A murder spree in Montreal, with the killer embracing his victims' identities, leads to an investigation by the FBI agent Illeana Scott. Her bond with an art dealer is crucial to solving the... Read allA murder spree in Montreal, with the killer embracing his victims' identities, leads to an investigation by the FBI agent Illeana Scott. Her bond with an art dealer is crucial to solving the case.A murder spree in Montreal, with the killer embracing his victims' identities, leads to an investigation by the FBI agent Illeana Scott. Her bond with an art dealer is crucial to solving the case.
- Awards
- 4 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaA scene was shot in which Illeana drives back to her house with the old pick-up and a branch from a tree falls and breaks the windshield. It took several takes to get the shot, and apparently destroyed the last remaining windshields for the pick-up available anywhere in North America at the time. The scene was not used.
- GoofsThe three lead police investigators all speak with Parisian French accents. Quebec French is as distinct from Parisian French as British English is distinct from New York English.
- Quotes
Martin Asher: That guy was nothing, alright? I didn't take his life, I lived it. I was the best thing that ever happened to that guy. You looked at him, and you saw me, and I looked at you, and I saw you, and we are the same.
- Alternate versionsAvailable in both its R-rated theatrical version (103 min.) and in an unrated director's cut (109 min.).
The cinematography is dark and glossy, and sleazy settings mean that it's always a lot like Fincher's earlier flick. The pace of the film is poorly paced, as sometimes it's fast and furious, while at other times it's very dull. At almost an hour and fifty minutes, the film is too long; and a better editing job is definitely in order. The final half hour is of particular note for being poorly judged. It's far too slow, and means that rather than being memorable; the conclusion is tepid and disorientated. The first twist can be seen coming a mile off, and the way that it is revealed disregards logic for dramatic effect. The final twist doesn't work well either, as everything is far too convenient. It seems that in their effort to outdo all the other films in its class, the writers have forgotten that for dramatic effect to work, it needs to make sense. The acting is good enough, and it's obvious why the dark and mysterious Angelina Jolie was cast in the lead. Ethan Hawke, who I seem to like more every time I see him, is good; while Kiefer Sutherland is given nothing at all to do. On the whole, this is worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do; but there are better films that are like 'Taking Lives', than Taking Lives.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Taking Lives
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $45,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $32,682,342
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,458,465
- Mar 21, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $65,470,529
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1