Parents' Guide to

Memory

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violent Neeson action thriller is meaty but not memorable.

Movie R 2022 114 minutes
Memory Movie Poster

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What's the Story?

In MEMORY (a remake of the 2003 Belgian thriller Memory of a Killer), aging assassin Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) is ready to retire, but his employer insists that he take one last job. When he realizes he's been hired to kill a teen girl, he refuses to complete the job. This puts a target on his back, and as he learns more about the dangerous criminal organization that hired him -- uncovering a child sex-trafficking ring that's using the difficulties at the U.S. Southern border to their advantage -- Alex decides to put an end to them. Meanwhile, FBI agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce, whose casting is a wink to the memory-impaired character he played in Memento) and his child exploitation task force feel like they're the only ones who care. But with an inability to produce convictions, the division is being shut down.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

While Neeson is playing yet another character who has "a certain set of skills," he does bring nuance to the role of Alex Lewis, an aging assassin who's dealing with cognitive decline. His enlightening performance -- and this unusual angle -- elevates a standard hitman-for-hire story into a thought-provoking one. Are "bad" people just bad, or do they have their own ethical boundaries? And when they decide to do the right thing, should we view them differently? Director Martin Campbell toys with viewers to some degree, allowing us to feel compassion and root for Alex and then slapping us with a cold reminder that he doesn't deserve our warm feelings.

Campbell, who was also behind the James Bond films Casino Royale and Goldeneye, is definitely creating a violent Liam Neeson actioner here, rather than a popcorn 007 flick. The killings are very graphic, and the story upsetting. The director knows what he's doing, and Memory is a well-made film, but some things fall through the cracks, including a few supporting actors whose performances are so bad, they're laugh-inducing. Additionally, opting to make a 13-year-old character who's being trafficked seemingly supportive of the decision to be used as a sex worker is bizarre. The end result is that Memory gives you something to think about for a week or two but is ultimately forgettable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Memory's violence. How realistic is it? What techniques do filmmakers use to create realistic violence, as opposed to fantasy violence? Which has greater impact?

  • What does it mean to be complicit? Why is permitting or covering up bad actions also illegal and immoral, even if you're not the one committing the crime?

  • How can a common cause bring together people who otherwise would never be on the same side? How can we use common ground as a way to reach those who don't share our beliefs or behaviors?

  • Parents, discuss the realities of human trafficking. If you suspect someone is being exploited, call the National Human Trafficking hotline: (888) 373-7888.

Movie Details

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