The Transporter (2002)

Director:

Corey Yuen

Writers (WGA):

Luc Besson (written by) &
Robert Mark Kamen (written by)

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Rules are made to be broken

Plot:

This film is about a man (Statham) whose job is to deliver packages without asking any questions. Complications arise when he breaks those rules.

Plot Keywords:

France | Stabbed In The Hand | Telephone | Airplane | Duffel Bag

Cast

Jason Statham	...	Frank Martin
Qi Shu	...	Lai (as Shu Qi)
Matt Schulze	...	Wall Street
François Berléand	...	Inspector Tarconi
Ric Young	...	Mr. Kwai
Doug Rand	...	Leader
Didier Saint Melin	...	Boss
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Thug 1
Laurent Desponds	...	Thug 2
Matthieu Albertini	...	Thug 3
Vincent Nemeth	...	Pilot
Jean-Yves Bilien	...	Little Thug
Jean-Marie Paris	...	Giant Thug
Adrian Dearnell	...	Newscaster
Alfred Lot	...	Cop 1

Also Known As:

Le transporteur (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | French | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:18SG | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A | Czech Republic:12 | France:U | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Indonesia:Dewasa

Filming Locations:

Avenue de Saissy, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

Sound editor Vincent Tulli makes a cameo appearance in the film as a trash man.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the car comes out of the alleyway with the steps, it is in reverse, even though there was no room to turn around. Also, when Frank says, "See what I mean about the shocks?" you can clearly see the car is going forward (you see a window pass on the wall).

Quotes:

Frank: That's your last pee break for this trip.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Collateral (2004)

Soundtrack:

Muzik

colorful action picture

`The Transporter' is pretty good for what it is - a sleek, slick, high-octane action thriller that couldn't possibly expect us to believe anything we are seeing on screen and, quite frankly, doesn't care that we don't. That attitude is probably all for the best in this case, since it allows the filmmakers to devise elaborate action and stunt sequences without having to pay the slightest heed to that fantasy killjoy known as `credibility.'

Jason Statham literally drips attitude as The Transporter, a stolid, nattily dressed former military man who spends his time delivering packages (no questions asked) all over the French Mediterranean for what turn out to be some pretty shady criminal clients. One day he discovers that the `package' he is to deliver happens to be a human being - a pretty young Chinese girl named Lai Kwan who has been dropped, bound and gagged, into the trunk of the sporty car on which he lavishes most, if not all, of the love and caring he has to offer. Yet, Frank turns out, despite his initial air of callous and self-serving indifference, to be a criminal-type with a heart of gold, and he is soon helping Ms. Kwan foil an attempt by her nefarious father to sell a crate load of Chinese immigrants into slavery. However, the plot is the least of the matter when it comes to a movie like `The Transporter.' This film is far more concerned with attitude and style than it is with its storyline, which exists merely as a vehicle on which to hang all the explosions, car chases and kickboxing fight scenes that have become the stock-in-trade for modern action pictures. The movie is well directed, well edited and quite beautifully photographed by cinematographer Pierre Morel, who gives the film's French Riviera setting a bright, sparkling sheen. In fact, Morel's camerawork here is some of the best I have seen in a film in a very long time.

In addition to Statham, who makes for a very `cool' action film hero, Francois Berleand turns in a wonderful performance as a shrewd, wisecracking police inspector who knows that Frank is up to something but who has enough faith in his own instincts to at least give the man the benefit of the doubt. Qi Shu is cute and charming as the uninvited and unwelcome `complication' that steps into Frank's smooth-running, well-ordered life.

`The Transporter' is the cinematic equivalent of junk fast food - not high in nutritional value, but quickly consumed and satisfying when you don't have the time or inclination for something more demanding. Like its cool-under-pressure protagonist, the film delivers the goods.