can offer you!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 7-Image Gallery For ‘Knight and Day’ Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz

BrianTT — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:33:41 -0400

CHICAGO – This 7-image slideshow contains all of the official press images for the highly anticipated “Knight and Day,” starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Jordi Molla, and Paul Dano. The film was written by Patrick O’Neill and directed by James Mangold. It will be released on June 23rd, 2010.

Synopsis: “In the action-comedy KNIGHT AND DAY, Tom Cruise is a covert agent and Cameron Diaz is a woman caught between him and those he claims set him up. As their globetrotting adventure erupts into a maze of double-crosses, close escapes, false identities, and head-spinning romantic snafus, they come to realize that all they can count on is each other.

Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises present a Pink Machine / Todd Garner/ Tree/Line Film production, a film by James Mangold (Walk The Line, 3:10 To Yuma), starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, Knight And Day. The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Jordi Molla and Paul Dano. The film is written by Patrick O’Neill. Knight and Day is produced by Cathy Konrad, Steve Pink and Todd Garner; and executive produced by Joe Roth, Arnon Milchan and E. Bennett Walsh.

Mangold reunites with his behind-the-scenes team from Walk the Line and 3:10 To Yuma — director of photography Phedon Papamichael, ASC, editor Michael McCusker, A.C.E., costume designer Arianne Phillips, and production designer Andrew Menzies (the latter collaborating with Mangold only on 3:10 to Yuma) - who bring to life Knight and Day’s sleek action, humor and edgy suspense in an array of spectacular locations. The music is by John Powell, whose many contemporary thrillers include The Bourne trilogy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Italian Job.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox and stills are credited to Frank Masi. All Rights Reserved.

Knight_And_Day_1: As the danger escalates during their global adventure, June Havens (Cameron Diaz) finds herself increasingly drawn to the mysterious Roy Miller (Tom Cruise).
Knight_And_Day_2: Roy (Tom Cruise) and June (Cameron Diaz) race through the streets of Seville, Spain.
Knight_And_Day_3: Roy (Tom Cruise) and June (Cameron Diaz) prepare for the ride of their lives, as they flee pursuing assassins - and bulls - through the streets of Seville, Spain.
Knight_And_Day_4: June (Cameron Diaz) and Roy (Tom Cruise) aren’t exactly in sync when they find themselves the targets of assassins.
Knight_And_Day_5: A tropical island stay is anything but “paradise” for June (Cameron Diaz) and Roy (Tom Cruise), who’ve narrowly escaped yet another attack.
Knight_And_Day_6: June (Cameron Diaz) tries to deliver a knockout punch to the mysterious Roy Miller (Tom Cruise).
Knight_And_Day_7: Tom Cruise and director James Mangold review a scene on the set of Knight And Day.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Chicago Passes to ‘Knight and Day’ With Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:23:29 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest action/comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Knight and Day” starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz!

The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Jordi Mollà, Falk Hentschel, Marc Blucas, Lennie Loftin, Maggie Grace, Rich Manley, Dale Dye, Celia Weston, Gal Gadot and Jack O’Connell from director James Mangold and writer Patrick O’Neill. “Knight and Day” opens in Chicago on June 23, 2010.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Knight and Day” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “Knight and Day” with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.
Image credit: 20th Century Fox

Here is the plot description for “Knight and Day”:

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in this sexy action/comedy in which a chance encounter thrusts a woman and a charming but lethal operative into a series of adventures across the globe. As if dodging assassins and uncovering world-changing secrets weren’t enough, she must now figure out if he is a good guy, a traitor or just plain crazy.

The movie trailer for “Knight and Day” can be watched now below.

If you were a secret agent, what would be your cover?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 30 people randomly via e-mail for our “Knight and Day” Hookup. Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Liam Neeson Elevates Above-Average Action Movie ‘Taken’

BrianTT — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:25:39 -0500

CHICAGO – Bringing the same screen presence and gravity that he has to more serious roles like those in “Schindler’s List” and “Kinsey,” Liam Neeson turns the relatively generic “Taken” into an above-average action movie that should prove a surprising alternative for movie goers looking for a break from Super Bowl coverage this weekend.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

The great Neeson plays Bryan Mills, a retired “preventer,” essentially Jack Bauer ten or fifteen years down the road. He’s put his violent days behind him but not forgotten the skills that made him one of the most efficient experts in his very specialized field. In the opening act of “Taken,” Mills is hanging out with friends and taking odd jobs like providing back-stage security for the latest pop starlet.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Taken” in our reviews section.

Bryan has grown a bit distant from his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) and his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen), but he’s working on getting back into the life of his only child. Kim decides to travel to Europe to follow U2 with her best friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) and Bryan reluctantly allows her to go.

Before they’re even out of the airport, Kim and Amanda are spotted by accomplices of some of the most evil people in the world, spotters for an Albanian sex ring. Kim and her friend are kidnapped, but not before Kim gets her father on the phone. He hears just enough detail that he knows he can travel to Europe and save his daughter’s life. And kill anyone who gets in his way.

‘Taken’ stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, Katie Cassidy, and Jon Gries. It was written by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel. It opens on January 30th, 2009, and is rated PG-13.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Taken” review.

In Taken, Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, an ex-government operative who has less than four days to find his kidnapped daughter - who has been taken on her first day of vacation in Paris.
Photo credit: Stephanie Branchu/Fox

Slideshow: 8-Image Gallery For ‘Taken’ With Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace

BrianTT — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:56:53 -0500

CHICAGO – This 8-image slideshow contains a selection of official press images from Twentieth Century Fox’s “Taken,” which opens stateside on Friday, January 30th, 2009.

“Taken” stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, and Famke Janssen. The film was written by Robert Mark Kamen and Luc Besson and directed by Pierre Morel. It opens on Jan. 30, 2009.

Synopsis: “I don’t know you who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you’re looking for a ransom, I can tell you, I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills acquired over a very long career in the shadows, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you. And I will kill you.”

With these chilling words to a member of a band of kidnappers, former government operative Bryan Mills begins the longest 96-hours of his life – and the hunt for the fearsome organization that has taken his daughter Kim.

Mills had only recently given up his government career as what he calls, a “preventer” – “I prevented bad things from happenings,” he says – to be near Kim, who lives with Bryan’s ex-wife Lenore and her new husband. To make ends meet, Bryan joins some former colleagues for special security details (like guarding a pop diva), but most of his time and energy are spent re-connecting with Kim.

Bryan’s familial goal is nearly derailed when Kim requests his permission to spend time in Paris with a friend. All too aware of the dangers that could lie ahead for Kim in a foreign land, Bryan says no, but Kim’s disappointment leads him to very reluctantly relent.

Bryan’s worst fears are realized when Kim and her friend Amanda are suddenly abducted – in broad daylight – from the Paris apartment at which they’ve just arrived. Moments before Kim is dragged away by the as yet unseen and unknown assailants, she manages to phone Bryan, who begins to expertly piece together clues that will take him to the darkness of Paris’s underworld, and to the City of Light’s plushest mansions. He will face nightmares worse than anything he experienced in black ops – and let nothing and no one stop him from saving his daughter.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Stephanie Branchu/Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox unless otherwise noted.

Taken_01: In Taken, Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, an ex-government operative who has less than four days to find his kidnapped daughter - who has been taken on her first day of vacation in Paris.
Taken_02: Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) engages in a fire fight with the vicious gang that has kidnapped his daughter in Paris.
Taken_03: Only moments away from being taken by a vicious band of kidnappers, Kim (Maggie Grace) makes an urgent phone call to her father.
Taken_04: Bryan (Liam Neeson) visits a streetwalker (Fani Kolarova) as he attempts to infiltrate a vicious gang that has kidnapped his daughter.
Taken_05: Bryan (Liam Neeson) prepares to take extreme measures during his interrogation of a man he suspects of being a key player in the kidnapping.
Taken_06: In Paris, Bryan (Liam Neeson) looks to a former ally, Jean Claude (Olivier Rabourdin), for help in finding those responsible for the kidnapping.
Taken_07: Ex-spouses Bryan (Liam Neeson) and Lenore (Famke Janssen) do not see eye-to-eye on matters concerning their daughter. Photo by Sam Urdank
Taken_08: Bryan (Liam Neeson, right) presents his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) with a birthday gift, as his ex-wife and her mother Lenore (Famke Janssen) looks on. Photo by Sam Urdank

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com