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Upcoming Release Calendar
38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Taking Lives
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MPAA RATING: R for strong violence including disturbing images, language and some sexuality
Starring Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, Olivier Martinez, Tchéky Karyo, and Jean-Hugues Anglade
FBI profiler Special Agent Illeana Scott (Jolie) suddenly finds herself on a twisted and terrifying journey, surrounded by suspects in a case that has become chillingly personal. (Warner Bros.)
| GENRE(S): | Action | Crime | Drama | Suspense/Thriller |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Jon Bokenkamp (also screen story)
Michael Pye (novel) |
| DIRECTED BY: | D.J. Caruso |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: August 17, 2004 Video: August 17, 2004 Theatrical: March 19, 2004 |
| RUNNING TIME: | minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Dan gave it a9:
Definitely underrated. I thought the characters were amazing. The back and forth between Hawke and Jolie was very well done. I thought Jolie's character was well developed for this type of film. Her quirks and oddities are intriguing at the very least. She is not portrayed as a weak willed woman who can't defend herself. But on the other hand she isn't some unrealistic beauty who can handle everything herself in a really tight dress and finish the scene with a witty line. Bottom line: Jolie plays her character with flaws, oddities, and REALISM! It works! Sutherland's important, yet brief, role helped tie the two parts of the story very well. I thought the plot was well thought out.... It made sense, and was not corny. Not going to talk much about it because I do not want to spoil anything. And the filmwork was probably the best I've seen recently. The focus on the eyes was really interesting because it highlighted everything. It allowed the audience to get in the head of the characters, particularly Jolie. The angles were interesting and beautiful. It gave off the feal of a dark, brooding noir, yet having some extra character. The colors were brought out in interesting ways, particularly in driving sequences, like when Hawke is being escorted back to his apartment by Jolie. Overall an impressive film.
Nick A. gave it a4:
D.J. Caruso’s makeover of Michael Pye’s novel of the same title is one that should have never been made—or at least not in the manner it was. Originally a thriller about a serial killer named Martin Asher (who’d been stealing the lives and identities of his victims ever since his presumed death at age 16), the film version of 'Taking Lives' never reaches the suspense – or thrills – that it intended. Angelina Jolie gives a performance as petty as her character (an FBI profiler named Illeana Scott, who is assigned to help a Montreal investigative unit track Asher), though does so in the company of equally trivial bids by acting veterans Ethan Hawke (who plays James Costa, an independent artist and eyewitness to Asher’s most recent murder), Oliver Martinez (one of the detectives on the case), and Kiefer Sutherland (as the suspected killer). However, the real killer in (or of, I should say) this film is its incoherently adapted screenplay (which, by the way, took a team of four script doctors to finalize), which is made more unpleasant by the messy, inconsistent and unstylish direction of Caruso (whose 2007 release, 'Disturbia', is anything but). 'Taking Lives' is a prime example of a Hollywood misfire and a showy exhibit of humdrum clichés, predictable twists, and poor career choices by otherwise great actors.
Abby gave it a6:
This movie was actually not bad. The out of place sex scene, the elevator, the hidden room, the cops who weren't really doing their job there were a lot of things wrong but it's worth seeing.
Jeremy W. gave it a4:
This movie started out being really intriguing. I loved the beginning as well as Angelina Jolie lying in the grave. But they never developed that character, and all of sudden the story just starts adding all these different plot elements, mushrooming out into a big patchwork with only the barest threads holding the thing together. Who the heck were all those cops anyway? Why was there a hidden room in the mother's house? Could have been great, wound up being pretty lame.
sat gave it a10:
GooD!!!
Tiffany V. gave it a 2:
This movie had potential and was pretty good until it completely unraveled 3/4 of the way through. Starting with the out of place, awkward sex scene, and culminating with the elevator scene, the rest of the movie was completely laughable. Lame.
Greg T. gave it a 7:
Not bad. But then again, I like Angelina and Ethan Hawke. The boy in this movie was too flat and too robotic for one to be concerned about. However, there are a few interesting twists and turns in this movie which make it worth renting.
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