X
- 2004
- Unrated
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 43 m
- 2004
- Unrated
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 43 m
Summary 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.)
Directed By: D.J. Caruso
Written By: Michael Pye, Jon Bokenkamp
- 2004
- Unrated
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 43 m
- 2004
- Unrated
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 43 m
Taking Lives
38
2.1
Where to Watch
Summary 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.)
Directed By: D.J. Caruso
Written By: Michael Pye, Jon Bokenkamp
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
38
17% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
46% Mixed
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
37% Negative
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
38
17% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
46% Mixed
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
37% Negative
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
A somber, absorbing thriller that treads familiar psycho serial killer terrain with style. Elegantly made and comparatively restrained in cramming sick and grisly stuff down the audience's throat.
From a technical standpoint, Taking Lives is competent and sometimes even impressive. It is cleanly edited and nicely shot -- at times as cool and rich as a York Peppermint Pattie. Beyond that, there is not much to say.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 143 User Ratings
2.1
14% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
17% Mixed
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
69% Negative
98 Ratings
98 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 143 User Ratings
2.1
14% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
17% Mixed
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
69% Negative
98 Ratings
98 Ratings
While not being particularly original, Taking Lives is still a fun thriller. Even though the twists were predictable and most of the characters were pretty clichés, it's still a fairly entertaining movie. The acting is good, the cinematography is gorgeous and some scenes were actually quite intense. It's not a great movie by any stretch, but it's not nearly as bad as what most people make it out to be.
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Aside from a horrifically miscast Ethan Hawke, Taking Lives provides more than a modicum of thrills and twists held together by a convincing lead performance by Jolie.
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The tense, stylish thriller turns into soft-core, slapdash psychodrama.
It's not hard to figure it out, but Caruso manages to throw in some tense moments that almost -- but sadly not quite -- make up for the film's daft ending.
Even though Taking Lives is not very good, it does contain a) a cool car chase and b) a sex scene in which Jolie goes topless. For some, this will be enough entertainment.
Caruso, who showed flair in the Val Kilmer vehicle "The Salton Sea," has a penchant for the dark side. In this case, it's the plodding, predictable ZIP code of the dark side.
Pretty much the worst recent example of a genre.
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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It's punctuated by a beautiful, passionate sex scene that's both wild and graceful. The thing is, it's supposed to be a thriller, and it lacks both plot and characters of any interest.
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Production Company
Warner Bros.,
Village Roadshow Pictures,
Atmosphere Entertainment MM
Release Date Mar 19, 2004
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating Unrated
Tagline He Would Kill To Be You.
Awards
Razzie Awards
• 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Nomination
Teen Choice Awards
• 1 Nomination
